Why Me?

I was in the surgery room and one of our patients asked the doctor, “Why, oh why, does life give us so much pain?” The doctor responded, "Because if we didn’t go through pain, we wouldn’t progress and evolve."

This is so true. We all face pain of some kind throughout our life.

However, even though it may not feel like it, when life brings us events or situations that cause this, it’s usually beneficial to our evolution. For many of us, joy follows pain.

For example, John was a truck driver for years whose life belonged to the trucking company. Much of his time was spent driving routes accross the country.

Even his free days were spent planning for his next trip.

He didn’t really like his career, but he had bills to pay.

He lived the stressful life many of us endure. He was in survival mode. Because he liked toys, his credit card debt was high.

He bought the dream home he wanted, but didn’t have anyone to share it with and didn't even have time to enjoy it.

He had to pick up extra routes just to pay for the home.

Traveling, didn’t allow him close relationships, though he had old friends whom he spoke to occasionally.

If we asked John what his passion was, he wouldn’t be able to answer. He would give us a dumbfounded expression. Why, he didn’t even know his favorite color.

What he did know, was that he loved to treat himself to Dunkin Donuts every morning and he drank beer in his hotel room to relax after a full day of driving.

Most of his dinners were bought at Mcdonald’s. He wasn’t much of a cook.

Despite this lifestyle, John was never sick. He had always had a stomach of steel and a high immune system to colds and flu. Drunken evenings rarely even caused him hangovers. It was easy for John to take his health for granted.

He didn't take care of his body or health. In fact, he mostly lived out the anxiety his mind created. But, it finally caught up to him.

One day, John woke up in his hotel room feeling dizzy and lethargic. He ran to the bathroom feeling like his bladder was going to explode, but he couldn't pee.

He was forced to see a doctor.

The doctor entered John’s hospital bay after running some tests. He said “Your Bun and creatinine are extremely elevated.” "Mr. Drummond, this is the result of kidney failure.”

John sat there with a look of shock.

“We need to admit you and put a catheter in your chest so you can dialyze as soon as possible before any other organs shut down.” “Your blood is highly toxic, this is serious.” he continued.

The news was just as tragic for John as it would be for any of us.

Life as he had known it had abrubtly come to a halt. He couldn’t travel anymore because he had to have dialysis three times a week four hours a day.

Still in shock and extremely devastated, he leaned forward, cupped his temples with his hands and continued asking, “Why me?” "Why oh why is this happening to me?"

It's amazing how quickly our lives can take a different turn!

JOHNS STORY TO BE CONTINUED.....................................