HAPPY BIRTHDAY REAGAN

REAGAN IS MY HERO AND THIS WEEK SHE TURNS 30 YEARS OLD. AS A CHILD SHE WAS AN ABSOLUTE JOY ! ALWAYS THE CLOWN, MAKING US LAUGH, NEVER WITHOUT A SMILE ON HER FACE. FROM DAY ONE SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A KIND, COMPASSIONATE GIRL. A LOVER OF LIFE AND A WILLING PARTICIPANT IN ANYTHING. A TRICKSTER AND JOKER, TO HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY. LOVED BY ALL SHE HAS HAD MANY FRIENDS OVER THE YEARS. AS AN ADULT REAGAN HAS ENDURED MORE PAIN, SUFFERING, AND TRIALS, THAN IS HER FAIR SHARE. 10 YEARS AGO SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A VERY RARE AUTO IMMUNE DISEASE CALLED CHURGG STRAUSS SYNDROME WHICH HAS ATTACKED ALMOST EVERY ORGAN IN HER BODY. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY TIMES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS THAT WE HAD THOUGHT THAT WE WERE GOING TO LOSE HER. THREE DIFFERENT NIGHTS WE WERE TOLD TO GATHER THE FAMILY BECAUSE SHE PROBABLY WOULDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT. SHE IS THE STRONGEST GIRL I KNOW AND I AM PROUD TO BE HER MOTHER. IN THESE LAST 10 YEARS SHE HAS HAD 12 SURGERIES, INCLUDING LUNG BIOPSIES, LOSING MOST OF HER BOWELL, HAVING TWO ILLEOSTOMIES AND TWO TAKE DOWNS, GALL BLADDER, AND OPEN HEART SURGERY TO NAME JUST A FEW. SHE HAS SPENT COUNTLESS DAYS IN INTENSIVE CARE, HIGH OBSERVATION, CARDIAC UNITS, AND EVERY FLOOR IN THE HOSPITAL, I BELIEVE THE LAST COUNT WAS OVER 300 DAYS. WE ARE ON FIRST NAME BASIS WITH MANY DOCTORS AND NURSES. WE HAVE SPENT A NUMBER OF HOLIDAYS WITH HER IN A HOSPITAL BED, WITH HER ROOM DECORATED WITH CHRISTMAS TREES, ANGELS, ETC. REAGAN LIVES IN KAYSVILLE WITH HER SON CALEB, THAT IS 10, AND CALEB'S DAD AARON. THEY TOO HAVE HAD TO BE VERY STRONG AND SUPPORTIVE, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH ROAD FOR US ALL. THERE WERE TIMES THAT REAGAN WAS IN THE HOSPITAL IN OGDEN AND DUSTY WAS IN THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN SALT LAKE AT THE SAME TIME. RIGHT NOW THE DISEASE ITSELF IS IN REMISSION BUT THE SIDE EFFECTS, MEDICATIONS, SCAR TISSUE, EVERYDAY PAIN, COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEM AND HORRENDOUS ASTHMA CONTINUES TO PLAGUE HER CONSTANTLY. STILL SHE COMES THOUGH IT SMILING, WITH HER SENSE OF HUMOR AND STRONGER WILLED THAN BEFORE. WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH REAGAN, YOUR STRENGTH KEEPS US STRONG, YOUR ATTITUDE KEEPS US UPLIFTED, YOUR OUTLOOK KEEPS US GOING, YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR KEEPS US LAUGHING, YOUR SMILE BRIGHTENS OUR DAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY HERO !!!!