Beyond the frenzied shopping, food feasting and the football, some families had reason to be truly thankful over the Thanksgiving holiday. Some of the blessings were basic to life, like the air we breathe.

In Tacoma, Washington, the family of Erik Brooks have been thankful on every Thanksgiving holiday for the past 13 years. Erik was just 4 months old when he suffered two heart attacks in one month.To shock the organ back to life, he became one of the youngest patients ever to have a defibrillator inserted on Thanksgiving 2001. Since his heart was performing normally, the defibrillator was removed in 2008.The lack of oxygen getting to Erik's brain during those two heart attacks as an infant affected his speech and motor skills. The Brooks family, however, look to their son as a source of inspiration.Erika, the boy's mom, said she sees it as a reminder to count your blessings, enjoy those good moments and take one day at a time. His dad, Carl, said the doctors still can't explain Erik's survival 13 years ago when he was such a tiny infant. Just being able to watch his son grow strong has been a miracle for Carl.A family in Newburgh, New York, about 60 miles north of New York City, is also counting their blessings this holiday after two young cousins survived in an air pocket after being trapped for seven hours in a snowbank. Nine-year-old Jason Rivera and 11-year-old Elijah Martinez were building a snow fort inside in a parking lot across from one of their homes when a snowplow unknowingly buried them in a 5-foot pile. Several other plows came through, adding to the snow bank.Fortunately, the boys were in a snow pocket that allowed for some limited movement and life-saving air to breathe. The boys also applied some basic survival techniques such as sharing Elijah's face mask, trying to keep their hands warm and talking to each other so they wouldn't fall asleep.When the brothers didn't return home, their parents became worried and called police.After being reported missing just after 6 p.m. Wednesday, a frantic search by police and neighbors ensued.Officers spent hours canvassing the neighborhood for the boys with a K-9, eventually returning to the parking lot where they heard muffled sounds calling for help under the snow.After furious digging by rescuers, the boys were pulled out, gasping for air.Both boys spent the holiday weekend recovering in the hospital, and enjoying every breath of life.By JIM ZBICKtneditor@tnonline.com