Tom and Norma

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/16/2002 7:30:17 PM Central Standard Time,

ladybostons@... writes:

> LOL And I like the Tom Paine analogy.

Well, I kinda sorta always identified with Tom a bit. He had such passion

and could do nothing else but give it vent and he just happened to land in

the right time frame and found a niche. It seems that before that, and after

that he just did not seem to mesh in the gears of life very well, but for the

reason he was created, he did his job very well. The affairs of plain every

day living were just beyond his comprehension. I sometimes identify with

that very well.

On the bypass, I thank you for your thoughts and will just this once to be

personal on this wonderful group to say that it is ever more clear to me now

that had I not had this life saving surgery when I did, I would not be here

to acknowledge all that this group has done for me. I was not aware, more

than a vague consciousness of imminent life change, that it existed when I

decided to have surgery. I had been diagnosed with diabetes and came from a

family long in history of diabetes related heart disease, stroke, etc.

Denial kept me safe and it never occurred to me, even in blinding chest pain

a year ago, that " I " might be in line for the same. My decision to seek this

surgery when I did truly saved my life at the time. Sixteen months after

wonderful labs, exercise, riddance of many co morbs, the heart illness made

itself known. How lucky and fortunate can one man be?

Yep, we do need an association to promote our needs and set the goals for

creation of protective statutes within each state and the federal entity as a

whole that ensures we are not left out of the health care system into

eternity. I look at the threads here, the commonalities, endocrine, sleep,

and morbid obesity in all it's shapes and presentations and think " why cannot

the professionals see this? " They cannot because there is no method of

communication and projection of our needs for study and inclusion that exist.

I am told that and estimated 100.000 very ill folks in an ever increasing

epidemic of obesity sweeping the land will have this surgery in the coming

year. Would it not be marvelous to contemplate that in a few years, as a

result of organization, that number would be on the decrease. I know that is

achievable. Together, we can do what we could not do alone.

Dan Slone

Surgery 5/2/2000

(shoves the soapbox back under the desk)