Inspirational indeed, friends.Wow! Well praise the Lord for his grace and mercy toward you bro. That's quite a testimony. I'm hoping to have a similar story, especially regarding the weight loss. I'm about 5-11 and 250. I've had weight issues all my life and it caught up with me. I'm 53 now and i just can't keep slamming the cheeseburgers and fries like I have most of my life. I appreciate the encouragement. I need it. I could hire someone to come slap me around a bit, although I've realized I'm a stubborn guy and I had to decide to take this leap myself.
One lives a life like mine and does things a 100 year old man tells me I've done more in my 50 than he did in 100, who am I to disagree with that? And Mr. Ozzy sure knew me.
Knew me when I was growing up and performing and playing my guitar, going to college and living the life and lifestyle I had made for myself from a teenager onward. Politicians and musicians, famous people and artists alike, all the people I have met and the places I have been all over this country and the many people I have had the privilege to know. All of them telling me I was going to be great. And then, that I was. LOL !
I had all that as a young man in my twenties already, graduated college in 95, had the world at my feet. But then I turned 28, right after my college sweetheart died suddenly, tragically, shockingly, and my father passed away so soon after that, the closest person to me in the entire world..... and there I was.... and then they told me I had a pituitary tumor, which was giving me all kinds of massive neurological problems. I suffered for 9 agonizing months before the MRI scan finally found it, and I had neurosurgeons telling me they were sorry they didn't find it sooner .... and momma holding my hand. Thankfully I still had her thru all of that. And all of that went down so fast, within a year of my life.
I immediately went into brain surgery and the hypophysectomy procedure was newer then, and if he nicked that artery during the 8 hour surgery, I'd pass away on the table, and they'd be nothing they could do about it and I would die. At least Dr. Arthur Cushman was straight with me. Talk about no longer being ten foot tall and bulletproof to questioning if you will survive the next 24 hours !!!!
All that by 28, half a lifetime ago. Nov 7, 1997. A date I will never forget. But I survived. An agonizing year of post surgical issues and problems and opioid addiction to deal with for years was my norm.
And I survived the fall that broke my back in 2008, from mommas house in Nashville, putting me into a wheelchair for 7 long years. I finally got out of it. I weighed 335ish, had become out of shape and long since disabled, and now I weigh half that. But I didn't really get enough strength built up to get out of my wheelchair until 2017, from 2015, I was still heavily dependent. But now I finally, after ten full years later, got it down to about 170. I'm in much better shape even though always disabled.
Now my type 2 diabetes, is still no longer a problem. I've no more heart problems, cholesterol is fine, and my weight has never been healthier. Once I finally got to Kentucky in 2017 (Madisonville) close enough to be close to momma before she passed 2 years ago, I had finally gotten "back on my feet" and going strong since then.
And I might add, I may always be disabled from the leftover tumor tissue they cant get, and my now hardware bionic titanium back, as long as it holds up, I'll be doing well.
Add that to 23 years sober, drug, alcohol and smoke free, and I deserve the good things that now come my way, which have been happening.
TL DNR version
And the moral to the story ?
Have faith in God and put your trust in Jesus and the strength you will receive will lift you to overcome anything and everything. I can certainly testify now, I understand what that means. Everything I have is because I've had that faith in God, Jesus, and my guardian angels, momma & poppa, and the rest of all my family, of which I am the last now, and I am still here and happy.
And God willing, I will keep going stronger for another 56 years !
50 of which, I count as a solid member of BBN ! 1974 Bloomington sucked. Terrifying as a 5 year old. Unforgettable indoctrination to being with BBN. One of my earliest memories.
Ahh, this year has been rejuvenating, I feel we're on the verge of another golden age here. I really do.
Hail hail, the gang does appear to all be here !
Go Big Blue !
PS - Hey - what about that ? A POSITIVE Runt's rant to finish off rant #3,713 ! And I even passed post 10K, after all these years.... an All American! Little old me.....and to think I lurked for so long. haha!
peace and harmony, friends!
