When did the concept of mortality hit those of you it has?

[KAOSkins]

I apologize for bringing something not light hearted or at least politically motivated to the board tonight. I generally try to leave most of my personal life out of here.

Excuse this somewhat rambling discourse on life. I got some relatively bad news today about my health. Last Thursday I had a stroke. Frankly I didnt even realize that's what it was, it's not a bad one to be sure, but my speech is being impacted slightly and it's weird as hell thinking one thing and having something else come out. I'll relate to the stuttering talk that any of you who've done blow knows accompanies it. Only it's not going away.

At 39 (and still a kid at heart) I didn't expect anything of the sort when I woke up this morning. After a couple hours of serious freakin I've come to terms with certain aspects of it. I've talked it out with some close friends and my family, but I'm always amazed at the level of compassion displayed here by what I assume to be mostly ex-jocks like me.

In fact tomorrow I'm going to do some things I've always thought I should do but never got around to. I've always felt an affinity to the mentally challenged. The few I've worked with exhibited the characteristics of humanity better than most of the "normal" people I've known. Kind of like dogs being better people than people. I'm volunteering in whatever capacity they'll have me to the local charity that deals with that.

While I come terms with it I'll ask, for what it's worth, that any of you who that feel the need to volunteer or do something to help others, if you can find it in you, do it now. If this had been worse for me...my failure to act would've haunted me. I applaud doubly those of you who I already know have.

Again, I really am sorry to bring this up, but you freaks have somehow become friends of mine in a way I never experienced before.

It's a good thing, this board.

[rincewind]

Hope everything works out for you KAOS. Take care of yourself. While its obviously not a good thing that you had a stroke, it is a great silver lining that it has motivated you to help others. True inspiration. :cheers:

[chomerics]

Sorry to hear about it KAO.

Teddie Bruschi was 33 and he had a stroke as well, they can hit you at any time in your life. Be thankful that you made it out ok, and they can help you prevent it in the future.

As for your question, mortality entered into my head at 18. I was in a severe car accident, and had open heart surgery for a torn aorta. I learned at a very young age the value of life, but it still took almost a decade before I truly started to get "it". I am thankful that you made it out, and I wish you the best of luck in your recovery. Just remember to take your Cumitin ;)

:cheers:

[GibbsFactor]

Sorry to hear that man.I'd say just a few years ago the reality of mortality really set in for me. I'd always lived a very care free life, on the edge of out of control. When I turned 25, I really slowed down a lot and began to really think about my life 40 to 60 years down the road. I've written a list of things I want to do in life and usually will do anything that scares the hell out of me now (short of bodily harm)

[Tarhog]

Wow man, truly hate to hear that. I manage an Inpatient Rehab Center - about 35% of our patients are stroke victims. I wish your story were rare, but CVAs are more common than people think. I'm glad yours doesn't sound like it was a major one (of course, they're all major when it happens to you).

I'm think its great that its made you appreciate your life more....on the other hand, make sure you do whatever it takes to reduce your future risk. I'm assuming it was an ischemic stroke, not a hemorrhagic one. Get your blood pressure down, take your meds (whether they put you on aspirin, plavix, coumadin, whatever - take it religiously), and get checked out by your physician when you're supposed to. Thats a wake up call - and I'm really glad it wasn't a major stroke (at least not by the sounds of it). Take care of yourself.

[DixieFlatline]

KAOS, sorry to hear what's happened, but I hope everything works out ok. What you are doing is admirable and I hope it inspires others. Even though I'm just beginning to know you, just reading it, makes me want to do more.

[dfitzo53]

Glad it wasn't as bad for you as it could have been, and good luck with your new goals.

