This last weekend was one full of celebration and sadness. My 24th birthday piggybacked Father’s day, which meant friends, dance floor, new dress, and a skype with my Dad from half way around the planet. While good cheer simmered on the surface, deep down my family was on a roller coaster of emotion. Death’s shadow lingering overhead.
Last week my only remaining grand father was rushed to the hospital for severe abdominal pain. A large cancerous tumor was found eating away at his colon. At 75 years old my grandpa was already suffering from congestive heart failure, so as you can imagine finding a doctor to perform surgery to remove the mass was like volunteering to walk the plank. The likely hood of him making it through an operation was about 10%. When weighing the options…surgery (possible death) or permanent death in a few weeks, my mom, aunt and grandma scoured the state for a doc who would take the risk.
A few days later the surgeon skulked into the waiting room like a dog with his tail between his legs. Not the most comforting way for a doctor to approach you. He had successfully removed the cancer of doom and in it’s wake had to completely remove my grand father’s colon and gallbladder. For the rest of his life he would have bags attached to him at all times. Can you imagine? Horrible. But oh no the doc wasn’t through. During testing they had discovered cancer in his lymph nodes.
For those of you who don’t know much about cancer, cancer of the lymph nodes is a death sentence. Next to lung, brain, and stomach cancer it’s one of the most lethal.�The lymphatic system runs through out the entire body consisting of organs, ducts, and nodes. It transports a watery clear fluid called lymph. This fluid distributes immune cells and other factors throughout the body. It also interacts with the blood circulatory system to drain fluid from cells and tissues. If cancer is lurking in it’s passageways it has the ability to pop out anywhere or in some cases all over the body.
In my grandfather’s body they found it in all 23 of his lymph nodes. He’s got a few weeks tops. At this point they are waiting to see if they can take him off the ventilators so he can go home to die in peace. That is his only remaining hope…a death in the comforts of his own home with his family warming his hands and heart.
As I sit half way around the world struggling to keep in touch with my mom who is flying back and forth between her home of Colorado and the hospital in Las Vegas, I can’t help but feel helpless. I want to be her shoulder to cry on. She needs me more now then ever before. A call on Skype is all I can give her or for that matter my grandfather. While I might not be able to get in touch with my grandpa before he passes I am forever thankful to my sister who arranged a family reunion before I flew out of the country two months ago. I hadn’t seen my grand parents in about 8 years. Tragic I know! Don’t remind me. But seriously, how important were those few sunny, laugh filled days in Vegas? In hind sight, incredibly significant. The last time I would probably ever see my grandpa.
I don’t mean to be such a downer or speak so blatantly about a tough subject, but the message needs to be heard. More than ever it’s times like these that remind me why I chose the path I have in life. To educate and inspire people to lead vibrant centered lives. This will not be my fate. And hopefully not yours. Heath is a necessity in my life given my genetic history and current plight. It is an ever constant reminder that we need to be diligent in taking the best care of ourselves and the planet at large. Our bodies, consciousness and the Earth are all we have. We must preserve them.
Not only is the parish of a loved one a wake up call about your own health, but a blaring siren reminding you that we only have now, this minute, this second. That the past and future are nothing but thoughts. That no matter what has happened between you and your loved ones, when you are together, that moment is all you need to reflect on and enjoy. Tell them how much you love them. Be honest, open and real. Be thankful and gracious for every moment you are given. And for god’s sake don’t waste your life. Time continues to tick.
Your task: Call your parents right now and tell them how much they mean to you.
What is your experience with death and how has it changed your perspective on how you live you life day to day?
