I worked so hard in my other self to be an executive in the casino industry. I finally made it to the top, and actually held 3 of the Director positions....my favorite being the Marketing Director. My wife and I lived in the foothills raising 6 kids. Three were our own, and three were my cousins that were removed from my Aunt.
I am glad that I was able to travel around the globe at a young age, and also teach my kids how to camp, fish, and hunt. I loved to take them to car shows, ballgames, and anywhere and everywhere in the mountains. I could rebuild a car from the ground up, or run my horse to the top of the mountain. I would lift weights 4 days a week, and loved to walk around the 20 acre ranch we owned.....Life was truly wonderful!
Then one day the doctor told me he was concerned with my family history with heart disease. My dad had passed away at the age of 48 after his second triple bypass. He was 34 when he had his first, and I was 41 when the doctor suggested I go in for an angiogram.
I didnt see anything wrong with the idea, and actually wanted to prove what I already knew.....my heart and arteries were in great shape! After the angiogram I woke up in the ICU! I knew something was up, but everyone told me I was healthy as could be, even the doctor said he would see me in 15 years. They kept me all day checking the pulse in each ankle saying that they just wanted to watch me for a while. After 16 hours they let me go home, and said see ya in 15 years!
7 days later I was back! My right leg was white as snow, and hurt like it had a semi truck sitting on it. They did an ultrasound and found no pulse, and then rushed me into another angiogram. They woke me up in the middle of the angio, and showed me the blockage, told me to get an attorney, and that they were rushing me to surgery......and when I wake up...........I may not have a right leg!!!!!
I dont remember much for a few days as they had me on a morphine pump that I could push a button every 6 minutes.....but I did have a right leg! Never could sue, and never could work again, in fact fought hard to stay out of a wheelchair. Pretty much lost my will to live due to the intense pain that never ended, but in fact began to spread.
Due to the friends I made here in this wonderful forum....I learned to look at what I could do, instead of focusing on all the things I could never do again. I still mourn the life I once had, but try to keep my focus on the things I can and am doing now.
In fact I read an article today that really inspired me to keep at my goal of having a Television talk show on the Paranormal. We have a meeting the 22nd, and I am excited!!! The pain is still terrible, and some days I cannot even hardly get myself out of bed.....But I do, and will until I cannot
Here is a link to the article. Hopefully it inspires you as much as it has me....
http://www.rsds.org/newsletter/
You all are amazing!!! No retreat....No surrender!!