Health Issues Make Us All Face Our Fears 4/2021

When I was 52 years old I suffered 4 strokes. They were traumatic strokes. However, as a result I couldn't talk, write, had difficulty ambulating and my coordination was really bad. I could walk, however, I had become afraid of heights! I have never been afraid of heights before!

I owned an Urgent Care at the time but still spent time in the emergency room (I love the adrenaline rush😉!). I had to stop all of my work pending recovery! I was convinced I could recover. I worked hard! At the time I had no insurance. I know this sounds odd for a doctor, however, I noticed I was paying greater than $1,000 monthly. I was never sick and I could just use my Urgent Care if anything were to happen. So, I canceled my insurance. Therefore, I had to recover on my own, no speech therapists, physical therapy or anything, even though I am a doctor! So, I spent time practicing writing again. I would read journals aloud to try and enunciate, especially 'the big words'!. I knew everything I knew before, I just couldn't express it either by writing or speaking. Months of time was spent trying to recover. I recovered most of my deficits. However, I was still afraid of heights! You know the movie with Tom Cruise, (MIssion Impossible) where he is free climbing? Just watching that made me sweat!

I am a country fan and love the music. The music always tells a story. After being able to write and talk again with some difficulty, I decided to go skydiving and face my fears. I had heard, perhaps incorrectly, that facing one's fears can support a cure. So, I went skydiving. I decided to have this adventure on camera. Another diver came with me and filmed the event. At the end they wanted to put the movie to music. I picked the country song by Tim McGraw "Live like you were dying"! It's become my theme song in life. Perhaps I can get a release from Tim McGraw to use that song as a theme song? I will write to him and see what becomes of it.

Carpe Diem