Hello, I'm a 59 year old male who broke his hip in October -- 10-10-10 --- so is an easy date to remember. Prior to that, I'd been at work having problems staying awake and thinking my sleep apnea was worsening only to find out it probably was a more serious problem as I will explain.

On Jan 23, 2011, I was at home and my wife had gone to her mother's apartment. I remember telling her goodbye and then the lights are out as far as me remembering anything else that evolves. My brother found me in the bathroom slumped over the sink and then I went down to the floor and started shaking then went still. He called 911 after freaking out over what I'd done. The EMTs had to drag me down the hallway by my arms. After wrestling me up onto the gurney, I picked one up by my arm and lifted him off the floor ... bench pressing an EMT I guess. While going to hospital, I went into respiratory failure and was intubated upon arrival. They had me on the vent from the 23rd until Friday the 28th of Jan. During that time I was poked and prodded a lot. My wife told me that I was on 7 units of versed during that time so I was in the best state of mind so to speak to have multiple tests done including x-rays, CT scans, Bronchoscopy with biopsies for the mass found in upper right hilum and found out it was malignant. They also treated me for a staph pneumonia.

On March 1, I started chemo and radiation therapies. I will probably go on long-term disability due to other medical problems that seem to have worsened since last evaluated and was brought to light with all the tests for why I went into respiratory failure.

I hope to learn what mild cortical atrophy that was found is about on this website.

Thanks and glad I found it.