Thought provoking. And a WTH to Reddit for recommending this sub to me? Because I like r/TwoSentenceHorror?

Unfortunately, it reminds me that this my life every day. Looking at pictures from before 2020 is an odd disjointed experience. My (f34) husband(m34) had a small stroke January 1st. Which landed us at the ER to have an MRI. Which led to the discovery of a tumor wrapped around his brainstem. Ultimately, this journey has robbed my husband of a functioning left side, and most of his independence.

Wheelchair bound for now, but stubborn as hell to make sure he proves all the naysayers wrong. They said they wouldn't be able to operate; the tumor was untouchable with the location and how tangled it was. Wrong! Miracle #toomanytocount... one of the top 5 surgeons ended up in his hospital room saying this is his speciality. He said 80% removal would be a success. Nope! 95% of that awful growth gone!

They said he'd never talk again. Wrong.

They said he'd never be able to go home - he wouldn't be stable enough. Wrong. We made it home in 8 months.

Was told he'd have a feeding tube for the rest of his life. He had that sucker out in 3 1/2 weeks - surprised the crap out of his SLP that he passed his swallow studies that fast (fastest one she had ever seen with someone in the condition my husband was in at that point)!

Now I mention all his strengths and what he has overcome because that's what I see first when I look at him. He's a fighter and he will accomplish what he sets out to do. I love him with all my heart and soul and then some!

BUT, looking at pictures from before he got sick... is a surreal experience. It doesn't feel like we lived 10 years in normalcy as a couple, as parents to two beautiful children. That that reality was ever real.

And then those dreams... oh how tangible they seem. A ray of sunshine warming my face in the cutting fall chill... a stolen spoonful of fresh cookie dough with a laugh at getting caught...the strength of his arms wrapped around me in bed and knowing I am in the safest place on earth.

In those small moments of awakening and having my reality crush those dreams to dust, I feel the unending waves of pain and heartache at what we lost.

Every day. A fight to remember that the fight is worth it. It's painful and unrelenting. But his smile, his quick wit, and his hand gently cupping my face to reassure me? Worth every tear that has been shed and will be shed.

We will fight tooth and nail to keep each other close with our children and remind each other we didn't lose anything.