Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I have much to be thankful for this year. As many of you may already know, in early October I had surgery to replace my hip and I became sick shortly after being released from the hospital. An ambulance rushed me to the hospital where another surgery was performed and it was discovered that I had a MRSA infection—which is often fatal. Since the initial surgery, I have had three additional surgeries to address the infection. Now I am aggressively working with the rehab specialist and am preparing for one final surgery to implant a new hip prosthesis. I anticipate—and am looking forward to—walking out of the hospital under my own steam in the first week of January and appearing at my desk on the senate floor.
So, again, I have much to be thankful for this year. I am thankful for the volunteers who operate the Keystone ambulance and came to my rescue. I am thankful for the staff at the Rapid City Regional Hospital who have taken care of me and are helping me with my rehabilitation. I am thankful for my family who have been a great support and provided great encouragement during this difficult time. I am thankful for all of your many well wishes, cards, and messages. I am thankful for many small and large things each day which I don’t mention here for the sake of brevity.
Something in particular struck me, which I have been continually thankful for throughout my life’s journey in South Dakota. Between surgery #2 and surgery #3, I was discussing what to do with a close friend who is also a physician. In a brief time I had to decide if I would go to a well-known national institution (such as the Mayo Clinic or the Cleveland Clinic)—but I wasn’t going anywhere. I knew that somehow I had been shielded in my whole life by an almost mystical shield and I knew I would recover under that shield—with Kadoka, where my grandmother homesteaded, to my east and Mount Rushmore, the key to my free life, in the my west. I am thankful to recover here, surrounded by home and I am looking ahead to applying the many things that I have learned throughout this struggle. I look forward to sharing those things with you, working with you, and visiting with you.
We can begin now. I appreciate the opportunity to share what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. What are you thankful for this year?
A Way to Go 
I shall also be thankful that you are healing…as you carry messages to Pierre for many people who need to be heard into those halls often filled with the purposely deaf and insensitive. Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Hanukah.
I knew you were struggling post-surgically, Stan, but not the whole story. Thank You! I am afraid that my parkinson’s is finally slowing me down and I don’t get out much. My dad, Tom, is feeling his years as well. Physically pretty good, mentally pretty bad. He is now in assisted living at Westhills. All the best from my family to yours at this very holy time of the year!
May the GOD of Abram not only smile upon you but hold you in HIS hand.
A greatfull Thanksgiving is yours
REK
I am thankful for you, Senator Adelstein, a voice of reason in a very lopsided legislature. Keep up the good fight for the little guy.
Sent from my iPod
I am thankful for my health, family and friends, I am also thankful for all you have done for our community Stan, wish you a good recovery from your surgery.
We are praying for you Stan!
Reblogged this on Dan Lederman and commented:
Prayers are with my colleague and friend Stan Adelstein as he recovers from a life-threatening illness.