unexpected ITP post on Face Book

I caught this facebook post yesterday on my phone while I was getting on the train after work. I hadn't considered this type of surgical complications before. I don't like the last part of the caption though. This perspective doesn't really feel like a gift! It kind of hit me like a ton of bricks.

There is a lot missing to this story, so don't get too upset. There are quite a few reasons for clotting and most can be avoided. They gave him too much medication? What medication? I have a few thoughts as to what may have happened, and they are very rare occurrences. Even so, every surgery has risks, ITP or not.

Yeah, I'm not quite sure what his gift of perspective is, but maybe there is a good reason behind it that again, is a missing part of the story.

I totally agree!

Yeah, I don't think the whole story is there either!

This "gift of perspective" idea works for me.

I am sitting with my brother in his hospital room at Sloan-Kettering. Tom has beaten stage four lung cancer, but may not survive the cure. The experimental treatment that put his immune system into overdrive and killed the cancer is now causing severe autoimmune pneumonitis. He has had to take as much as 1,000 mg of prednisone (not a typo - one thousand) to keep breathing, and the side effects are monstrous.

For me, the gift of perspective has been:

A new awareness of how really important the things are we take for granted;
A new awareness of how unimportant other things actually are that we focus our lives upon;
An appreciation for how crises can bring out the best in people,
An amazement at how kind and compassionate some people can be,
even when treated badly by the ones they are caring for;
A realization of how important prayer has become in my life;
A desire to pray to be more kind, compassionate, forgiving;
A thankfulness for the life lessons learned through hardship;
and much more...

We all handle crises and losses differently;
We all find life's perspectives in different and surprising places.
I pray that should I ever lose a leg and an eye, or suffer a similar loss, that I will be able to find the "gift of perspective" that this gentleman has found.

The way I read it, it was the author being handed the gift of perspective - not 'Randy'.
mj

I guess you are right, mj. But still, I think, mostly the same lessons, if from a different vantage point.
-Rob

I'm sorry to hear about your brother, Rob. I hope he recovers. Life is full of lessons if you look hard enough. It's too bad they always hit in times of sorrow and hardship.

Thanks, Sandi. I am sad to say my brother didn't make it. At the end he was taking Remicade and 400 mg/day of Prednisone to keep his lungs from closing up, and it wiped out his capacity to fight infection. He died peacefully on Saturday of four different infections, surrounded by family and friends and the music he loved.

In sorrow you can find truth, and sometimes even beauty. Some lessons you have to look for. Others beat you upside the head. The best ones you open your heart to.

Oh Rob, I'm so sorry. When I saw that you posted, I was hoping that you didn't have bad news. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Rob,

I am so sorry for your loss

I hope you have many happy memories to keep his spirit with you.

Cindy Ann

Rob,

I am deeply saddened by your loss. Know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Jeffrey

Sandi,
Cindy Ann,
Jeffrey,

My thanks to each of you for your kindness and compassion.

He felt himself lucky to get almost five more years with his family.
His daughter left after the "family meeting" to defend her dissertation.
She earned her PhD on Friday, and held her dad's hand while he passed on Saturday.

Life is full of bittersweet mysteries.

Rob

Rob I am so sorry you lost your brother, my heart goes out to you and his family.

Melinda

Melinda,

My thanks to you as well for your kindness and compassion.

Rob

Sorry to hear about your brother, Rob. Thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

Rob you and I haven't met. That said praying for you and your family!

And can I say amazing what she was able to do!

Cindy, Julia you are both so kind.

Winnifred... I am intrigued by the handle. Named after St. Winnifred?
According to legend, Winifred was the daughter of a chieftain of Tegeingl... Her mother was Wenlo, a sister of St. Beuno... Her suitor was enraged when she decided to become a nun, and decapitated her... Her head rolled downhill, and, where it stopped, a healing spring appeared. Winifred's head was subsequently rejoined to her body due to the efforts of her maternal uncle, Saint Beuno, and she was restored to life.
That seems to fit pretty well... except maybe the saint part

I was name after my mom's mom. She was from England they called her Winnie for short. I started school as Winnifred than in kindergarden I was sick and had an accident in my pants.

Kids started calling me Winnie the Pooh Winnie the Pooh stinky and smelly and stuff with goo. So I started using my second name!

I'm glad you can laugh at it now - you are laughing I assume? I am!
I do think you should switch to the St. Winnifred version, though. They reattached your head, restored you to life, and renamed you Julia. Works for me!

Ok you got it!

thats my story and i'm sticking too it!!

St. Winnifred????? ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG! The I should be Sir Jeff or Saint Jeff!

How you doing Rob?

Jeffrey

Isn't Jeffery the name of a buttler? hehehe just kidding!

Julia,

You shall sooooo pay...

Sir Jeffrey

Dear Sir Jeffrey the Kind of Heart,

I am doing well, thank you sire. Sorry so slow getting back to you, but just wrapped things up in New York and made it back to Atlanta. Thirty days away from home has been a long time, but the intensity of life and death, and all its highs and lows, has been strangely enriching. So many of my prayers were answered, to be able to see the beauty in death as a part of life, and for the strength and wisdom to help others through this crisis. I am thankful to Ellen for encouraging me to take the time. Now I must pray to bring the same spirit to everyday life. That is the hardest for me!

Yours sincerely,
Rob

Rob,

You are strong, it shows. You will be fine. It is a part of human growth and understanding. My oldest daughter just purchased a house in Roswell! She teaches in Cumming. I love Atlanta! My wife and I may be down over Labor Day weekend. Let me know if you would like to get a coffee!

Jeffrey the Coffee Buyer

Sir Jeffrey,
I just sent you email.
And I'm sticking with Sir Jeffrey the Kind of Heart.
The coffee's on me.
Rob