"It's Just So Good to Breathe"

November 12, 2023

I read an article this morning about a young girl who had a double-lung transplant. Once the ventilator was removed, she began crying and said that, "It's just so good to breathe." (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/10/31sabin?lang=eng) This reminded me of many things, but mainly of my husband Chuck and his life-long struggle to breathe. He endured two separate lung transplants, one of which was a double transplant.

I recently had surgery (nothing near as severe as a transplant), and I want to apologize to Chuck for all the times that I didn't understand the pain he was feeling and the effort it took for him to get up, to walk the halls of the hospital so that his lungs would hang in his chest properly, to breathe. He was amazing, and he kept such a good attitude during all of his years of illness. He truly knew that it was good to breathe.

Chuck had a great sense of humor. And even if you have heard this story, it bears repeating. Once, after an appointment with one of his specialists, he was told that he had, maybe, three months to live. (We heard that often.) On our way home, we stopped by a Costco or some other big box store. While shopping, Chuck picked up a very large bottle of ketchup, held it so I could see it, and said, "Look, a life-time supply!" We laughed then and many times after about that.

Chuck did not take things for granted. He was cheerful and expressed his love to us daily. In this season of Thanksgiving, may we remember to be thankful for the big things, like family and friends, God and His many blessings, home and health. May we also remember to be thankful for the little things, like the air that we breathe.

We miss you Chuck.