Hey, I know my fellow Otters knew I went inactive for a season or so. I wonder if anyone else noticed. Wouldn't be offended if you didn't. But here's my story.
This is real life stuff. Not a fictional story or anything. I have a lung disease and three and a half years ago I received a double lung transplant. it gave me fresh life and a new beginning. But about a month an a half ago I became quite ill. I was diagnosed with pneumonia, which kills a LOT of lung transplant patients. I fought through it and returned home, only to find a week later it came back, and harder. A lot harder. I was gasping for air like I was drowning. I sincerely thought I was going to die one night, as I did my best to explain to my friend in the hospital room with me all the things I wanted at my funeral and how to make the arrangements. I could feel myself getting weaker by the hour. Eventually I go so bad they had to but me on a respirator and fly me to New York City to be treated. I woke up in the ICU with a tube in my mouth and on some seriously heavy stuff. I was hallucinating and nothing made sense. No joke, I thought I was on a naval vessel because there was a circular window and I heard a toot sound once.
Eventually I regained strength and the doctors removed the breathing tube from my throat and I was able to breathe on my own once again. But it was still extremely labored and with oxygen on. As it turns out, in addition to the pneumonia, my lungs also were suffering from rejection. Rejection is when your body's immune system recognizes the new organ as an invader and attacks it. I take medicine that is supposed to prevent it, but sometimes it happens anyways. So, for me, both rejection and infection hit simultaneously. This double whammy should have killed me. I spent the entire month of May in the hospital fighting this combo.
Through a series of different treatments, I was able to stave off further damage to my lungs from rejection and am now in the destroying the bacterial infection that is causing pneumonia part of the battle. I am back home from the hospital and on IV medication. I am still on oxygen and likely will be for the rest of my life. Any sort o exertion is very tiring for me, so getting up and walking to the bathroom makes me feel like you would if you ran down the street as fast as you can. It's annoying to have to catch your breath every time you do a simple task.
Why am I telling you all this? Do I want your sympathy or pity? No. I want to let you all know how fleeting life is, and that no matter how great you are one day, you never know what cards are gonna fall into your hand next. You could get cancer, get hit by a car and paralyzed, or you could win the lottery.
My message is this: Enjoy what you have. Any loved ones you have, cherish them. Tell them you love them. Let them know what you mean to them, because you never truly know what the future brings. You have one life. Go live it. Got a chance to go see a band you love? Go see them, don't put it off. Have a chance to go to that country you love? Go. Forget whatever is gonna hold you back from making memories you're going to cherish for a lot longer than whatever obligations are holding you back (unless it's your kid. Stay if you've gotta ditch your child to do it. Be a good parent.) Go ask that girl or guy out. You literally have nothing to lose. This is your only shot at life, make every decision count.
670 words
This is real life stuff. Not a fictional story or anything. I have a lung disease and three and a half years ago I received a double lung transplant. it gave me fresh life and a new beginning. But about a month an a half ago I became quite ill. I was diagnosed with pneumonia, which kills a LOT of lung transplant patients. I fought through it and returned home, only to find a week later it came back, and harder. A lot harder. I was gasping for air like I was drowning. I sincerely thought I was going to die one night, as I did my best to explain to my friend in the hospital room with me all the things I wanted at my funeral and how to make the arrangements. I could feel myself getting weaker by the hour. Eventually I go so bad they had to but me on a respirator and fly me to New York City to be treated. I woke up in the ICU with a tube in my mouth and on some seriously heavy stuff. I was hallucinating and nothing made sense. No joke, I thought I was on a naval vessel because there was a circular window and I heard a toot sound once.
Eventually I regained strength and the doctors removed the breathing tube from my throat and I was able to breathe on my own once again. But it was still extremely labored and with oxygen on. As it turns out, in addition to the pneumonia, my lungs also were suffering from rejection. Rejection is when your body's immune system recognizes the new organ as an invader and attacks it. I take medicine that is supposed to prevent it, but sometimes it happens anyways. So, for me, both rejection and infection hit simultaneously. This double whammy should have killed me. I spent the entire month of May in the hospital fighting this combo.
Through a series of different treatments, I was able to stave off further damage to my lungs from rejection and am now in the destroying the bacterial infection that is causing pneumonia part of the battle. I am back home from the hospital and on IV medication. I am still on oxygen and likely will be for the rest of my life. Any sort o exertion is very tiring for me, so getting up and walking to the bathroom makes me feel like you would if you ran down the street as fast as you can. It's annoying to have to catch your breath every time you do a simple task.
Why am I telling you all this? Do I want your sympathy or pity? No. I want to let you all know how fleeting life is, and that no matter how great you are one day, you never know what cards are gonna fall into your hand next. You could get cancer, get hit by a car and paralyzed, or you could win the lottery.
My message is this: Enjoy what you have. Any loved ones you have, cherish them. Tell them you love them. Let them know what you mean to them, because you never truly know what the future brings. You have one life. Go live it. Got a chance to go see a band you love? Go see them, don't put it off. Have a chance to go to that country you love? Go. Forget whatever is gonna hold you back from making memories you're going to cherish for a lot longer than whatever obligations are holding you back (unless it's your kid. Stay if you've gotta ditch your child to do it. Be a good parent.) Go ask that girl or guy out. You literally have nothing to lose. This is your only shot at life, make every decision count.
670 words
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