Yesterday, being April 1st, I had my appointment with my nephrologist and it was a bit less amusing than a bad April Fool's joke.
I was aware that my latest lab results were not good but it still hit me like a punch in the gut when, after looking at my labs and then looking me over, the doctor said quite emphatically to me:
"I can promise you within six months you're going to need to be on dialysis."
He is aware, as are most of you, that I am still
C O M P L E T E L Y against this course of action.
And so I have a lot of thinking to do.
Praying for calm.
Looking for guidance.
Right now my brain hurts.
I'll keep you posted.
be sound bob...
ReplyDeleteBite the Bullet and "Just do it" don't wait until you are to sick that it won't matter. Think of your family, your loved ones, if they were in your shoes what would you want them to do. Also talk to your loved ones, when they ask be honest and open. Talk to people who have gone on it, know the bad and the good. If you don't keep yourself healthy enough for the transplant then whats the point. You need to keep up with the up keep to ensure you reach the overall goal of you being healthy enough when the transplant opportunity arises.
ReplyDeleteYou're a good man Bob, we want you to stick around a while.
- A Friend
Hey Dad if you need someone to just vent to or bounce ideas off of let me know.
ReplyDeleteLove ya
Trav
Your doctor is trying to bring you out of denial. He could tell you what you want to hear but that won't do you any good when you're dead.
ReplyDeleteAll this attention on you is just great, Bob. But when you're gone, you're gone. No one can see you floating around.
Maybe you should ask yourself as a Christian, if God sends the doctors and the solutions to extend your life, how will he feel when you try to cut your life short because you don't like the options. Meanwhile, your family and friends suffer.
Life is all about choices but their never all about you and only you.
Choose carefully and open up your mind and heart to all your options.
All of these anonymous(e) contributors.....
ReplyDeleteFirst, I want to thank you for your comments.
Even though some folks evidently do not understand me, I do appreciate them. We can agree to disagree.
Second, I am going to go against the advice of the famed major league baseball legend Yogi Berra when he said:
“Never answer an anonymous letter”
In the years that I have had on this earth and for all my days remaining, I have and will continue to do my very best for the ones, the many that I love. For the holier-than-thou others, who feel they have the sapient wisdom of the eternal ages, I would ask you not to throw the first stone until you've walked a mile in different moccasins.
When I was first determined to be in end stage kidney failure, one of the very first things I did was to meet with my pastor to determine my church / faith's position on my choice preferring not to undertake extraordinary means of self preservation, i.e. dialysis. My pastor, realizing that I am a Christian in good standing with my church, advised that God would not hold my decision against me and that in time until such situation presented itself, it would serve me well to reflect and pray. To which I have done more than ANYone knows.
Further more, this story, this blog, is not "for all this attention" on me. It is to keep those whom I love apprised of my health situation. It is not for fame or fancy. Those who truly know me / love me know what kind of a person I am - what I fundamentally believe and what I fundamentally respect. If my decisions now, or any that I may need to make in the future, make you uncomfortable in your seat please know I will keep you in my prayers.
Until then... don't even look for me "floating around".
So if your faith doesn't interfere with dialysis, why not do it?
ReplyDeleteLet's hash it out...
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteNo one really knows how they will respond to a given situation until they themselves are in that situation. While modern medicine can keep you alive forever these days, one has to consider the quality of life the person will have after such treatments are started. As with most things in life, Quality trumps Quantity, and respecting an individuals choice is essential.
Hez.....LETS GO PENS!!! I understand where you are coming from my friend...I respect your wishes. :)
ReplyDelete