Four years ago today, my health started to deteriorate at an alarming

[WCGreen]

pace.

Within six days, I was taken to the hospital via ambulance, they trached me and I was put into a drug induced comma.

It was a wild ride for me, one that opened my eyes to my inner world.

If anyone has seen Eli Stone, they will know of what I speak.

I remember fighting with the evil. This entity kept pummeling me with outrageous and horrible images and yet I didn't break.

I remember traveling great distances, conversing with monks about the nature of god.

I even created a whole new persona, a man named Alan Deveroix who was a bit of a rake but had a heart of gold. Don't ask me why I settle on a southern persona, but there was succotash involved.

I also was in Korea, Columbus, Denver with Paul Newman and spent time with the sausage king of Cleveland Heights.

All these images are as vivid to me as a real memory.

I remember fighting back from oblivion because I so wanted to live. I was sure if I gave in I would die.

I came out of it within three weeks and was released on the Fourth of July. Symbolic.

Why I am posting this is that DU became a very large part of my life as I tried to recapture what was lost.

I felt connected more to the world than ever before.

I just thought I'd let you all know what a big part of my recovery, small as it was...

[DS1]

1. Fascinating

[auntAgonist]

2. ..

:hug:

I hope you're health is better these days.


aA

[WCGreen]

7. Much better, thank you...

I have taken to exercise and good foods and I as good as I heave felt for 15 years.

[auntAgonist]

9. I'm so glad you're doing better!

stay well, please.

:hug:

aA
kesha

[KitchenWitch]

3. I remember your posts from back then

:hi:

[lizziegrace]

4. ...

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. What a wild ride you had!

Most of us never experience that...

I'm so grateful that you recovered and didn't die...

All your many gifts would have been wasted if you had...

Welcome home, Chris...

:hug:

[WCGreen]

8. The wild ride is what is coming now...

[The Straight Story]

6. Kicking for an insightful post

Hope you are much better now!

[graywarrior]

10. You totally rule, you know that?

I just love you.

[WCGreen]

15. Thanks...

I hear your headed back north or already have returned.

[graywarrior]

22. I'm here

gratefully. Just got back from the woods. Awesome.

[amitten]

11. I don't know what happened to you.

Can you be specific? I'm interested but genuinely confused...

[WCGreen]

14. I had a pneumonia that developed into what they call ARDS...

Which is Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

I was lucky, for once in my life, the odds were against survival.

I believe when I fought in my mind with the evil, I started to turn it around.

[amitten]

18. I'm glad you made it through. n/t

[Elidor]

12. Yoikes! Did you have a brain aneurysm?

Succotash? Hell, indeed. I had no idea you'd been there and back. But I'm glad you chose to come back from oblivion and share your story with us. It's fascinating.

[khashka]

13. I thought you were doing better now

And even when you are doing well, it's still there. I have MS,so I know.

Hang in there, we need you and love you.

Khash.

[WCGreen]

16. I am, I really am.

In fact I just finished working out. I am below 200lbs for the first time in fifteen years and I can actually see my toes when I am standing.

When I was first diagnosed with respiratory ailments, unspecified, BTW, I cut back o al activity but work. It was over work and stress that landed me in the hospital with pneumonia about every 16-18 months.

I learned from all of that and have downsized my life and am focusing on what is important.

And it doesn't go away. In fact I was in the Hospital this year from Christmas Day to New Years day.

Something about holidays....

[khashka]

17. He does work hard for the money!

You need to slow down, dude! I know you like all the things you do and you are good at them, but sometimes we worry about you.


Khash.

[southlandshari]

19. The world is a better place

with you in it. Your unexpected experience and your recovery, both the short term in the weeks that followed that ambulance ride, and the long term that I am sure continues on today, are an inspiration for me and I'm sure for others as well.

:hug:

[bridgit]

20. ...

:(:):hi: :hug:

[ThomCat]

21. DU is a big part of what keeps me going sometimes too.

I hope you're hanging on and doing well. :hug:

[asthmaticeog]

23. ...

:hug:

[applegrove]

24. Interesting. Glad you are okay.