My friend Leah (www.califmom.com) has been blogging about her husband's cancer and chemo treatments. To say I can relate is an understatement. You "never know what you had until you have lost it" is an old phrase that rings so true when it comes to your health. After dealing with heart disease for 20 years I have only memories of what it was like just to get out of bed and feel normal. The "N" word for me has been elusive. It has become a word of dynamic proportions since "normal" for me is a constantly evolving situation. The worst part of being a "sicko" or a person with a "Medical Condition" for those lacking sacarsm is the "Stigma" that becomes forever attached to you. I only recently spoke of this with another transplant patient (GO ANNA) who recently recieved another transplant (kidney) about being stigmatized by even your peers. You really are never again looked at as "whole"(?) you are forever somewhat deficient. After my transplant people would always ask Melanie, "should he be doing that?" "is he allowed to do this?" I wanted to get on a box and start secreaming that "YES, I can fucking do it. Get educated and realize I am a person who just wants to be normal (there's that "N" word again) and not coddled or set in the corner while well meaning peole do whatever for me. But my rational wife told me to keep my mouth shut and just accept their gracious gifts of help. It was hardest since I have never relied on anyone to help me with any physical activity....EVER.
I have been very fortunate have been sent to Stanford University 20 years ago and introdueced to some amazing, talented and dedicated doctors who truly believe in trying to save lives. Namely my friend Dr. Michael Fowler whom many of patients dubbed the "salt Nazi" for his attempts to reduce patients sodium intake. I call him the best "Patient Advocate" ever!! If you need it, he will find a way for it to happen.There are many other doctors and nurses whom are just as dedicated that wholly go unrecognized, except by those of us who were on the recieving end of their excellent care. So to all of my fellow "sickos" out there join me in telling those who no longer believe we are "normal" by telling them to
"KISS OUR COLLECTIVE ASSES" sssssmmmmmooooooccchhhhhhhhh
Thursday, August 27, 2009
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2 comments:
You and I seem to be requiring a lot of ass kissing lately. I need to put out velvet ropes for the lines forming around here.
Amen to what you wrote ... although I think I was guilty of being one of the people you wrote about!
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