Health is such a blessing. I have not been blessed with great health. For the past fifteen years it seems I have battled one ailment after the other. I haven't complained because I appreciate the fact that I am still vertical and still functioning and many of my friends and associated are no longer here.
It was fifteen years ago that I was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. This is such an insidious disease. So frequently, it is a death sentence. The doctors told me that I was to undergo a Whipple operation. This was, at the time, a comparatively new procedure developed by a doctor in Finland. I was told that there was a one in five chance to die on the operating table. Twenty percent chance that I would die not from the cancer but from the procedure. Frightening!
I was then told that I would have a 3% chance of living three months and a 1% chance of living for one year. I was also told that the procedure would remove my pancreas except for the stem, the gall bladder, most of my stomach and most of my lower or small intestine. It would ten take several weeks for my body to train itself to again function.
Well, it didn't take several weeks. It took six and one half months. I went 196 days with nothing to eat of drink. Not even a sip of water. I had tubes and hoses out of my body with input feeding tubes and drainage tubes for waste. I was given shots into my stomach each day.
BUT, I survived the surgery and became known as "The Miracle Man" for living longer than anyone previously lived after the Pancreatic Cancer procedures. That was 15 years ago and I'm still moving on.
As a result of the Whipple operation and the removal of so many of my internal organs, I was rushed to the hospital three years ago after experiencing severe stomach pains. The doctors discovered that due to the removal of so much of my small intestine, that I needed more major surgery. The average man has about 26 feet of small intestine/bowel. I had only eight inches remaining in my body and it had "died". A famed surgeon was going to attempt salvaging the little bit that still showed some color and function. After a very lengthy procedure my wife, daughters and grandchildren were summoned and told that the procedure failed and I would not survive. The family gathered around the bed to tell me goodbye. I was till unconscious but somehow felt their presence and knew the dire consequences.
Suddenly, a nurse quickly exclaimed, "Its turning pink. It's turning pink!" The few inches of bowel/intestine began to function and again I was blessed. It was and exceedingly traumatic experience for my family but great jubilation and happiness replaced the tears and trembling chins.
I now have Celiac Spru disease because I have no small intestine to absorb gluten. So - no wheat, grain or barley in my diet. No bread, pastry, pasta, gravies or sauces, donuts, cookies or cereals. Nothing with flour. That is not an easy diet to maintain and takes great training and will power to keep.
In between these two major ailments, I have had a total knee replacement, a hip replacement and other much smaller ailments and procedures. Needless to say, I am weary of hospitals, doctors offices, MRI's, CAT scans, Lab procedures and countless prescriptions. (I take 31 pills each day.)
My sweet wife has been practically a full-time care given but never complains.
Well, with the above recounting of my ailments, let me say I feel surprisingly good. I am active, involved and surprise many people when they see me. They expect to see someone who is feeble, wan, and weary. I'm not. I'm told I look good and I know that I feel good.
I'll be 81 years old in two weeks. I never thought I would reach 65 at the time of my cancer. Every day is a blessing and I am enjoying every day. Each day is a blessing. I am loving life.
