Five years ago today my life changed forever, five years ago I thought I had a great life. I had gotten married three months earlier and was so happy with my life, I was over weight, not physically active, had no control of my diabetes, but I loved my life, or I thought I did. Five years ago I woke up and my right arm was swollen and was causing me a lot of pain. I still remember that morning, when I awoke I told Leanne that my arm was sore to which she responded "Take a couple aspirin, you'll be fine." I did so and went off to work where I was unable to use my right arm, I drove myself to the emergency and was wheeled off for an ultrasound. After the scan I was told I should call a family member, I remember I called my mother because I knew something was wrong, I didn't call Leanne because I was afraid of what it could be. How do you tell your new wife that your sick, and that the doctors would blow my cover. They would know that I haven't been taking care of my diabetes for over ten years, I wanted to hide that from her. I knew that when she found out that I had been lying since I met her that I could lose everything in my life.
After two surgeries to remove a blood clot in my right arm and the doctors telling Leanne and I that "You should be dead" Leanne was still by my side. Why? I don't know but I'm never allowed to question her love for me ever again. I know that any other person would leave after what I put her through for the next six months. It was the worse six months of my life, I hated my life and hated that I had to take control of my diabetes. When I went in to the hospital I had an A1C of 14, and was still using NPH and regular to control my diabetes. For six months I had to learn how to use an insulin pump, how to count carbs and how to test my blood sugar six times a day. I was doing none of these things before my surgery.
We all know that I learned how to do all of those things very well, I even learned how to become an athlete in five years. In five years however I finally learned how to enjoy life. A lot of people say that I should get over being in the hospital five years ago, but how can you forget about an event that changed who you are as a person. It is weird but when your told you should be dead you have a much different view of the world. Five years ago I had no confidence and no drive to succeed. Today I work my butt off in everything that I do, no matter what it is I want to be the best. I feel that I got a second chance, I remember sitting in the hospital after they removed my first rib, this is a bit nasty, but I was told if I could urinate that I wouldn't have to have a urinary catheter. I had one hour to go to the bathroom, a urinary catheter is the most painful things I have ever experienced, I didn't want to have that pain again. Standing in front of the toilet for an hour it hit me that I would have to be a fighter for the rest of the time I had on this earth. You get these life changing thoughts at very odd times, I ended up getting the catheter and feeling that pain. I would battle severe depression after my surgery but fought my butt off and started to enjoy my life.
Today I enjoy every second of everyday, I have bad days but I have a lot more good days than bad. I truly love my life and I owe my life to my wife. Valentines day has a different meaning for us, we now celebrate valentines day with ribs for dinner. We are odd people but we never want to forget the week that changed our lives forever. I will never forget February 11, 2009, it was a horrible day but without that day I would not be here.
After two surgeries to remove a blood clot in my right arm and the doctors telling Leanne and I that "You should be dead" Leanne was still by my side. Why? I don't know but I'm never allowed to question her love for me ever again. I know that any other person would leave after what I put her through for the next six months. It was the worse six months of my life, I hated my life and hated that I had to take control of my diabetes. When I went in to the hospital I had an A1C of 14, and was still using NPH and regular to control my diabetes. For six months I had to learn how to use an insulin pump, how to count carbs and how to test my blood sugar six times a day. I was doing none of these things before my surgery.
We all know that I learned how to do all of those things very well, I even learned how to become an athlete in five years. In five years however I finally learned how to enjoy life. A lot of people say that I should get over being in the hospital five years ago, but how can you forget about an event that changed who you are as a person. It is weird but when your told you should be dead you have a much different view of the world. Five years ago I had no confidence and no drive to succeed. Today I work my butt off in everything that I do, no matter what it is I want to be the best. I feel that I got a second chance, I remember sitting in the hospital after they removed my first rib, this is a bit nasty, but I was told if I could urinate that I wouldn't have to have a urinary catheter. I had one hour to go to the bathroom, a urinary catheter is the most painful things I have ever experienced, I didn't want to have that pain again. Standing in front of the toilet for an hour it hit me that I would have to be a fighter for the rest of the time I had on this earth. You get these life changing thoughts at very odd times, I ended up getting the catheter and feeling that pain. I would battle severe depression after my surgery but fought my butt off and started to enjoy my life.
Today I enjoy every second of everyday, I have bad days but I have a lot more good days than bad. I truly love my life and I owe my life to my wife. Valentines day has a different meaning for us, we now celebrate valentines day with ribs for dinner. We are odd people but we never want to forget the week that changed our lives forever. I will never forget February 11, 2009, it was a horrible day but without that day I would not be here.
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