MiaBella Brickey

After Mia wrote her Thankful list, our family thought it would be a good idea to do one ourselves. We just try to stay thankful and happy all the time. These are the words from Tom, Heidi, and Eli. If you would like to read Mia’s, it’s on a post called I’m Thankful for…. Hopefully you will let us know what you’re thankful for as Thanksgiving approaches us!

Heidi…..

“WE ALL” have so many things to be grateful for this day. The first that comes to mind for me is “all of you!” I am thankful for all of you. Your love, support and friendships are so meaningful in my life. Here at the Brickey house in our prayers, we ask “help us to be good people”…… well I truly believe that when you try your hardest to exercise this virtue not only do you find the “goodness” in yourself, your see it and are surrounded by it in others.

Here are a few more…..

My Children… they make me smile. I never thought I would say I missed the the teasing between the two of them. We didn’t have that here in the Brickey house for awhile. It’s back! and I did miss it! Mia and Eli really love each other! I love to hug them, I love the warmth of their skin. I am so proud of them both. They are beautiful, smart, kind little souls.

My husband and love of my life…. His support and love for his children and me runs so deep. We are his “everything” and he is our “BFD”.

My Mom… she is my telephone buddy. Especially around Thanksgiving. It’s a good thing calling to Pocatello is free. I love you mom. Thanks for teaching me all that you have.

Our new “Heart Friends”… Sharing the journey with you guys.

My Health…. without it I would not be able to take care of my family.

Good Food…. Yum

Bobbi and Jeff Fetzer…. I will forever be grateful to both of you and hold a very special space in “my heart” for your family. I am thankful that Bobbi has opened the door for communication between Mia and her children. Mia enjoys emailing back and forth with them. I am thankful for my correspondence with Bobbi, she is a very kind and loving mother.

Mikey…. his continuation of life that beats so strong in my little girls chest. you dear sweet boy ….. may you rest in peace.

Tom: the “BFD” (Big Fat Dad)

Heidi put it so perfectly… I have little to add that would say it any better.

Still, not being known for any lack of words when given the chance…  I will say that I am made aware, on a daily basis, of the blessing of Life, and the gifts I have been given throughout my life, and realize that the most important things in ANYone’s life is not “things”, but people! And the gift of life itself. The opportunity to live, to love, to give, and yes, to receive.  If Bobbi and Jeff had not been willing to give the very heart of their son to my daughter, someone they did not know, our only daughter would not be with us today.  We do not know how long our Mia will be with us, but we have had her in our lives already 5 months longer than she would have been, and I was given the one thing I begged the doctors back in May, and that was to hear Mia say, just one more time, “Daddy, I love you!”   So, Bobbi and Jeff, I love you. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and my heart aches at your loss.  May you find some peace and joy in the knowing of Mia’s life, and the fact that she is thriving with the heart of your son in her chest.  As Dr. Kaza (the surgeon who placed his wonderful heart into Mia) said, “It’s a snappy heart!”, and as I listen to it each night, I see Mikey’s face in my mind, and I acknowledge the gifts we have been given.

To the many doctors, nurses, and staff who saved my daughter’s life. Impossible to name them all… Angels. All of them.

I am thankful for my parents, Bob and Janice Brickey. For all that they have taught me, and the examples they have been. I am so proud of who they are. Both of them.

For my wife, my daughter, and my incredible son.  They are the best examples of Love I know. They give me purpose, and remind me why I am here.

I am thankful for my stinky brother and sister.  Just kidding! Even through the tumultuous years of childhood and constant teasing, we have come to realize our love for each other runs deep. Don’t mess with my brother or sister! We Brickey’s stick together! 😉 And I love them both.

I am thankful for the friends and community who have supported us throughout our time of greatest need.  The generosity of so many has made me realize this: ‘things’ do not matter. People and time, and love,… giving, supporting, saying I’m sorry, saying I love you, saying ‘thank you’… these are the things that matter. I love you all. It would be my hope that everyone lives long enough to learn this. The world would be a better place.

I am thankful for my patients, and the opportunity to serve them. For their trust, I hope to be worthy and successful. I am also so thankful for my staff! The amazing women I work with who make my life lovely on a daily basis. They are all incredible people and work so hard.

I am thankful for the opportunity to follow my dreams, in fact to live the dream, that has been given to me by the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces. For the lives of those that died protecting and defending my right to live the way I do. May we all remember their sacrifice, and not allow any government or people to strip us of the rights they have given us. Even, and especially, our own.

I am grateful for the opportunity to live…  for the right to worship as I choose, and the right each of us has to follow our inner conscience and to pursue the ‘truth’ in each of our hearts and minds.

I have been given so much… if I were to die tomorrow, my only regret is that Icould not live longer, to enjoy all that life has to offer a little longer… other than that, I am truly the luckiest man you know. And I know it.

oh, and floss. Thank God for floss!!

Eli…

I am thankful for my dog (Paco), my family, my electronics, my friends, my cousins,all of our holidays,all of the people I know,my school,my dads work so we can get money,my games,my neighbors,my shoes,my house,my art supplies,my climbing team,our cars,plants, and last but not least… my life and the Earth:)!!!!!