Last week I spent the day at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, a hotel-like facility that performs miraculous surgeries every day like the one my brother just had. He's had these done before and it shows. No intrusion or discomfort seemed to phase him, he just took everything in stride and cracked jokes and reminisced about mom's hospital experiences.My brother has been dependent upon a pacemaker for some time now. It started with a defibrillator but soon his heart needed more help. As with anything bionic, its battery needs replacing after a few years, and so a new unit is installed. He's very young to have had all this experience, but his diabetes and sarcoidosis (a rare auto-immune condition) have compromised his health and complicated his surgeries. He must be watched for any kind of infection and thankfully my sister-in-law is always at his side playing health advocate.
That evening driving home from the hospital, I thought about what a gift I'd been given. They both gave me beautiful examples of how to face illness and mortality with courage and grace. We must accept our physical limitations and know that our bodies are not who we are, just one aspect of us. It is my brother's spirit that gives him contentment and humor. My sister-in-law's bravery and unwavering spirit keeps them stable. They are truly my heroes and mentors and I'm blessed to have them in my family.
