Roy L. Smith
So, let me tell you about this health thing. I haven't felt really well for a couple of days. Low fever off and on. Super tired. But, I thought with the Lymphedema, I was probably just overdoing a bit. This morning, I woke up in excruciating pain. My son had to drive me to the emergency room. Turns out that I have a major internal infection. It probably stems from my immune system not being able to keep up with me. The doctor said that I can't expect to be functioning at 100% when I've only been in remission for two months. So, my bladder, urinary tract, and kidneys are all swollen. I have internal bleeding, a sore throat, and lower abdominal pain. It's all related. So, after two shots of morphine, intraveneous antibiotics, and one bag of fluid to stave off the dehydration, I was sent home. More pain meds, more antibiotics, and an anti spasm medication. I am also down for the count for at least the next two days. This is something that cancer patients often don't talk about. We all want to be tough. However, the fact is, we get sick a lot. Our immune systems are depleted. We get tired easily. It's a fight every day. If you know someone who is in remission or who is fighting the disease, it is important to realize that this is the truth of our life.
You might think this is why I missed writing this blog yesterday, but in reality it was because I had no power. Our power went out on Thursday night at about 11:30pm. The storm blew a transformer near us. We didn't get power back until 8:00am today. Over 24 hours without electricity, gave me time to think about the next stress free holiday tip.
So here it is.
Pay it forward.
The whole idea of gift giving can be traced back to the legend of Saint Nicholas who was known for his great generosity. So, we give our loved ones gifts that will fill them with joy. I have found that giving gifts that also give back adds another dimension to holiday cheer. Pura Vida is a company that provides jobs for artisans in Costa Rica. You can purchase their jewelry online. Not only is it pretty, it means something. I ordered 4 of their bracelets this year. It took me about 10 minutes to pick the perfect bracelets for the girls on my list. This is a gift that actually helps others. Engaging in the tradition of gift giving can be even more meaningful when you give gifts that make the recipients feel good about themselves. You can take this a step futher. Instead of giving a gift to a loved one, pay one of their monthly bills, fill their car up with gas, pay off a stranger's layaway account. Giving a gift can be a powerful experience. It reminds us that we can touch another person's life. Don't think about the money. Think about the meaning. It will fill you up, and you don't have to spend hours at the mall looking for sales.
Go forth and be as St. Nick, my amazing friends!