Is it still a happy new year?

I had been telling myself that my daughter Ranna’s medical problems were ending and that this year would be the start of her healing.

I still am convinced that this year will be a new beginning for Ranna. But the new beginning is not going to happen immediately. Ranna already has spent six days in the hospital in 2012.

At first, I felt overwhelmed when I had to take Ranna back to the hospital in January. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. It was difficult because, no matter how much I want Ranna to get better, there is not much that I can do to make that happen instantly. Her recovery will take time.

But, eventually, I remembered all of the hard things I have done in the past. Getting well when I had polio was hard. So was finding the courage to get a divorce. So was being a single mother. So was being involved with a small business that had to file for bankruptcy.

I remembered how I had survived hard times in the past, and I told myself, “I can do hard things.”

Ranna will not be in the hospital forever. This hard time will pass, too. There is hope, and there will be happier days.

–Fayteen