GabyGratitude in Times of Illness
Thank you to my husband, who stayed by my side throughout my illness. He called for “Boris” and without hesitation took me to the hospital. In the intensive care unit, when I regained consciousness after the procedure and several IV drips, a doctor approached me and said, “Turn to the window and try to smile—your husband has been standing there the whole time, deeply worried about you.” Indeed, I turned to the window, and through a tiny crack between the curtain and the glass, I saw my husband’s tear-filled, familiar eyes looking back at me… Thank you, my love; I would have been lost without you!
Thank you to my dear mom, who took a week off work to be with our daughter, while also constantly being by my side, switching places with Ivan. Having my mom nearby is so important! I remember from childhood that no illness is frightening when mom is around… If I could, I would do everything to repay her, but the only thing I could manage was to fall to my knees and give her favorite yellow roses—thank you, mom, for everything!
Thank you to my sister, Irka—I can’t even remember how many phone cards we went through, endlessly calling each other in tears: “I love you so much; you are the most precious thing I have—hang in there!” “I love you too; please pray for me…” Thank you, sister!
Thank you to my dear aunt and her entire family, and to my brother, Alyosha—thanks to their efforts, the hospital staff treated me so well. Thank you for the delicious food and your attention.
Thank you to my roommate, Nadezhda Kharitonovna. Truly, she was my hope! When my mom or Ivan wasn’t there, she helped me get up, brought me food, and motheringly tucked me in with a blanket to keep me warm. She adjusted my pillows, endlessly entertained me with her stories, and genuinely cared for me. When I started feeling better, my sister gave me a very interesting book about the three Optina New Martyrs—monks who were killed by Satanists in 1993 during Easter right in the monastery. I read this book aloud to my roommate, and we devoured it! We would wake up, read, eat, and immediately go back to reading, right up until sleep. Sometimes I would stop and couldn’t continue; I would sit there crying, and Nadezhda Kharitonovna would come over, hug me, kiss me, and say, “Child, you have such a kind heart!” and we would cry together… The book strengthened my spirit; it felt like my wings had spread after reading it, and I gained three more helpers: Father Vasily, Father Trofim, and Father Ferapont—thank you! We read until my roommate was discharged, and by the time we parted, we had truly bonded soul to soul… Thank you so much, Nadezhda Kharitonovna!
Thank you to all my loved ones, all my friends who visited me, who called, who prayed for me, and who simply cared. Thank you! This illness has taught me so much.