[No_Pressure]

The concept of mortality has been reminded to me throughout my life by my parents and family. When I was just months old I had Kawasaki disease (http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/kawasaki.html) apparently I almost died a couple of times and had to get endless blood tests and take more than adult doses of aspirin. Though I cannot remember it my entire life I have been told how close I came to death so it always sticks in the back of my mind...I never had the concept of being immortal or anything like that throughout my life and I dont think it would have been different if I hadn't almost died as an infant. I wouldnt be surprised if someone told me I was in bad health or going to die because it happens to everyone anyway.

Sorry to hear about the stroke, you should gain all of your normal functions back. My grandfather's friend a while ago had some special kind of angioplastia or whatever its called where they put those things into your veins to clear out your arteries. He was at risk of a big stroke before, he had a few minor ones, he has been better since.

[KAOSkins]

Obviously thanks for the good vibes thrown my way. They're more helpful than you can know. I'll be ok, rest assured. The Doc insists that within six months my speech should be normal by all respects. To further clarify, I don't really exhibit any the tell tale signs, low blood pressure, moderate cholesterol that's why figuring out what caused it is going be the challenge. I need to make DAMN sure that they aren't reproduced.

Anyway, no need for overboard sympathy, I actually just want to get some good out of this for me and my friendos. :)

[Switchgear]

I'm sorry to hear that, KAO. My dad had a stroke 3 years ago, he's 80 and hasn't really recovered from it fully, but he's fighting still. He's a WWII vet and is pretty freaking tough. I'm glad you came out of it ok, and that you're young still. I salute you for turning this into a positive life changing event, and you've inspired me to jump into some charity work (Habitat for Humanity) that I've been intending to do myself.

[thelongestbreath]

Good luck, you'll be in my thoughts and prayers as well as your family.

I learned the value of life when I watched my mother pass away; when you watch a loved one go you learn that life wont always be there. It was re-established when I was in an accident involving a truck that had it been a bit higher or had I been bent over could have lost my life.

[SkinsHokieFan]

Good luck to you

I had my brush with death when I was 19. We were driving home, struck by a drunk driver, our vehicle flipped and I was tossed around like a rag doll in the SUV as it flipped over and back onto 4 wheels

I didn't have a seatbelt on and by some miracle I survived with only a broken arm

My 2nd brush with mortality was burying my best friend in December of 2004. I had known him since I was 5

I enjoy every moment now and realize that I am playing with house money. I tend to keep people very close to me and don't like to see anyone in my close circle leave my life anymore

Good luck to you friend, I hope you are able to live a healthy fulfilling life from here on out

[rincewind]

Anyway, no need for overboard sympathy, I actually just want to get some good out of this for me and my friendos. :)



Fine, if we can dispense with the sympathy, I can tell you my initial reaction to reading the thread title.




Come to grips with mortality? I haven't, there can be only one:

http://www.brew-wood.co.uk/sci-fi/highlander/CONNOR.GIF

[Park City Skins]

Well the slurred speach thing I can relate too. :rolleyes: :2drunks:


Best thing is that this may be a bit of a warning and you have a chance to get to the cause early and make sure this doesn't get any worse. Next best thing is the appreciation for life that you get when facing your own mortality. And I'm not speaking of just your own. Do what Tarhog says and keep the momentum going on the volunteer front. Sometimes people can lose that and take what lesson or lessons there could be learned from such times for granted. Good luck.

[KAOSkins]

Come to grips with mortality? I haven't, there can be only one:

You have the manners of a goat. And you smell like a dung-heap!






















That's just the post I needed! :laugh:

[twa]

Best wishes in recovery /prevention and the new outlook old man.

I became familiar with death early and have tried to live life to the fullest and treasure those around me.
As you have noticed ,giving of yourself to others makes life sweeter. :cheers:

[RVAbrendan]

I know this is offtopic, but I was eating at a mexican restaurant and when I parked, there was a car with the license plate "KAOS47" And it was a Redskins license plate. I recognized the name and was kind of surprised! But alas you live in NM.

It hit me about 2 years ago when I flipped my car. I left without a scratch. Best of luck to you my friend.

