The testing my mettle continues.

Thunder_o_b
  • #1
The Creator has seen fit over the course of my life to test my resilience, resolve and ability to smile (there is a better word that starts with 's' but I will stick with 'smile' for this post) in the face of adversity.

I just got up a little while ago (it is now 09:10 est) normally I am up at 02:30 est to start my day with a glass of juice and my morning workout before heading to work. I was not at home the last couple of days as I was in the hospital. After a 15.5 hr. day on Tuesday I got home a little more tired than usual. I did not have much of an appetite and ate very little. I went to bed and was woken up at midnight with an upset stomach. Over the next three hours I proceeded to expel a lot of blood from both ends. The last time in the bathroom I collapsed rather hard and woke Sunhawk up. So off to the ER I went. The long and short of it is I had a bleeding ulcer below the stomach that they needed to burn shut with a laser beam. It is very cool what they can do these days.

Add that to the case of poison ivy I got last week doing yard work.

Once again I had a Dr. tell me that my physical condition really played to my favor. My resting heart rate is at or below 50 BPM and when I sleep it falls below 20 BPM. I had lost 25% of my blood but they decided that because of the above I would only need liquid transfusions and no whole blood (YAY ) Seven years ago this happened out in the desert of Texas. That time I did need a transfusion. I was down to 3 units of blood out of the 12 I should have. They are still trying to figure out why I survived at all let alone with no brain damage.

Sunhawk of course was with me. She is indeed my little ray of sunshine (I nicked named her Sunshine back in high school) in a dark and forbidding world.

I once again found myself laying in a hospital bed with IV's sticking into me reflecting on my life, and the convoluted path it has taken as well as the good fortune to have interacted with the people that have crossed it.

It was a strange feeling to walk out of the GI ward after two days, in my jeans, leather and silver (biker, remember) knowing that many there might be not going home any time soon. The fellow that shared my room had me by 10 years, was 4" shorter than me and weighed 297 lbs. He could barely shuffle to the rest room and had no ability to clean himself (I had to use the restroom down the hall) each meal that he ordered had 3-4x the calories of mine with no greens. It broke my heart to see him dealing with the results of a life of choices that lead him here. His family was there in large numbers and clearly loves him very much. I pray that he will be able to come through this and live a long and healthy life.

To all my friends here but especially the younger members I give this council. Consider the choices you make very carefully. For even the seemingly smallest of them can have a very large impact as your life progresses. Take care of yourself. But not just your body. Feed your mind and spirit. Love yourself for you are as unique among people each snowflake is amongst its fellows.

And hug all those that are dear to you and tell them how much you love them, for this life is fleeting

Learn from the dog people. Take time to play. Enjoy a nap in the shade on a hot summer's day, and never bite when a little growl will do.

Speaking of naps, I am a little tired. I will see you all a little later
 

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Geoff
  • #2
Glad to hear you made it through! I agree with you wholeheartedly. I was diagnosed with cancer 6 years ago at 32 years old. So you are absolutely very right.
 

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BornThisWayBettas
  • #3
Wow. Thank you for sharing. You are........ inspirational. I'm glad you are okay. Thank you, again.
 
gypsy32
  • #4
That was a very insightful post it is true that we are so busy doing life but not really living it & how quickly things can change, we do forget to just stop every now & then to smell the roses so to speak...

Modern medicine is a marvel 100 years ago you probably would have died with your illness

Its a wonder that they let such a large fellow eat bad food while in hospital you'd think they would have put him on a diet, I definitely would be using the toilet down the hall

Just think of how lucky you are! you survived for one.... it could have been worse....

Hope you are on the mend & all is back to normal soon




Sent from my SM-T113 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app
 
aliray
  • #5
Glad your home and doing better.......Alison
 
Lucy
  • #6
My goodness Thunder you've had a go of it, haven't you.
Glad to hear you are home, resting and once again on the mend.
I'm sure Sunhawk is taking very good care of you.



