I posted about my good friend whose life is hell due to the incapacity of her husband caused by medical errors. Although they will be financially able to afford his care, they will be forever in a state of hell. That put my petty concerns into perspective really fast.
Now, I have had three friends in the last couple of weeks who are all dealing with various stages of medical problems - all of which have long term consequences for them and remind all of us of our mortality. One friend, who was actually just diagnosed a few weeks ago, is undergoing treatment that I'm afraid my actually kill him. Although no one wants to say the words "palliative care" I think they are important to keep in mind. Treatment that provides no anticipation of any future quality of life may not be the best choice.
Another friend is having problems with medication balances which are rendering her virtually a prisoner in her home since she has no idea when she will just collapse! A scary thing to find your body is just unable to hold you up anymore and finding your self on the floor.
And another just sent an email that says "Need to reschedule because we have an appointment at Hopkins that day that we can't change...." OK, that is actually code for "we are seeking a second or third opinion, or we have something so complicated that we are heading to Hopkins." Although Johns Hopkins is just about an hour away from us no one uses it as our first line medical care. So, that email tells me a lot in a few words.
Knock wood, we are all in good health, including my 92 year old father, so even when I complain I really know that I have nothing to complain about. Life is good. My job now is to be a good friend to all these good friends since I know they would do the same for me.
1 comment:
My mother and I were just talking this morning about what a gift good health is. We are both in robust health (although that looks a bit different at 85 than it does at 64), and too conscious of what the alternative is like.
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