Let me jog your memory about my little brother Kevin. He was 19 years old, diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma. So aggressive they started him on chemo roughly 24 hours after diagnosis. (BTW if we had universal health care I may not be coming to you with all of this great news about my brothers recover, but that's for another time and day!)
After successfully completing intense chemotherapy and massive surgery to remove and replace the upper 2/3 of his femur and hip with titanium he began the process of learning to walk all over again. Just what you want to do at the age of 20 (he had is birthday roughly 1 week after his surgery which was probably the hardest part for me) happy birthday, now call the nurse to come wipe your ass. Walking can be difficult after having your bone removed and replaced, 3 of your 4 quads removed and a hamstring removed as well. But he didn't give up, I would see him religiously doing his ankle pumps and other exercises and stretches to get him back in the game of life. After a few minor set backs due to some slow heeling of the incision that ran from his knee to the bottom of his rib cage he was off. First is was a wheelchair, shuffling from couch to chair to toilet to chair to couch. Weeks of it. Then it was the walker, 10 feet, 50 feet 100 feet, from the parking lot to the store, parking lot to store and shopping in the store. The the cane, it was a quad cane at first the one with 4 prongs at the end. Then the regular cane. The, finally, Jamaica for my sisters incredible wedding! Finally, after many different prognosis about the future of his leg use or whether he would have a leg to stand on at all.
MY BROTHER PASSED HIS DRIVING EXAM!!! HE FINALLY GOT HIS WHEELS BACK!
One more step towards recovery and normalcy. He is a stronger man than I am and has suffered more than anyone ever should but he came out on top. Like Lance Armstrong says, what's your bike? Well my brothers bike comes with 4 wheels and an engine too!
Love you buddy, take care and never give up!
Your big bro
3 comments:
Glad you didn't go into a rant against universal health care. It would have just been what you imagine might have happened under such a system.
Real horror stories of people who have actually died because of the current health care system in the US abound.
By definition, anything that is not universal leaves some people without health care, which can be bad.
Congratulations to your brother for getting diagnosed and being treated aggressively. Congratulations on surviving. Congratulations on passing the exam!
Congratulations to your brother!
Awww, congrats!
(Brothers melt my heart.)
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