The Gift of Life Is Precious; Live Yours to Its Full Potential
This is the season of joy, jolly fun, and gifts. In my opinion, this is the greatest time of the year. The end of the year allows us to finish strong and to reflect on the growth and progress we have made toward our goals. The greatest gift I have received was the ability to have a second chance at life.
Seven years ago, I was not in a place of being able to have the outlook that I have now. I first began to notice symptoms of a pituitary gland tumor in 2014, but I was not formally diagnosed until September 2015, following an MRI.
Doctors also discovered around this time that the steroids I had been prescribed caused me to develop Cushing’s disease. In November 2015, I underwent a procedure known as transsphenoidal surgery to remove the tumor. A month later, I underwent a Gamma Knife procedure to take out the remaining parts of the tumor.
I don’t often talk about what happened next, because I don’t want anyone who is scheduled to have transsphenoidal surgery to be fearful.
Everything had been going as planned on the morning of the operation. I saw my family before getting the anesthesia. The last thing I remember was being asked to count backward from 100. I got to 97 and was out.
Once I was asleep, I was intubated, but that part of the procedure resulted in a laceration on the right side of my throat and I began to bleed badly. Thankfully, my ear, nose, and throat doctor scrubbed in early and was able to stop the bleeding and sew me up right away. The surgery was a success. My neurosurgeon was honest with my family about what had happened, and my respect for him grew even more after that. The pain lasted for weeks afterward, but in time I healed up completely.
That moment will always stay with me because it reminds me that I still have a purpose, and I still have work to complete. Another day of life means there is still something for all of us to do and to accomplish. Each day is not necessarily going to be easy, but with each day there is another chance. I was gifted with a second opportunity and the choice about what to do with that opportunity. I choose to live my life to my full potential.
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Note: Cushing’s Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cushing’s Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Cushing’s.
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