Embracing Gratitude in the Face of Catastrophic Injuries

Gratitude. In our world of rehabilitation medicine, gratitude means taking the time to be thankful for life, for the resources to move forward and establish a new way of living and for the determination of the human spirit to overcome a catastrophic injury.

Thanksgiving. November has become the month of the year when most people pause to give thanks for what they find important in life. Family and friends gather to celebrate the blessings in their lives over what for many is their favorite holiday. Granted, it’s hard to imagine not enjoying feasting all day and the nap that generally follows.

Gratitude and thanksgiving go hand in hand at this time of year, especially here at Craig. As the chaplain at Craig Hospital, I don’t have to look hard to find faces in a busy therapy gym that express gratitude for the opportunity to find the strength to accomplish tasks that are so challenging today but were once done with little effort. The joy of being able to bounce a ball or lift oneself out of a chair after months of those being impossibilities is a powerful thing.

And then there is Thanksgiving Day at Craig, when the impact of that gratitude is beautifully overwhelming. Every year, the staff at Craig hosts Thanksgiving for folks who find themselves separated from their community and the comfort and traditions that the holiday brought to them last year. My first Thanksgiving at Craig Hospital was in 2005, and it was more than I expected. Gathered on that day in the cafeteria were families from all across the country sharing in a meal that included all of the time-honored favorites. I witnessed a group of people who were once strangers laughing and telling stories; they were now family. They were grateful for community and for the chance to be together sharing the common bond of being thrust on a journey none of them expected for their lives. It was humbling for me to hear words of gratitude being lifted in the midst of a difficult situation, and I found myself grateful to be their chaplain on that day and every day since.

When you gather with your family and friends this year, I hope you are able to find gratitude in the big and small parts of life. Look around your table and find a way to mention the unique ways each person brings joy to your life. Name those gifts, be intentional with your words and celebrate the time you have together even after the dishes are done and the leftovers are put away.  As you gather, know that you and the gifts you bring to your work are being recognized by someone who has found themselves in need of your care, and they are grateful.

Gratitude. Naming what we are thankful for and finding strength in the intention of gratitude is a powerful moment.  You don’t want to pass up this opportunity.

By Candace Boyd, Chaplain

Craig Hospital