Happy May 13th!

Conwy Castle, Conwy Wales, UK

I celebrate May 13th each year.  Back in 2015, this is the day I spent in surgery having a tumor removed and my spine rebuilt. It is the day I got back movement and most of the feeling in my legs and feet.  My re-birthday in a way. 

I had been stubborn, I knew for a long time, that something was not right, but I put off seeing a doctor.  I nearly put it off to long, I was very near to never walking again.  It was a silly thing for me to do, people can be like that.  

This hit home this year with a colleague at work, in the office next door to mine for the past 11 years.  We all knew something was not right with Lori, she lost a lot of weight, looked bad, was missing work, or working from home.  The real give away should have been a change in her behaviour.  She stopped criticizing others work, I published a couple of articles on her issues without her insisting on changing words and eliminating the extra commas.  

In March she didn't show up for a video staff meeting, wasn't replying to emails, wasn't answering her phones. The last anyone had heard from her was four days before.  The boss, called and asked the police to do a wellness check. They were concerned because her car was parked outside, and no one answered the door, so they broke in. They found her on the floor, conscious but unable to communicate.  She was taken to the hospital.  An MRI the next day revealed late stage metastasized cancer, spread to her ribs, spine, lungs and brain.  A day later she was transferred to inpatient hospice and she died a couple of days later.   

I fully respect her choice to not seek treatment. What upsets me is that she lived alone, and could have been there on the floor for days. If she had shared with someone that she was at risk, if she had asked her doctors for hospice care, she would not have faced the horror of falling, not being able to get up, not being able to get help, not knowing how long it would take her to die. 

Please don't let it happen to you. If you are not feeling well, see a doctor. If you live alone, make sure someone knows what is happening.  If you chose not to seek treatment, ask for hospice care. 

I remind myself to never take for granted the adventures of each day.  I was within a millimeter or two of my life changing drastically, or maybe ending.  We are all going to die someday, it does not have to be a terrifying death, loving care is available when we need it.  

Thank you for allowing me my annual wallow.  I try not to talk about this, it bores people.  If you ever need someone to listen to what is happening in your life, leave me a comment, email me through my profile.  The Way Were Wednesday will return next week.