Time flies...Another Year Goes By

Reflecting

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Looking back on 2023 is challenging.

On August 29, I had a major life-changing event that I never in a million years thought would happen to me. As an ER doc, we’re wired rather like fighter pilots: determined, confident – even cocky, and sure that we’re invincible.

Even in my 60s I could work longer, harder, and with fewer breaks than most people I know and work with who are in their 40s. There were no doubt a few signs – blood tests, physical clues - that tried to get my attention over the last year or two, warning me that I was red-lining my health engine. Looking back, I ignored the warnings. I felt fine and nothing was ever going to happen to me. Not me!

I had been dizzy and a little weak over the weekend but carried on, traveling home from Las Vegas, doing the laundry, and mowing the yard. But on the morning of August 29, I could no longer ignore the weakness in my left arm, hand, and leg. When I found my blood pressure to be greater than 200/100, the reality of my current predicament screeched me to a halt, no different than if I had literally run into a solid brick wall. I wrote about it here.

Gratefully, my staff in three of my companies, who are also my closest friends and my family, jumped into gear and did the things for me that I’m quite sure I would not have done for myself. My two angels, Tracey and Michelle K, dropped everything and came to my house for two weeks. They got me started on the right supplements, the right sleep schedule, the right foods.

Initially, I could not type, could walk with only great difficulty, struggled with showering, and could not manipulate the hair dryer. Within a few weeks, I hired Charlotte for home physical therapy. I purchased and started using FlintRehab’s amazing home fitness and Music Hand software which significantly worked out both me and my brain. The many honest and heartfelt conversations with my dear friend, Brad Cummings, helped my spiritual heart to heal.

My rapid progress has been propelled by the thousands of prayers lifted up by friends and fans around the world. I have healed quickly: Within 5 weeks, I could type and I no longer needed to use the cane. Within 7 weeks, I could easily walk down the 14 steps to the basement where I have exercise equipment and my podcast studio. At 8 weeks, I started driving short distances to my office and around town. My first travel was over Thanksgiving when I went to Salt Lake City then I went to Florida for two weeks before Christmas for a much-needed water vacation, a gift from a friend.

In January, thanks to a suggestion from one of my substack readers, I will be going to Provo, Utah for two weeks of brain rehab at CognitiveFX  – surely a God-sent post since I had never heard of this program before. As my friend, Dr. Peter McCullough said to me a while back, “Don’t settle for 90% being the ‘new normal.’ Work hard – we need you back!” It’s going to be a very expensive two weeks, but my future is worth it. As they say, “You can’t take it with you!”

So, with the help of my staff, my friends, and the support and prayers of others, I’m working every day to return to the battlefield and to God’s calling in the upcoming year.

This has been both a hard and humbling reflection.

I can’t put into words the level of gratitude I feel towards everyone who has helped me come this far and will be supporting the work going forward. With much heartfelt love and appreciation, I say thank you. Two simple words that feel so inadequate for the depth for which they are meant.

Sometime,s God puts you flat on your back to get you to look up, look around, and look in. By His grace and through His plan, I will have a few more good years to do what He has planned for me to do.

One of my primary messages for 2024 will be to NOT ignore the signs in your life: whether the messages are physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. If something is trying to get your attention – calling you to change course or to get it fixed – DO IT.

I can now speak from experience when I say prevention is better, easier, less expensive, and less costly in every way than repair. We all say it. We’ve all heard it. We all power on and seldom stop to do it. At the end of the year, as we all reflect on what we did – and didn’t – do in 2023, please plan differently for 2024.

This is going to be a big and difficult year for all of us in so many ways. Every single person is going to be called to put it all on the table. Be in the best position and the best health you can possibly be. You can’t serve your family, your community, or your God to your fullest unless you are all in.

I’m praying that every person who reads this will have a year filled with goodness and blessings in 2024 and forward. Wishing I you the best in the year(s) ahead.