As Thanksgiving nears, we all start talking about what makes us thankful. I usually chime into these conversations with the usual answers but don’t really spend a lot of time thinking about them.

However… by this time last year my 16 year-old daughter had already been the hospital for several days. In fact, my family ate last year’s Thanksgiving feast in the Cottage Hospital cafeteria (they actually had a really nice spread!), and it would be over two weeks before she made it home. Unfortunately this was only the beginning of many months of hospitals, illness, and tests.

This year when I say I’m thankful for the health of my family, it has taken on a whole new meaning! What makes you truly thankful this year?