Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Much Better

That was one wicked virus that hit me on Sunday.  I ran a fever and was pretty much down flat for two days.  That's not long, I know.  But I always think of myself as having such great immunity, so two days of aches and congestion seemed hard to bear.  I took stupid Dayquil, which did nothing for me.  Last night I took two ibuprofen before bed.  Slept well, and sometime in the middle of the night the fever broke and I awoke feeling so much better.  Today I will finally be able to get back to my normal routine.

When I'm sick, I try to remember what it must be like for a friend of mine who has been living with stage 4 cancer for six years.  Yes, that's right, he has beat the odds in longevity.  But he has paid a terrible toll in the ravages both the treatments and the disease have had on his body.  He is a young husband and father of two children.  An amazingly strong, articulate and humorous person, he has devoted these years to not only documenting his experiences, but also speaking openly and honestly about it and about facing death.  He writes profound poetry and prose, sometimes ethereal and sometimes brutally real describing the suffering, pain and emotion he feels.  He provides much help and support for other patients.  Regularly organizes large events to entertain hospitalized patients bringing treats and hilarious costumed friends.  He has participated in various runs and athletic competitions, even right after chemo treatments.  He is a much sought after public speaker.  He recently told us new tumors had formed and were not responding to treatment. There is little chance he will survive this episode more than a few months, and he and his family are preparing.

I thought about my friend while I was sick and wondered how it would be to suffer like that day in and day out for the majority of the time over a period of years.  It puts my own little cold and fever in perspective.  I tried not to whine.  Not even to myself.  And when I felt that great relief after the fever broke, I again remembered my friend, and thousands of others, who never get that relief.  They learn to live with suffering. 

I am lucky, I know.  And grateful.  And I'm glad to be feeling much, much better.

10 comments:

Lauren said...

Wouldn't it be amazing to actually see all of the people that your friend has influenced? I took dinner to his house over a year ago and, well, he looked so sick but that was over a year ago!
Good to hear your illness passed.

Bekkieann said...

Yes, your friend and mine, Lauren. There are few people I've known in my life that I admire as much. The people he has influenced is easily in the thousands if not 10s of thousands with his public speaking and online posts.

troutbirder said...

There is a definite heroism in this story and it reminds me a great deal of my best friends Steve struggle again pancreatic cancer. Each day as I hike the woods with his GSD Lily I'm reminded of his courage. Yes colds which I've had an unusual two this summer are miserable but in comparison to illness and pain in the real world not much. Your recent posts were interesting and beautifully written as always... I've been falling way behind in blogging due mostly to a crummy summer weatherwise and caretakerwise. A new anxiety medicine has me sleeping all night and half the day. This will have to change as it is not the way to face lifes problems...:)

troutbirder said...

31There is a definite heroism in this story and it reminds me a great deal of my best friends Steve struggle again pancreatic cancer. Each day as I hike the woods with his GSD Lily I'm reminded of his courage. Yes colds which I've had an unusual two this summer are miserable but in comparison to illness and pain in the real world not much. Your recent posts were interesting and beautifully written as always... I've been falling way behind in blogging due mostly to a crummy summer weatherwise and caretakerwise. A new anxiety medicine has me sleeping all night and half the day. This will have to change as it is not the way to face lifes problems...:)

Bekkieann said...

TB, you remind me how I used to think how nice it would be when we grew old and had no more anxieties. How wrong I was. I hope you can get the meds worked out. Anxiety can be debilitating.

The Blog of Bee said...

No As a friend said to me last week, `there's no golden` in ageing. With it comes aches and pains, loss and in some cases deep regret. I can only but admire your friend as he brings hope, joy and perhaps heaviness to others who face the same fate. All kudos to this unsung hero.

Bekkieann said...

True, Bee. Although we should let go of the regrets. Bad choices may have taken our lives down paths we would not choose later. But we need to forgive ourselves and move on. Easy to say, right?

The Blog of Bee said...

I think we make our choices based on what we think is the best at that time. I know I have.

Bekkieann said...

I have, too. And sometimes I've made choices against my better judgement.

The Blog of Bee said...

It happens!`