During a conversation the other day that my husband and I were having, he asked me, "Why are you always so eager to get everything done right now?" For example, if we decide to do a house project, I would get right on it and would have it done asap. Even if it would be better to wait a couple of months to start the project, because the timing would be better. So this is what my answer was to him.
Ever since I gave birth to Austin every situation that we encountered, whether it was health or fun related, it was expedited by his father and I. Austin was born in Santa Barbara and a short time thereafter he was taken by ambulance to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. The next couple of years of hospital stays, surgeries, g-tube feedings, muscle biopsies and countless E.R. visits finally gave us a diagnosis of Mitochondrial disease. Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy Complex One Deficiency. At the time that sounded like a different language! Mito what?
Mitochondrial disease is degenerative. There are no cures and it just gets worse over time. The treatments that are currently being used, consist of vitamin and coenzyme cocktails and medications to treat other symptoms like seizures, etc. Mitochondrial Disease is terminal. When that enters your life it changes the way you think. "Should we go to Disneyland today even if it might hurt our pocketbook later this month?" Oh Hell yes! "Should we buy the kids that Lego even though they don't really need it?" Oh Hell yes! This was our way of thinking because we didn't know how long we had our son for. The docs said Austin would probably do okay until the age of ten. Our thinking at that time was we are going to make those ten years the best we can!
That might not be the appropriate way to live your life, but that is how my thought pattern developed. If you can do it now, why wait? Well, I have relaxed quite a bit since my son is doing rather well, at the ripe old age of 25! My thought pattern still at times, might be stuck at "Let's do this!", as I think we should all live our lives like we may not have tomorrow. I have since grown wiser and do think of the consequences to a lot of decisions, and hopefully I make the right ones. But really, aren't we all terminal?
Tip of the Day: Make today count!
Ever since I gave birth to Austin every situation that we encountered, whether it was health or fun related, it was expedited by his father and I. Austin was born in Santa Barbara and a short time thereafter he was taken by ambulance to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. The next couple of years of hospital stays, surgeries, g-tube feedings, muscle biopsies and countless E.R. visits finally gave us a diagnosis of Mitochondrial disease. Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy Complex One Deficiency. At the time that sounded like a different language! Mito what?
Mitochondrial disease is degenerative. There are no cures and it just gets worse over time. The treatments that are currently being used, consist of vitamin and coenzyme cocktails and medications to treat other symptoms like seizures, etc. Mitochondrial Disease is terminal. When that enters your life it changes the way you think. "Should we go to Disneyland today even if it might hurt our pocketbook later this month?" Oh Hell yes! "Should we buy the kids that Lego even though they don't really need it?" Oh Hell yes! This was our way of thinking because we didn't know how long we had our son for. The docs said Austin would probably do okay until the age of ten. Our thinking at that time was we are going to make those ten years the best we can!
That might not be the appropriate way to live your life, but that is how my thought pattern developed. If you can do it now, why wait? Well, I have relaxed quite a bit since my son is doing rather well, at the ripe old age of 25! My thought pattern still at times, might be stuck at "Let's do this!", as I think we should all live our lives like we may not have tomorrow. I have since grown wiser and do think of the consequences to a lot of decisions, and hopefully I make the right ones. But really, aren't we all terminal?
Tip of the Day: Make today count!
None of us know how long we will be here. Eat the delicious food, wear the bikini, laugh often and cry when you need to.
ReplyDeleteI'm really enjoying reading your blog!
Best,
Michelle
Thank you so much! That means so much to me!
DeleteWhat a beautiful life lesson and an articule answer as to why we should all keep pushing ourselves forward in our life..it is precious and we need to get the most out of lifetime! Thank uoi2 for sharing this reminder today!
ReplyDeleteDiane Sawyer
San Antonio, TX
Thank you!!!
Delete