Some people say that growing old is somewhat of a pain. The five trips to the bathroom per night, the aching bones, the tired and weary body is slowly shutting down.
Myself, I wished that someday I would be old. Old enough to hopefully see grandchildren, false teeth and depends. You see when I was a boy, my expectations of a long life were unheard of. Growing up with cystic fibrosis in the 60's, I was given a life expectancy of 12 years. When I was blessed enough to reach 12, with the help of the great nurses and doctors at Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto, I was given another challenge to reach the next stage and age in life. Life sure had its trials and tribulations for me to conquer and defeat throughout my life. I admit that I was not the toughest boy on the streets, but I was not going to let my life be defeated by the expectations of a young boy living with cystic fibrosis. I made an oath, that I stick to today that I would only give up if I did not see that light at the end of the tunnel. And that light shines brighter each and every day with each new friend that joins me in my journey of life. When I look at what I have overcome in life, it was not without the support of many people that knew that I would take that challenge and see it through to the end, even if it took me a few attempts to get it right. I am greatful for all of the support that has been so generously offered to not only define who I am today, but has given me the means to succeed in everything that has been offered in my dreams.
Life without challenges would be somewhat boring. The toughest challenge for me was to show those who offered those challenges, that I would see them and raise them to the next level. Kind of like poker; raise the stakes to see their next offer, or have them falter under pressure. But don't get me wrong, I didn't take my life for granted, I just played the cards in my favour.
I just want to clear the air by letting you know, "Go Fish" was a popular game in my time at Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto. I would always win in the hospital, but sit for hours on the dock with my dad and never get a bite. Go figure, life is so unpredictable.
Anyway,
As I grew up, life would continue to challenge me. It seemed the hospital was more a part of my life than home. I learned many different ways of taking care of myself through the help of the medical system, and before long I became part of the ever-changing ways the world has evolved into today through medicine. In fact, I was no longer a patient of cystic fibrosis, I became a patient with cystic fibrosis. A sickness that patients now live into their 30's, 40's and even beyond. I just turned 47 on May 3rd, and living the dream!!!!!
