Linking up with Amanda at Running with Spoons for this bit of randomness.

Okay, not randomness. Not to me. Today, June 1st, is my four-year survival anniversary.

Four years ago, I had a major stroke, without warning, and I almost died. The doctors pretty much said I’d die. Fortunately, they weren’t the ones in control.

I believed I was going to die, honestly. I’m thrilled I was wrong, but the experience was life-changing.

Some days, I forget just how many things I have to be grateful for.

Today is not one of those days.

I was surrounded by family and friends. People I’ve never even met prayed for me. And God showed up in a big way. The doctors told my parents, “There’s a 97% fatality rate. We don’t know if she’ll ever wake up, and if she does, we don’t know what shape she’ll be in.”

I woke up the next day. I knew everyone. I didn’t—at that time—remember quite what had happened, but I knew I was in the hospital—and I did not have sensation on my right side, but now I remember almost everything, and I have a lot of sensation back. My neurologist released me completely one week ago.

I am so grateful for my family and friends. I love them all. I wouldn’t have made it without them.

Beyond anything, I’m grateful to God for being there with me, and for not being finished with me yet.

In the last four years, I have:

-finished my Bachelor’s degree.

-started grad school.

-changed jobs to a company I believe in and love.

-wrote a couple of novels (with plans for more).

-discovered that I have a gift for writing narrative non-fiction.

-finished two half-marathons (mostly walking, but the one scheduled for November will be different).

-hiked the Grand Canyon.

-realized that my plan for my life wasn’t big enough, and embraced the idea of more.

Gratitude. That’s what this day is all about.