[IONTOP]

The concept of mortality has been reminded to me throughout my life by my parents and family. When I was just months old I had Kawasaki disease (http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/kawasaki.html) apparently I almost died a couple of times and had to get endless blood tests and take more than adult doses of aspirin. Though I cannot remember it my entire life I have been told how close I came to death so it always sticks in the back of my mind...I never had the concept of being immortal or anything like that throughout my life and I dont think it would have been different if I hadn't almost died as an infant. I wouldnt be surprised if someone told me I was in bad health or going to die because it happens to everyone anyway.


Oh my god!

I have never met anyone else who has had that. I got it when I was 3ish. I was born 10lbs 8oz and when I was 3 I lost almost 17lbs, I had a 105 degree fever for WEEKS, my skin started to peel. From what my parents have told me, I almost died, they took me to Duke Medical Center in Raleigh, where they literally had doctors sitting around in a circle trying to figure out what I had. From what I have been told, Kawasaki disease can lead to heart attacks in the TEEN years and into your twenties. I had to get EKG's every year until I was 10, then I've gotten them every 5 years since.

Did they ever figure out what caused it for you? Apparantly it is incredibly rare, yet I got it, the neighbor behind me got it and the neighbor behind them got it as well. My parents were convinced that it was due to the fact that our subdivision used to be home to either a lake or marsh that they filled in to make the neighborhood. So my mom called an agency to file a request, she never got a straight answer and then one day she called and they said "The case has been closed" and never got an answer from them.

I never in my life thought I would cross paths with someone who had Kawasaki.

[KAOSkins]

Best wishes in recovery /prevention and the new outlook old man.

I became familiar with death early and have tried to live life to the fullest and treasure those around me.
As you have noticed ,giving of yourself to others makes life sweeter. :cheers:

:laugh: Takes one to know one ya geezer! And rest assured, it ain't gonna affect my fishing none. Capt. Marc already has us booked for another trip to the gulf next August. FISH ON!

Thanks. :cheers:

[KAOSkins]

I know this is offtopic, but I was eating at a mexican restaurant and when I parked, there was a car with the license plate "KAOS47" And it was a Redskins license plate. I recognized the name and was kind of surprised! But alas you live in NM.

It hit me about 2 years ago when I flipped my car. I left without a scratch. Best of luck to you my friend.

Doppleganger? Was he a 6 foot tall, ruggedly handsome dude driving a Porsche with a hot blonde in the passanger seat?

















If so, it wasn't me. :silly:

[iheartskins]

Although "funny" is the word I'm tempted to use, it's not quite right, it's more like "strange" as in, how strange to hear about someone having a stroke in New Mexico and discussing it in light of how it proved to be an epiphany when something like that is pretty close to my own experience. The players were different but much is the same...

On February 2nd 2001, my stepdad, while hunting in Los Lunas (which, for those of you that aren't from NM and haven't travelled much there, is near Albuquerque) had a stroke and died shortly thereafter.

That moment proved to be an epiphany for me in many ways. It spurred my application to law school, caused me to reapply my self to reinvigorating a sometimes fractured relationship with my step-siblings, and forced me to get over my own issues with respect to my father (whose reminders of his own mortality in light of my step-dad's death were a substantial stumbling block).

Strange how this Board can bring together these kinds of experiences.

Glad to hear you're okay KAO. Stay well.

[KAOSkins]

Strange how this Board can bring together these kinds of experiences.

Glad to hear you're okay KAO. Stay well.

Strange in wonderful kinda way.

This thread was important for me. The reaction you get from those close to you is different. It's more important, but's it's also more serious and sobering. I needed (and need) a little light heartedness as much as I need the other. My buddy Bill broke that mold though, when he told me "thank god you won't be spouting off about the skins as much". He's a puke fan, the sob. :laugh:

Following through is the order of the day. I plan to. Thanks IHS. :cheers: