--I didn't know about any of this.

I had never heard of neuropathy, had only vague notions of Internet "boards", and certainly had never expected to be able to talk about anything/everything with people I'd never seen, even on other continents.

But, while this is not a journey I would have chosen to take prior to its origin, it had certainly had its compensations. I am so much more knowledgable now, have actually sort of developed a second vocation in health advocacy, and I have a larger extended family than anyone could have ever forseen.

Is that a reasonable trade-off for the pain, the panic, the depression, the exasperating doctor visits, the insurance fights? Maybe. Maybe not. But I know I am a very different person now than I was then (and not only in the 20 extra pounds of weight around the middle department).

Am I a better person? I'll leave that for my wife and son and anyone else to argue. But I am different. And there's no going back.