LIFE HAPPENS AND IT SURE DID TO ME…
God says in His good book that He will not give a man more than he can endure. In my case, I think I got the extras from a few other souls.
“Fighting cancer, chemotherapy, chemotherapy poisoning, my father’s death, my cousins death, my best friends tragic death, complete personal and corporate financial loss , enduring depression and social anxiety, fighting two sleep disorders; all this happening in 18 months was almost unbearable.”
As I continued to journal, I recorded all the crazy events that occurred in such a short period in my upside down life. Listed below is the series of life traumas that shaped the beginning of my Soft Skilled Living Wellness Workshop©. After you read these life traumas, you will understand a little better my passion to help others. After such great loss in my life, I was deeply humbled and moved.
HERE IS THE LIST
- 01/28/00 Diagnosis of Stage 2 colon cancer.
- 02/01/00 Surgery to remove lower 1/3 of sigmoid colon and cancerous tumor.
- 03/08/00 Volunteered to participate in clinical study using oxiplatium, a new chemotherapy drug treatment
- 03/14/00 Chemotherapy started.
- 04/10/00 Hospitalized with poisoning and second degree burns of entire digestive system from chemotherapy
- 04/19/00 Released from hospital
- 07/26/00 Finished Chemotherapy.
- 08/17/00 Closed my businesses.
- 11/14/00 Bleeding lead to discovery of 6 polyps
- 11/20/00 Colonoscopy to remove polyp.
- 11/23/00 Filed for Corporate and personal bankruptcy
- 11/27/00 Started new job
- 02/08/01 Colonoscopy to remove polyp.
- 03/07/01 Father passed after 9 year struggle with Alzheimer’s.
- 04/19/01 Best friend killed in an industrial accident.
- 05/07/01 Surgical removal of medi-port from chest.
- 05/16/01 Started regular discussions with Life coach
- 06/08/01 My cousin and chemo partner with colon cancer passed.
- 06/24/01 Diagnosed with depression, social anxiety, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Seasonal Affective Depression (SAD)
- 08/27/01 Tested for sleep disorder, Polysomnogram and Multiple Sleep Latency Test
- 09/15/01 Diagnosed with sleep apnea and narcolepsy
- 02/28/02 Colonoscopy to remove polyp
- 03/29/02 Knee surgery for osteoarthritis
- 06/01/02 Started all natural treatment of sleep apnea and narcolepsy
- 12/01/02 Started all natural treatment of depression
- 02/21/03 Moved to another state
- 2006 Was incorrectly diagnosed with an incurable cancer
- 03/09/07 Started series of tests for severe headaches and dizziness
- 03/07-10/07 (7 month timespan !) Blood pressure was 195 over 92, started taking medication for high blood pressure
- 03/07-10/07 (7 month timespan !) Two colonoscopies where performed to remove a nickel sized polyp that keep growing back
- 03/07-10/07 (7 month timespan !) Third colonoscopy performed by a colorectal surgeon to remove same polyp. If surgery is unsuccessful, another surgery will be required to remove the high risk area.
- 03/07-10/07 (7 month timespan !) Fourth colonoscopy to examine surgically removed polyp. It has not grown back and will schedule another colonoscopy for a two year follow up.
- 03/07-10/07 (7 month timespan !) MRI of skull is performed to look for any abnormality that may be causing severe headaches.
- 03/07-10/07 (7 month timespan !) Ultrasound is performed of all body organs and I am diagnosed with a fatty liver, elevated liver enzymes and metabolic syndrome. Blood tests reveal that I have elevated sugar levels. My weight is considered obese (5’ 10” 222lbs.) by many standards.
- 03/07-10/07 (7 month timespan !) MRI of spine is performed because of severe back pain. No abnormalities are found.
- 03/07-10/07 (7 month timespan !) Start medical treatment of depression, I wonder why at this point…
- 03/07-10/07 (7 month timespan !) Diagnosed with Stage 2 diabetes with sugar levels above 150.
- 03/07-10/07 (7 month timespan !) Have sleep study and am diagnosed with no sleep apnea due to weight loss and lifestyle changes.
- 09/21/07 (7 month timespan !) Start new career in different industry
- 10/01/07 (7 month timespan !) Implemented lifestyle changes to include intense weight loss, diet and exercise program.
- 11/05/07 (7 month timespan !) Reduce blood pressure medication by 50%
- 12/31/07 (7 month timespan !) Exercised 4 days a week, lost 38 lbs, reduce sugar level to 90 and blood pressure to 120 over 69
- 01/03/08 Stopped medication for high blood pressure
- 08/09 Two year follow up colonoscopy is performed. Polyp has grown back (2cm) and appears to be high risk.
- 08/09 Meet with Surgeon and determine surgery is needed to remove high risk area of colon
- 09/08-09/12/09 Successful surgery is performed (five day hospital stay) and pathology report reveals carcinoma in situ (in SY-too). With carcinoma in situ, abnormal cancerous cells are found only in the place where they first formed. They have not spread.
- 09/18/09 Readmitted to hospital for one day due to excessive dehydration
- 10/19/09 Return to Surgeon after being off work for six weeks.
- Somewhere I had 4 total Knee Replacements, Foot Surgery and Shoulder surgery. Two of the knee replacements were done during one surgery…..
Wow, that is one heck of a list. As I read all of these life traumas I lived through, I’m getting stomach cramps and a serious headache. Some memories are better left alone. As I journaled earlier, life is not a straight line. Life does happen and it sure did to me…
In the next section of my journal, I invite you to read my plan and use it if you like. It is very thought provoking and many have told me working through it changed the direction of their lives. Before you start writing your personal growth and wellness plan, RIGHT NOW…. Take a moment and reflect. Now get serious about your life…peace