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2013-09-30 8:07 AM

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Subject: Things you see that help put it all in perspective

I can definitely get caught up in the routine doings of my life and start feeling bad about one of my "problems".  Sometimes they're real honest-to-goodness problems, often they're more of the first world variety.  When I'm have a little pity party, I'll take a walk over to the main hospital to get a coffee (great coffee shop in there), and someone will cross my path--a mom pulling a kid hooked up to chemo does it every time--that makes me go, "Oh, yeah, I don't have problems."

What helps you keep it in perspective?



2013-09-30 8:16 AM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective
I'm going to say the same thing. I do a lot of work at Children's Hospital in Boston. I'm in there probably once a week. I see it all and it really makes the meeting I just went to or the site I'm running off to next seem a lot less important. At the same time, the innocence of the kids that are there really is inspiring in a way. I always make at attempt to smile at every single kid that I see.
2013-09-30 8:23 AM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective
A little over a year in Bosnia where we did convoy security for the widows of Srebrenica after every male in their city was slaughtered and the Muslim houses had their roofs blown off by the Serbs.
A little over a year in Korea, where dirt poor meant something
A year in Saudi Arabia and Iraq - should be self explanatory.
A few months in Mogadishu where we were forbidden to give our MREs to the kids. They weren't used to the calories as we were killing them by being nice.
Hurricane Andrew relief. We flew the FEMA people around and spent a bunch of time with people who only owned the clothing on their backs.

Couple other bits and pieces. Mud slides. Flooding.


2013-09-30 8:32 AM
in reply to: jonD81

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective

Last week I saw a young girl (teen) running on the treadmill at our Y with 2 prosthetic legs. You could see the determination in her face with every step. Reality check for me right then and there.


2013-09-30 9:10 AM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective
I thought I was doing great at the Bataan Memorial Death March because I was beating the time set my a buddy from work who is a former Ranger, but watching the vets with amputations doing the march on prosthetic legs was humbling.

My grandmother grew-up in a sod house in southern New Mexico, and my mother grew up in railroad passenger cars that were converted into housing for the railroad workers' families, moving from town to town as the stretches of line were completed. My father started life in Germany in the middle of WWII.

I interact with people from Third World countries constantly. They've not eaten for days, maybe over a week, and the only water they've had was from stock tanks or puddles. They can't read and often can't write their own name, don't know their date of birth, and often don't even know where they are other than in the U.S.

I have some problems, but they're barely noticeable when I put them in perspective.
2013-09-30 10:33 AM
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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective

The girl on my log dashboard,  my granddaughter, who fought cancer for 3 years, 7 days and touched the lives of hundreds of people around the world.

https://www.facebook.com/events/273772552653932/?ref=3

https://www.facebook.com/groups/209507665759731/



Edited by cathyd 2013-09-30 10:36 AM


2013-09-30 10:41 AM
in reply to: cathyd

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective
My job.  I leave every day thinking, "wow, I don't really have any problems."
2013-09-30 10:49 AM
in reply to: Left Brain

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective
I leave in about an hour to go down to Seattle to meet with my medical oncologist to review semi-annual scans.  Sitting in the exam room waiting for him to come in is the most nerve racking experience knowing that the first few words he says could dramatically change your life.  Living life in six month increments puts it all in perspective for me.
2013-09-30 10:51 AM
in reply to: popsracer

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective

Originally posted by popsracer I leave in about an hour to go down to Seattle to meet with my medical oncologist to review semi-annual scans.  Sitting in the exam room waiting for him to come in is the most nerve racking experience knowing that the first few words he says could dramatically change your life.  Living life in six month increments puts it all in perspective for me.

Thinking about you Steve.  Hugs.

2013-09-30 10:53 AM
in reply to: cathyd

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective
Originally posted by cathyd

The girl on my log dashboard,  my granddaughter, who fought cancer for 3 years, 7 days and touched the lives of hundreds of people around the world.

https://www.facebook.com/events/273772552653932/?ref=3

https://www.facebook.com/groups/209507665759731/

Yes, I bet she did.  Hugs to you.
2013-09-30 11:15 AM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective


2013-09-30 11:31 AM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective

There are a number of things, but definitely my family, and at this moment, my sister who is still fighting cancer (gotta love her strength and sense of humor through all this):

My sister - still fighting cancer

 

2013-09-30 2:34 PM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective

This whole thread so far, and it's only 12 replies long.

Good call Switch Smile

2013-09-30 3:23 PM
in reply to: noelle1230

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective
Originally posted by noelle1230

This whole thread so far, and it's only 12 replies long.

Good call Switch Smile

I was talking with my kids a couple of nights ago about this idea.  They're 8 and almost 7, so it was a little different. They had just watched an edited version of The Patriot with their dad (they're studying the American Revolution right now), so we were talking about the atrocities of war, and that led to a discussion of these sorts of things. 

Daniel's list is pretty intense. I have never seen any of those things first hand, but I think about them often.  I have been known to weep after kissing my kids goodnight just becuase I'm so grateful I don't have to worry about my house being blown up, or someone raiding it and killing them.  The day-in-day-out ability to feed and clothe them is pretty sweet too.

