Life lotto
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2019 11:10 amThe older I get the more I understand that life is one big game of chance. There is no fairness to its application. Like all games of chance there are the lucky and the not so lucky.
Around 6 months ago my best mate, Gary, called to say that he had the big C, that it was terminal and that he had 5 to 8 months to live.
15 years ago his wife hit her head when playing a social game of netball. She required neurosurgery that although it saved her life it left her with severe headaches that have required very high dose painkillers to cope. They are so strong that if one of us took the dose it would kill us in minutes. The doseage is destroying her liver and her life expectancy is not great. The fatigue is a daily grind.
Just prior to Gary’s diagnosis she was diagnosed with breast cancer that required chemo, radiation and a mastectomy. They went together for their chemo sessions at Rotorua hospital.
Last week Gary was out on their 10 acre block bringing in 500 bales of hay and chasing the cattle into the yards for dehorning. The next week he was in hospital unable to hold down food. The Ascities (fluid build up in the abdomen) as a result of his Peritenal cancer, was the sign the end was near. I visited him on Thursday and then thought that I would visit again after returning from my SAN Fran trip on Thurs. The plan was to take the “kids” down to visit and provide some cheer. My partner was to go down on Sat on her own as I had to depart for SFO that evening. I got a feeling that I should go again so at the last minute I packed my overnight gear and uniform into the my car and we left my car at the airport and headed for Rotorua. The plan was to drop me off at the airport on the way back.
I’m glad I changed my plans and went as it was the last time I would see him alive. He passed away 2am Sunday morning whilst I was 3/4 of the way to SFO.
During the course of Gary’s illness he lost 65kg.......he was a large chap to start with (it matched his personality).
Joking to the end his last words were ..”grow old disgracefully”.
One wonders why and how one couple should have to suffer so much and yet others have a relatively smooth ride.
There is 2 things that I take from this:
No matter how bad you might think things are, there is always someone more worse off, and secondly, live life to the full because you never know what tomorrow’s “lotto numbers” might be.
RIP my dear friend.
Take care out there.
Around 6 months ago my best mate, Gary, called to say that he had the big C, that it was terminal and that he had 5 to 8 months to live.
15 years ago his wife hit her head when playing a social game of netball. She required neurosurgery that although it saved her life it left her with severe headaches that have required very high dose painkillers to cope. They are so strong that if one of us took the dose it would kill us in minutes. The doseage is destroying her liver and her life expectancy is not great. The fatigue is a daily grind.
Just prior to Gary’s diagnosis she was diagnosed with breast cancer that required chemo, radiation and a mastectomy. They went together for their chemo sessions at Rotorua hospital.
Last week Gary was out on their 10 acre block bringing in 500 bales of hay and chasing the cattle into the yards for dehorning. The next week he was in hospital unable to hold down food. The Ascities (fluid build up in the abdomen) as a result of his Peritenal cancer, was the sign the end was near. I visited him on Thursday and then thought that I would visit again after returning from my SAN Fran trip on Thurs. The plan was to take the “kids” down to visit and provide some cheer. My partner was to go down on Sat on her own as I had to depart for SFO that evening. I got a feeling that I should go again so at the last minute I packed my overnight gear and uniform into the my car and we left my car at the airport and headed for Rotorua. The plan was to drop me off at the airport on the way back.
I’m glad I changed my plans and went as it was the last time I would see him alive. He passed away 2am Sunday morning whilst I was 3/4 of the way to SFO.
During the course of Gary’s illness he lost 65kg.......he was a large chap to start with (it matched his personality).
Joking to the end his last words were ..”grow old disgracefully”.
One wonders why and how one couple should have to suffer so much and yet others have a relatively smooth ride.
There is 2 things that I take from this:
No matter how bad you might think things are, there is always someone more worse off, and secondly, live life to the full because you never know what tomorrow’s “lotto numbers” might be.
RIP my dear friend.
Take care out there.
