This touches on several subjects so I hope it belongs here.
The Diagnosis.
I was recently diagnosed with Hemochromatosis. This is a fairly common disease that many people don’t know they have. It can be a killer though... so men, especially if you're over 40....Get your Iron checked !!!
My body has a defective gene (Hemochromatosis) and it doesn’t regulate Iron uptake. Iron gets stored up and goes into ‘overload’. Stored everywhere and in all organs.... my Doc said, "It's like rust. Little things start to go wrong...then break... and eventually you fall apart (die)." To get the Iron out, I had 2 Phlebotomies (they take out a pint of blood at each session).
In addition to the iron build up, my Hemoglobin and Hematocrit were off the chart (think blood clots and strokes). Losing the blood also lowered these.
So now...I'm good...actually better than good....I feel better than I've felt in years … and I didn’t feel bad ! I just have to get blood draws every 3 wks to monitor for a while and get Phlebotomies as needed . Basically....I dodged a bullet. The cross hairs were on my head... the trigger pulled... the bullet on it's way....and I moved….. just in time.
Life is about experiences.
Knowing the possible outcomes of my tests (One was Cancer) challenged me. I know Worry is a waste of energy. Even so....I'm only human.
My faith was also challenged...but I stand strong.
I had blood drawn from an artery in my wrist….yea...that hurt like Hell ! I had 2 IV’s stuck in me at once for an hour. I was injected with a radioactive ‘tracer’. I had more blood draws in two weeks than I’ve had my entire life. I had ultrasounds of every organ. I’m a pretty tough guy so all this was fine.....not fun, but fine. It was difficult because I’ve always been healthy and I wasn’t used to all this.
The Cancer Center.
My Hematologist (blood doctor) works out of a Cancer Center. I've never stepped foot inside a cancer center before. This was a very, very moving experience for me. There are a LOT of sick people out there. If I were to see some of these people on the street, I wouldn’t know they have cancer….others….it is obvious.
My Phlebotomies were done in a large room where other patients were receiving treatment for their disease. Their children, Husbands and Wives were with them. One patient's Sister had been by her side for a month (she took work off..no pay). One patient was a 22 year old girl....her Mother sat with her, holding her hand. She covered her with a blanket from home to help keep her warm.
My Wife said to me, ”Oh, it was depressing.” No…..it wasn’t. There was a LOT of love there. It was clear to me that much of the staff loved what they did. I saw it in their eyes...in the way they looked at and talked with patients...the way they helped them.
The patients were all ages, all ethnic backgrounds, all levels of financial status…...and no one cared about any of that. They were so nice, so polite, so real. It was amazing to me.
Everyone was hanging on to life. Fighting.
Compassion…
Because of my experience, my level of compassion has risen to a level I’ve never before experienced. I filled out an application online to volunteer in any way I can at that Cancer Center. Today I got a call. After a lengthy conversation, I was told someone would call me soon to start the process of becoming a Spiritual Counselor. I am honored.
The Diagnosis.
I was recently diagnosed with Hemochromatosis. This is a fairly common disease that many people don’t know they have. It can be a killer though... so men, especially if you're over 40....Get your Iron checked !!!
My body has a defective gene (Hemochromatosis) and it doesn’t regulate Iron uptake. Iron gets stored up and goes into ‘overload’. Stored everywhere and in all organs.... my Doc said, "It's like rust. Little things start to go wrong...then break... and eventually you fall apart (die)." To get the Iron out, I had 2 Phlebotomies (they take out a pint of blood at each session).
In addition to the iron build up, my Hemoglobin and Hematocrit were off the chart (think blood clots and strokes). Losing the blood also lowered these.
So now...I'm good...actually better than good....I feel better than I've felt in years … and I didn’t feel bad ! I just have to get blood draws every 3 wks to monitor for a while and get Phlebotomies as needed . Basically....I dodged a bullet. The cross hairs were on my head... the trigger pulled... the bullet on it's way....and I moved….. just in time.
Life is about experiences.
Knowing the possible outcomes of my tests (One was Cancer) challenged me. I know Worry is a waste of energy. Even so....I'm only human.
My faith was also challenged...but I stand strong.
I had blood drawn from an artery in my wrist….yea...that hurt like Hell ! I had 2 IV’s stuck in me at once for an hour. I was injected with a radioactive ‘tracer’. I had more blood draws in two weeks than I’ve had my entire life. I had ultrasounds of every organ. I’m a pretty tough guy so all this was fine.....not fun, but fine. It was difficult because I’ve always been healthy and I wasn’t used to all this.
The Cancer Center.
My Hematologist (blood doctor) works out of a Cancer Center. I've never stepped foot inside a cancer center before. This was a very, very moving experience for me. There are a LOT of sick people out there. If I were to see some of these people on the street, I wouldn’t know they have cancer….others….it is obvious.
My Phlebotomies were done in a large room where other patients were receiving treatment for their disease. Their children, Husbands and Wives were with them. One patient's Sister had been by her side for a month (she took work off..no pay). One patient was a 22 year old girl....her Mother sat with her, holding her hand. She covered her with a blanket from home to help keep her warm.
My Wife said to me, ”Oh, it was depressing.” No…..it wasn’t. There was a LOT of love there. It was clear to me that much of the staff loved what they did. I saw it in their eyes...in the way they looked at and talked with patients...the way they helped them.
The patients were all ages, all ethnic backgrounds, all levels of financial status…...and no one cared about any of that. They were so nice, so polite, so real. It was amazing to me.
Everyone was hanging on to life. Fighting.
Compassion…
Because of my experience, my level of compassion has risen to a level I’ve never before experienced. I filled out an application online to volunteer in any way I can at that Cancer Center. Today I got a call. After a lengthy conversation, I was told someone would call me soon to start the process of becoming a Spiritual Counselor. I am honored.
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