Normally I would be writing about what supplements to take to control high estrogen. But given the fact that I am Canadian and The Tragically Hip just performed their last concert, and given the response to that concert, I feel compelled to write about something different.I’ve either spoken with, met or heard about people lately who have defied the odds, pushed past enormous obstacles and won at life. I just wanted to share a few of these people with you. They are people I have so much admiration for.
I met a man who is helping me with my new website. We met in a Facebook group when I posted asking for help. I was so stressed out and so frustrated by the limitations of my current web provider. He read my post, offered advice, spoke with me for an hour on Skype and offered to help me build my site for next to nothing. I cannot tell you what a relief that was. But it’s his story, not mine that I want to relate to you.
He is an American Veteran. He was severely injured and told he would never walk again, not because of the physical limitations as much as the pain which would stop him mentally from doing what he needed to do. Despite almost passing out from the pain and throwing up because of it … he persevered, defied all obstacles and showed the doctors what an indominateable will can do. Eighteen months later, he can do anything he wants to, including run. He showed the doctors that if you have a strong enough will, a strong enough reason (he has two little girls and a wife which I’m sure were a huge part of why he did this), you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Although he charges a good amount of money do prepare websites, every few months he will help someone out who is either just starting out or just doesn’t have the money to afford his normal rates. It’s his way of giving back. He has inspired me to do the same.
Then there is my dear friend Celia who was hit by a car ten years ago and in a coma for 6 weeks with a catastrophic brain injury. They didn’t think she’d make it, but she proved them wrong. I met Celia in person about 6 years ago and was so impressed with her drive and determination. She had to learn how to speak, to walk, to live all over again. Now? She runs her own business, she’s a self care advocate, speaker and motivator and I’m honoured to call her my friend. I’ve featured her here before … you can find her at HighHeeledLife.com.
There is my cousin-in-law Tammy who was an air force traffic controller when I met her. Strong, capable, funny, smart as a whip. And then she was diagnosed with a brain tumour on her pituitary gland. They removed the majority of it but some of it still exists. Because of this she is on growth hormones and some pretty heavy meds. She too had to re-learn how to live. The past few years she has had numerous seizures including a couple of grand mal seizures. Has this stopped her? Of course not. Has it changed her life? Absolutely. Is she still the strong, capable, funny and smart woman she was? You bet!!! Even though she may have some limitations, she is still one of the most amazing people I know and I love her to bits!!
Then there’s a friend of Susan who has gone through more crap in her life than most people. Between a heart condition that can stop her in her tracks, diabetes and most recently thyroid cancer, she’s had her fair share of health challenges. The surgery to remove the thyroid (which grew back after several decades and brought a friend) caused her vocal chords to be paralyzed because of the amount of scar tissue from the original surgery. So she’s had a trach in her throat since Christmas of 2015. They waited to see what was happening and while there has been a little improvement, she requires additional surgery to fix the problem. She damned near died about a month ago when she woke up, the tube was dislodged, there was blood everywhere and it took her and her daughter twenty minutes (with very little oxygen) to get things back together. But she did. So she’s taking it easy these days. And all that is just the physical crap she’s dealt with. There’s so much more and I have told her on numerous occasions how proud I am of her, and how much I admire her strength. I’m not sure I would have been able to handle a portion of what she has.
This brings me back to Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip. Terminal brain cancer is devastating. It drains you, body, mind and soul. The fact that he has gone on tour one last time to say goodbye and to leave people with such an amazing legacy … to bring people together … enormous respect to you sir.
There are so many other examples. But they all have one thing in common. The will to live, to not accept no for an answer, to defy the odds. Are they special? Of course. Does it take a special kind of person to survive? You bet.
But guess what? We are all special in our own way. We all have the ability to overcome odds. We can all accomplish what we truly want to accomplish in life. So I encourage you to dig deep, find out what you are meant to do … then go after it. And don’t let anybody tell you that you’re not capable.
Much love and respect.