The Thanksgiving holiday is purely an American holiday.

As many comedians have joked, leave it to Americans to create a holiday centered on the dinner table, football, leftovers, going out to the next notch on the belt and then eating again.

While Christmas is focused on celebrating the birth of Christ, Thanksgiving is focused on family, getting together and enjoying (or acting like you are enjoying) time together.

Over the past few years — like many families — the sides of my extended family have migrated to different parts of the country. Cousins have families of their own and aunts and uncles no longer clamor over who is hosting the large family gathering.

Instead, they themselves are chasing down lunch or dinner at one child’s house or the other.

I admittedly have lost touch with many of my cousins. We keep up with one another on Facebook these days, share photos of our children growing up and pass along the occasional seasonal greeting or birthday wishes. Even a few of those I might admit to sending an infrequent “War Eagle” to, but that’s only when Auburn is playing LSU or another team that I need them to beat.

One such cousin I have kept up with through social media is my cousin Katie. She and her family live in the Dothan, Ala., area.

Katie and her husband have a beautiful family, with girls who are growing up and very active.

Just recently, I learned that one of Katie’s daughters, Jasmine, is fighting neurofibromatosis, a condition in which tumors grow in the nervous system.

She is soon scheduled to have surgery that is aimed at saving her sight.

Beginning Wednesday evening, Jasmine’s school, Dothan High School, will be putting on the play “A Seussified Christmas Carol” for the next week, to help raise money for the family’s medical expenses.

As for neurofibromatosis, I’ve done some studying. Although normally tumors are benign, they can occasionally become cancerous.

This is not Jasmine’s first battle with this disease. She has battled it before and won, and I expect and pray she will do so this time.

It is always tough when children are sick. I know how my heart aches when my children have fevers and ant bites. I cannot imagine the anguish of watching your son or daughter battle this or other serious ailments.

This is the time of the year when children should be counting the days until Christmas morning, wondering where their Elf on the Shelf will turn up tomorrow morning or if this is the year Vicksburg has a white Christmas. They should not be worried about pre-surgery registration, blood tests and medical procedures.

But, this is a world far too often as it is and not as it should be.

I’ve learned a lot about neurofibromatosis — including how to spell it — since learning of Jasmine’s condition, and I am so proud of her fellow students stepping up and giving this wonderful gift to my cousin’s family.

Dothan’s more than a few hours away, so I won’t be able to make the play, but I hope for a great show and a great turnout.

In addition to my prayers for Jasmine, maybe I should add a prayer or two for more family gatherings, a few stories from the past and the opportunity to make a few new ones.