Defying the Odds

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   Lady_Eposted 14 years ago

   There are so many people in life who have defied the odds.  E.g Lots of sick people are given weeks to live but they go on to live for years, young people who have been in prison more than once and their families think they’ll become nothing but, they turn out to be very successful. Also, some people have no education and people write them off, but some of them turn out to be Millionaires in future. Even, I had a health situation 2 years ago whereby doctors were expecting me to have a heart attack any minute and had a nurse by me, through out the night, with scary equipment on standby. (Phew! some doctors can be depressing, I mean just looking at all I was hooked up with could’ve given me a heart attack).  Anyway, I surprised them all and pulled through fine.
   
   Have you or someone close to you, ever defied the odds?  How?  Hopefully, your comments will encourage other people.

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   Joelle Burnetteposted 14 years ago

   My sister. She was too young to have breast cancer; only 32. At least that's what her HMO told her when they refused to authorize tests such as a mammogram. My dad is an attorney and my parent's ended up hiring an attorney who specializes in dealing with the HMOs in just this kind of situation.
   
   One month later, the original lump in her breast grew twice the original size, another grew adjacent to it, and another grew under her arm. She was given a few months to live with stage 4 breast cancer and told to get her estate in order.
   
   That was 16 years ago. She survived that horrible year of surgery after surgery, the strongest chemotherapy they could supply and a bone marrow transplant.
   
   Alas, this past year, she found a new cancer in her other breast. She beat it again.
   
   I can't imagine going through the pain she has had and the ongoing side effects as result, but she just keeps going.

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      Lady_Eposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Wow! I'm happy for her that she's recovered. That's extra-ordinary.  She must have some special Angels watching over her and Thank God for a loving family.  Thanks.

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         Joelle Burnetteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks! The angels were my parents (my mom, especially who drove her to all the many appointments) who made sure they didn't lose another daughter. They fought like hell to keep her alive.

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   fierycjposted 14 years ago

   Nothing about a heath problem but I've been in plenty a near-death experience. Came out, gave glory to God and moved on.

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      Lady_Eposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      ....and that's why we call you Fiery. A man with fire in his bones who will always be victorious. Cheers

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   lrohnerposted 14 years ago

   Not all health problems, but back in the late 90's, in a six-month period I separated and got divorced, my 11 year old daughter was diagnosed with diabetes, I was almost paralyzed from two collapsed discs in my neck, my company told me to work in an office 2,000 miles away or I would be unemployed, and my 80 year plus mother with Alzheimer's came to live with me. Good Lord, we all survived mentally and physically. Not sure how though!

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      Lady_Eposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      My goodness anyone else would have had a heart attack or mental breakdown.  Glad you got through it - Your a brave man.  Thanks.

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   Ghost32posted 14 years ago

   I've had a few near death experiences--doubtless far fewer than CJ, but a few.  However, the real odds-defier in our family is my wife, Pam.  It would take "a book of Hubs" to list 'em all, but here are a couple:
   
   --Item.  Some years back (before we met), a fellow shot her twice in both feet and ankles with a .357 Magnum, home reloads, hollowpoints.  Claimed it was an "accident".  (For those who understand firearms, this was a revolver; it's virtually impossible to "double-tap" anyone with a revolver by "accident".)  Medical personnel at the Emergency Room told this 5 foot tall, 92 pound redhead she'd "never walk again".  Two weeks later to the day, she went RUNNING through their hospital.  They yelled out, "Pam, what do you think you're doing?"
   
   She answered, "You said I'd never walk again, so I guess I'll just have to RUN!!!"
   
   --Item.  When we lived in a remote location in the Montana mountains in 2001, there was a time when I was gone over the road, driving truck to make us a living.  She had taken our 1974 GMC four wheel drive pickup to visit our best friends, who were neighbors living way up a very steep part of the mountain.  When she left their house, their teenaged son Shaun--a hulking 200 pounder--rode with her, intending to stay the night at our place just to keep her company.  We were kind of like a second set of parents to Shaun and his brother.
   
   Just as she was coming down a VERY steep  switchback on the icy, snowy road (this was in the middle of the winter), the brakes gave out completely.  She knew her only chance was to allow the truck to dive down through the timber.  She told Shaun that when she yelled "TURN!" he would have to help her make a sharp left turn if they were going to survive.  Pam, I should mention, is a one time race car driver.
   
   So what did big Shaun do?  He FAINTED DEAD AWAY ON MY WIFE, literally on her!!!
   
   She had to hold this big lump of clay up off her with one hand and steer with the other.  And yet she was able to eventually maneuver the truck to a safe stop without rolling the vehicle or even smacking a tree.  Although she really wanted to smack Shaun! 
   
   Many more, but you get the idea.

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   MBP42posted 14 years ago

   I've had my share of near death experiences, but the one that stands out would be that I am walking even though the neurosurgeon says my left sciatic nerve is occluded. Your sciatic nerves are what gives your leg the ability to feel and bear weight. You have a right nerve and a left nerve (one for each leg) If occluded the nerve would be paralyzed and so would your leg. They cannot explain how I am still walking around. I have pain but that's another thing. They cannot explain how I can be taking the same meds for so many years without needing to take stronger ones. Eventually your supposed to build a tolerance and need heavier meds. I am still taking the stuff they gave twenty years ago and taking less of it now than I was before. I walk everywhere I can praising God that I can walk.

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