I have recently heard some sad news and it made me want to write to you about it.
My mother's dear friend has recently passed away. It was sudden and shocking to everyone, but evidently the signs of her illness were there for months. What she had was preventable, but she decided to ignore the signs.
For almost a year she felt some pain in her stomach. She knew something wasn't right, she even made little side comments about it, but she ignored the signs. Maybe it is indigestion? Many people have GERD, so it's not a big deal, right? Wrong, but she just kept working and going about her daily life, putting others before herself.
One evening she started throwing up blood in the bathroom. Her son was there with her at home and he called an ambulance. When she got to the hospital it was too late. She had hemorrhaged and there was no fixing it. She had a bleeding ulcer that had become so serious that it had ruptured, causing such a large opening that it was beyond surgical repair.
It is such a tragedy. This woman was amazing, sweet, and compassionate. She was one of the kindest people I have ever met. The loss is very difficult for my mom.
I think this story resonated with me so much because it is so easy to think about others and the daily activities that consume your life, but often times you can forget the most important person running the show, YOU.
If my mother's friend had listened to the warning signs of her illness from the beginning she could have received prompt treatment right away and prevented the detrimental effects. But unfortunately she did not and the small, insignificant warning symptoms soon became major, intense symptoms of an extreme, irreversible problem.
When something feels wrong and it makes you take a step back and evaluate your body's health, you need to listen to that red flag and take action! Even if it seems like "no big deal" it can become one. So many people only decide to get help when the pain is nearly unbearable, and often that it when it can be too late.
This situation really makes me want to reach out to you and tell you something of great importance, IF YOU FEEL BAD GO TO THE DOCTOR. It doesn't matter about money, or whether or not you have the time to fit an appointment into your schedule, the fact of the matter is, in the grand scheme of things, without help it can be life or death.
Even though the millions of doctors I visited didn't believe I was sick, I knew in my heart that something was wrong. I am so glad that I stuck with my gut feeling until I finally found a doctor who listened to me and took action. Never give up on getting yourself well - it's a lifelong fight.
Remember to always think of yourself and your body. It might not always be so easy to put yourself first, but if you don't then who will?
May health follow you and may you keep a conscientious head on your shoulders,
*Today's Happy Thought: LETTERS (There is just nothing better than receiving a hand-written note via snail mail.)
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