Survivor

Survivor


I appreciate my life,
what it took to get here.
And now as I look back,
My heart has few regrets there.

A tiny baby from the beginning
already in for a rocky start.
Three weeks premature and very sick,
problems with my spine, kidneys and heart.

The throat and stomach were disconnected,
requiring sugery at one day old.
Shortly after, the extra thumb was removed
I didn’t even cry, I was told.

Not two years later, before my third birthday,
An unfortunate event occurred.
Mom and I were in an car accident,
And since then, there was little I heard.

No longer the social butterfly,
I became silent, inwardly drawn.
Only twenty percent hearing in one ear,
In the other, my hearing was gone.

Mom and Dad met in November,
when I was just over three.
They announced their upcoming marriage,
I now was blessed with a new family.

Zoom seven years in the future
we then lived in Pictou County,
Two young brothers, three transfers later
I was struggling, and not very happy.

Mocked and teased by other kids,
my hearing impairment was the reason.
I know they had their insecurities,
but it became worse each passing season.

The year 2000 should have been unforgettable,
but not in the sense I had.
Another visit to the orthopedic told us
that my back was getting very bad.

I tried not to worry and to be brave,
the operation was scheduled that following May.
Support from family and friends reassured me,
“You can do this!” is what they’d say.

I pulled through, heavily dosed on morphine.
From recovery, I remember nothing at all.
For two days I slept, and took no notice,
of my parents or the gifts on my wall.

My twelfth birthday was spent in the hospital,
though I’d already had a party, it was still a bummer.
What was worse was that I wore a body cast
and had to wear it the entire summer.

For all that was worth, I do recall
I surprisingly had a few perks.
I won the Honors and Citizenship in school
For my academic efforts and hard work.

Dad’s (hopefully) final transfer
brought us to the place that I dearly missed
I have good friends, I love my school,
and I know I am very blessed.

Well, here I stand, with no regrets or hard feelings
I wouldn't change the life I have had
For all it’s ups and downs, it’s certainly
an interesting story to be said.