How would you feel if you were told you'd probably be blind by the end of the year? I heard that from eye doctor number one shortly after I turned forty.  Doctors two through four, said the same.  Doctor five had a plan to save most of my sight with some hope for the future, even though I had a degenerative eye disease. 

That was in 1984.  Since then, I have had several major eye surgeries to prop up my retinas, and lots and lots of laser treatment.  But I see.  Not great, but I see.  I have  core vision, but no peripheral or depth perception.  But it doesn't matter.  I see.

Lucky?  Oh, yes, I'm lucky.

One, because my husband wouldn't let the first doctor operate on me.  He had a bad feeling about him.  The next day and the day after, he took me to four more retina specialists to find the very best eye surgeon and when we found him, the surgical technique performed on me was his own experimental protocol, used on only eleven other patients before he saved some of my sight with it.

Lucky?  Oh, yes, I'm lucky.

Years later, my husband had a heart attack.  I raced back from work to take him to the doctor and he was taken by ambulance to the local hospital.  Our primary doctor told us the extent of the problem and what further testing would be needed.  When it came to choosing the doctors who would do the invasive testing procedures, our doctor suggested the right medical center, the proper specialists and the surgeon who would ultimately perform the lifesaving triple bypass.  That surgeon was Mehmet Oz. He saved Jay's life that day and seven years later, Jay is fine.  

Lucky?  Oh, yes, I'm lucky.

Just two years ago, Jay developed a deadly form of pneumonia shortly after the death of his mother and his brother, five months apart.  With his immune system very challenged, he didn't have the strength to ward of what could have started off as a bad chest cold.  After a month in the hospital, his primary doctor, cardiologist and new pulmonologist worked so well together, that this very sick man recovered and thrived. 

Lucky?  Oh. Yes.

And am I happy?  Depends on the day...But I know there's lots more to life than seeing a great broadway show, going to the ballet, attending a lavish dinner party or even seeing a movie in 3-D.  

I'd rather go to a movie matinee with Jay, make a good dinner just for us, take a long walk on the aquaduct--a beautiful pathway that runs parallel to the Hudson River--and think about all that we have survived.... oh so well.

Lucky?  Oh, you better believe it.