2013-09-30 4:21 PM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective
Last night I saw the clip of the mom in the Kenyan mall who had to play dead with her two young kids before being rescued. Seeing those little faces against the ground made my breath catch, and I couldn't explain it to my boy for several minutes.I have concerns and fears as a parent...Nothing like that.
2013-09-30 5:26 PM
in reply to: 4agoodlife

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective

In yesterday's Escape to Miami sprint tri there was a man competing who only had one leg.  He used a prosthetic to run, but did not use it for either the swim or bike.  It was quite inspiring seeing him biking up a causeway using only one leg.  Hard to complain about how tired your legs are when you see that.



2013-09-30 5:48 PM
in reply to: amd723

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective

Doing posts (autopsies) on infants and children.

Ped-Onc rounds.

The trauma bay.

Watching family and friends cope with terminal illness with more grace than I can seem to muster for my day-to-day.

Yep, this thread is both great and terrible.  Worth it to remember all the above, all the time.

Matt

2013-10-01 9:39 AM
in reply to: noelle1230

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective
Originally posted by noelle1230

This whole thread so far, and it's only 12 replies long.

Good call Switch Smile




Ditto.
2013-10-01 10:47 AM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective
In about every large race I see blind athletes and athletes with prognostic limbs. I always yell "Great Job" when I pass them. My next thought is usually, if that person can do this then I have no excuse...suck it up.

2013-10-01 10:50 AM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective

Micro-preemie babies.  My son was born two months early and spent about a month in a level 3 NICU.  He came in weighing 4 pounds, and was an absolute hoss compared to most of the babies in there.  Being surrounded by babies that are literally no bigger than your hand has a way of making your own problems seem really insignificant.  

Inside the NICU is an odd place, it's surprisingly happy in there.  People are living in the moment with their children, and celebrating every tiny little milestone.  Where else can you see a parent get excited that their child gained 10 grams or that the nurse is actually going to let them change a diaper.  The hallway outside the NICU, not so happy.

2013-10-01 11:04 AM
in reply to: kevin_trapp

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective
Originally posted by kevin_trapp

Micro-preemie babies.  My son was born two months early and spent about a month in a level 3 NICU.  He came in weighing 4 pounds, and was an absolute hoss compared to most of the babies in there.  Being surrounded by babies that are literally no bigger than your hand has a way of making your own problems seem really insignificant.  

Inside the NICU is an odd place, it's surprisingly happy in there.  People are living in the moment with their children, and celebrating every tiny little milestone.  Where else can you see a parent get excited that their child gained 10 grams or that the nurse is actually going to let them change a diaper.  The hallway outside the NICU, not so happy.




We went through the same thing. My oldest daughter came 8 1/2 weeks early and couldn't breath on her own, we couldn't pick her up to feed her for a week. We went back and forth to the NICU for 6 weeks before we could bring her home with oxygen and monitors. Like you our daughter was big (around 4 pounds also) compared to some other babies, it was amazing seeing the affect that just little gains had on the other parents.


2013-10-01 12:08 PM
in reply to: kevin_trapp

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective
Originally posted by kevin_trapp

Micro-preemie babies.  My son was born two months early and spent about a month in a level 3 NICU.  He came in weighing 4 pounds, and was an absolute hoss compared to most of the babies in there.  Being surrounded by babies that are literally no bigger than your hand has a way of making your own problems seem really insignificant.  

Inside the NICU is an odd place, it's surprisingly happy in there.  People are living in the moment with their children, and celebrating every tiny little milestone.  Where else can you see a parent get excited that their child gained 10 grams or that the nurse is actually going to let them change a diaper.  The hallway outside the NICU, not so happy.

Reminds me of when my son was born. 9lb of healthy, except for fluid in his lungs. Talk about feeling out of place! All these tiny incubated babies that sounded like kittens when they cried and there's my son, whom they wouldn't let me wake up because his cries were so loud. 

About 5 days into it, we witnessed a family saying their goodbyes to their baby. And the day after, a baby with fluid on his/her brain was emergency flown to Phoenix. I couldn't really complain about being asked to call the nurses to make sure he was awake before making a feeding visit.

2013-10-01 2:53 PM
in reply to: 1stTimeTri

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective
Originally posted by 1stTimeTri

There are a number of things, but definitely my family, and at this moment, my sister who is still fighting cancer (gotta love her strength and sense of humor through all this):

 

Three things... 1) awesome tee shirt, love it!, 2) I bet it did, and 3) tell your sis to rock on and kick its azz!!

2013-10-01 3:01 PM
in reply to: Sous

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective

I met a guy at a Jiu Jitsu seminar that lost his legs in Iraq.  But he still got on the mat with us and proceeded to kick everyone's butt he got his hands on.  And was funny about it too.  I'm still friends with him today as well, even though I'm a couple years removed from BJJ. 

I also follow Steve Gleason (Saints Safety, ALS patient) on Twitter and have gotten to meet him and his family a couple times.  About once or twice a week Steve will tweet about the realities of living with ALS which is a great reminder about how lucky we are.

One of his best was "Some days I forget.  No, I really do.  Then a mosquito lands on my nose."

 

2013-10-01 3:22 PM
in reply to: mcmanusclan5

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Subject: RE: Things you see that help put it all in perspective
Originally posted by mcmanusclan5

Doing posts (autopsies) on infants and children.

Ped-Onc rounds.

The trauma bay.

Watching family and friends cope with terminal illness with more grace than I can seem to muster for my day-to-day.

Yep, this thread is both great and terrible.  Worth it to remember all the above, all the time.

Matt

^^ This.

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