It's January 2011 and no signs of a Crisis (kidney disease, kidney failure, renal disease)

Yesterday my boss, Margaret Heveron, said to me with a thumbs up, "Matt, it's January!" For a few seconds I tried to figure out what in the world she was talking about. I thought, I know its January. It's been January for almost two weeks now.
But she didn't announce this in order to brief me on the new year. It was only after she said, "it has been a year. You made it without any complications."
I have to preface this now. A few weeks ago, in Margaret's office, I was told there was going to be a Christmas party for the teachers and staff on December 15th (or 16th...) and my company (not the nativity, but my presence) would be much appreciated. Excited to be with my friends and colleagues, I happily accepted the invitation.
"The other day," she started, "I was thinking about you. It occurred to me that its December; the holidays are approaching. You haven't been in crisis mode." I was quiet for a few (what seemed like awkward) seconds to try and solve this puzzle. Margaret continued, "Every year for the last few years you've been in a state of crisis around this time. That's why I prayed. I thought, if he shows up at the Christmas party we'll know this year is different; he's not in the hospital, and he's not sick."
It's been years since I stopped thinking my state of health has ever been in a state of crises. After my transplant I adapted to the insulin needles, the handful of pills, and the bi-yearly bouts with the flue (or other viral/bacterial infections) and somewhere during that time I got used to living unwell. In other words, not-bring-in-the-hospital days or not-throwing-up-in-bed became good days. The former became just not-feeling-so-great-days. Never had anyone, besides my therapist, referred to such days as days in which I was "in a state of crises."
I said to Margaret, "I appreciate what you're saying. It means a lot to me. Really. It means a lot."
"I said a prayer that this year will be different. This year I pray that you will continue to avoid a state of crises."
When Margaret notified me of the month it was not to inform me of the new year. It was to congratulate me on passing through December without a any incidents of crises. Sometimes I think I'm completely alone in my experience with kidney disease. How could anyone possibly understand what it feels like. Well, maybe they don't. But I know a lot of friends who are speaking to god on my behalf.