The Birthday 

Dooley Noted: 9/27/2015Today is my father’s birthday. 

Two years ago, he was undergoing chemo on his birthday.

A small cell carcinoma choked off his voice. 

It attempted to steal his spirit. 

He would squeak, “Hi, Jo,” when I called, as cancer choked off his airway.

But chemotherapy worked. 

His hair grew back. His spirit followed.

Today, he turned 74 and still remains cancer-free on imaging and tests

And as I called him today, he had an exuberant, full voice on the phone. 

Every extra day with him feels like a breath of inspiration of gratitude.

I never expected to have these two extra years. 

We won a lottery. 

It’s so easy to get caught up in what you don’t have.

But if you can take a step back to see what you do have, it can change the course of your day – or even your life.

You can celebrate what you have been gifted, even on someone else’s birthday. 

As always, it’s your call. 

– Dr. Kathy Dooley