Philadelphia is only two hours from our home and we have visited many times.  Philadelphia has so much to offer with its variety of dining options, cultural diversity, stellar medical facilities, excellent educational institutions and pathways through history.  We’ve taken in the aromas of the at the Reading Terminal Market and Chinatown, seen the historical sites of the Liberty Bell , Independence Hall and Betsy Ross’ house, visited the Academy of Natural Sciences, the famous “Rocky” steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Franklin Mint.  I’ve admired the beauty and creativity of the famous Philadelphia Flower Show, wandered the exhibits at the zoo and attended mass at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.  I have fond memories of times spent in Philadelphia.

In 2018 our travels took us to Philadelphia several times and what would normally was cause for a smile, caused reflection and stirred gratitude for the gifts it provided.  In March 2018, we attended the Northeast Qualifier club volleyball tournament with our daughter.  At the time, my husband’s father was in failing health.  He suffered from Parkinson’s disease and his time here with us was coming to a close.  As we were getting ready to head over to the Convention Center for our daughter’s first match, my husband got the call from his mother that he needed to get home;  the time had come.  My husband drove to his family home in New Jersey and made it in time to say “good-bye” to his Dad.  Our hearts were heavy but God works in mysterious ways. Had we been at our home, and not in Philly, my husband probably wouldn’t have made it in time. This was a blessing.   

Sadly, my father-in-law never got to see our daughter play volleyball but we know he had a front row seat that day and was smiling down on her.  She played with purpose and was a light on the court.  The adversity fueled her spirit and she showed what she was made of.  Her teammates, the parents and the coaches rallied around us.  They held us as we cried.  They listened when we needed to talk.  They prayed for us.  Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love truly did live up to its name.  

In July we were back in Philadelphia at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHoP) where our daughter had surgery to remove her thyroid.   What an amazing facility!  They take special care to cater to the smallest of visitors and their parents.   Whether it was the brightly colored murals and hanging sculptures, the pre-recorded children’s voices announcing the floors on the elevator or the garden and play areas, it was designed with purpose.  

During our daughter’s surgery, we went to the chapel to pray.  It was beautiful and embraced all faiths.  It was peaceful and calming.  In the corner was a statue of a mother holding her child.  How apropos.  How many mother’s had come through these doors to pray for healing for their child? How many mother’s had to tell their child they were sick?  In the grand scheme of things, what our daughter had was benign.  

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After our visit to the chapel, we took a walk outside to get some fresh air.  We weren’t familiar with this part of the city but happened to stumble upon a hidden treasure;  a garden on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.  The loud sounds from the surrounding construction sites, the honking of horns from the constant stream of traffic and the feverish pace of folks going from one place to another all stopped. The sounds of the trickling water and the chirping birds along with the beauty of flowers provided a calmness in the midst of the surrounding city chaos.  The surgery was a success.  The care team was amazing and this child that is often full of anxiety was calm and reassured.  She shared with me after the surgery that when she woke on the morning of her surgery that the sun shone into her room like it had never done before.  She said she knew she would be OK.  The Holy Spirit was indeed at work and again we were blessed. 

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In August we were back in Philadelphia but this time at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) where I had surgery to remove my thyroid.  No, this was not planned.  It was sudden and unexpected, but a necessity as I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.  As I entered the U Penn facility for appointments with doctors and surgeons and pre-op testing, the sight of CHoP across the street gave me great comfort.   I smiled and gave thanks.  How blessed we are to live so close to such great doctors, surgeons and medical facilities.

While my surgery was successful, I had hoped that my recovery would be as smooth as my daughter’s but that wasn’t meant to be.   My blood pressure spiked, I had an allergic reaction to one of the pain medications, vomited numerous times and had a panic attack or two along the way.  It wasn’t pretty.  I cannot say enough about my surgeon and my entire care team;  this includes my husband.   They were compassionate, gentle and comforting.  The times when I was at my ugliest, they chose to see a woman who was hurting and needed their care.   I am grateful for the care I received and for God’s wisdom in allowing me to suffer and not my daughter. 

In August, our daughter started her freshman year of college. She is our youngest and this left me and my husband with an empty nest. It had been a topic of discussion among my friends who were very much looking forward to “having me back” now that my day-to-day “mom” duties were no longer required. When they asked me how I felt about it, the one thing that weighed on me was the relationship with my husband. I knew it was going to change but I didn’t know exactly how. I worried that we would run out of things to talk about and that we would get bored with the new normal and possibly with each other. I prayed that we would be able to transition into this new phase with a rekindling of our love and respect as husband and wife and not as parents. My illness, its timing, the challenges with my recovery and the return of our kids to school were all instrumental in shifting our focus back to us. God’s hand was at work and I know we will be just fine!

Thank you Philadelphia not only for the memories but for the blessings that came along with them!