 

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Thunder_o_b
  • Thread Starter
  • #7
Glad to hear you made it through! I agree with you wholeheartedly. I was diagnosed with cancer 6 years ago at 32 years old. So you are absolutely very right.
Thank you Geoff
I hope you are in remission and stay there.

Wow. Thank you for sharing. You are........ inspirational. I'm glad you are okay. Thank you, again.
Thank you BornThisWayBettas
I try to share what I learn over the years in the hopes of being of some help to others.

That was a very insightful post it is true that we are so busy doing life but not really living it & how quickly things can change, we do forget to just stop every now & then to smell the roses so to speak...

Modern medicine is a marvel 100 years ago you probably would have died with your illness

Its a wonder that they let such a large fellow eat bad food while in hospital you'd think they would have put him on a diet, I definitely would be using the toilet down the hall

Just think of how lucky you are! you survived for one.... it could have been worse....

Hope you are on the mend & all is back to normal soon




Sent from my SM-T113 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app
Thank you gypsy

I too wondered about the way he was eating.

I have indeed been blessed throughout my life.

This one of many interesting challenges I have faced that required a bit help. My introduction to the world was being a forceps baby. The Dr. nearly ripped my head off while I was still mostly in mother. Took a complete rebuild of the right side of my neck and shoulder muscles.

But the truth is that there are so many more people that have over come far more under much worse conditions than I ever have. My heroes are the children fighting cancer. The gifted minds in limited bodies that have the foresight and illumination that could change the world.

Glad your home and doing better.......Alison

Thank you Alison

I will be back in the truck come Monday. The sad thing is that I was asked to be the photographer at the company gathering again this year. It is tomorrow and I know that I just am not up to it. I hate not being able to do what I said I would do. I went to work today to get my pay check (Sunhawk drove) My boss took a look at me and said he was calling them and telling them I would not be there. He is a good guy.

But I have my fishes to look at as I sit here
 
Thunder_o_b
  • Thread Starter
  • #8
My goodness Thunder you've had a go of it, haven't you.
Glad to hear you are home, resting and once again on the mend.
I'm sure Sunhawk is taking very good care of you.

Thank you Lucy

Yeah, it has been an interesting couple of years. Sunhawk, I do not have the words to convey the depth of meaning she brings to my life. She takes very good care of me. The best of it is she does not baby me but guides me back to health and strength.
 
Anders247
  • #9
Glad you're home and feeling better!
 
Thunder_o_b
  • Thread Starter
  • #10
Glad you're home and feeling better!

Thank you Anders

Well as Dory from finding Nemo said "just keep swimming, just keep swimming."
 

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BornThisWayBettas
  • #11
Well as Dory from finding Nemo said "just keep swimming, just keep swimming."
Ah, Dory, she is a wise one, isn't she?
 
Thunder_o_b
  • Thread Starter
  • #12
waterlilykari
  • #13
Keep us updated!


 
Thunder_o_b
  • Thread Starter
  • #14
Keep us updated!

Will do

Dr. said no weight training, heavy bag work or sparing at the dojo. So I am left with just stretching for at least a week
 
waterlilykari
  • #15
Will do

Dr. said no weight training, heavy bag work or sparing at the dojo. So I am left with just stretching for at least a week

That's a shame! What discipline do you study through your dojo?


 
Thunder_o_b
  • Thread Starter
  • #16
That's a shame! What discipline do you study through your dojo?

I go Sundays. 9-10 boxing, 10-11 Mixed martial arts, 11-12 Brazilian jujitsu. I have been forgoing the Brazilian jujitsu since my knee replacement. But in another month or so I will have the flexibility to start it again. I can get my heel less then 2" from my butt. When I have full range I will be ready for the mat again. Though I would prefer traditional jujitsu it is not offered on Sunday.

Oh, I am not claiming to be any good at any of it (been messing with it since high school) it is just for health and fitness. I am eying TaI chI and wing chun. I hope to build a wooden man this summer.
 

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