The Fragility of Life
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| The prayer candle that Dr. J. lit for Lady and Loki J.’s breeder. |
Lady J. and Loki J.’ breeder suddenly fell ill this week with meningitis and is in the intensive care unit. He is critically ill and while it’s still not clear that he will recover, and what neurological sequelae will remain, he appears to be going in the right direction.
Dr. J. thinks that this has hit him hard for a number of reasons.
First, over the last year, the breeder has become a friend. While we’ve met in person only three times, we are in constant touch via email and social media, largely regarding Lady J. and Loki J. as Dr. J. is a novice with regard to dog ownership and has a tendency to overanalyze if Lady J. doesn’t eat, or has a mucinous poop, of if Loki J. does anything differently than the way that Lady J. did it. But, he’s also a foodie, so, Dr. J. also has conversations about that commonality as well.
Second, the Breeder has had a very happy year. He’s just married, he’s completed his Masters and recently returned from a vacation to Europe, so the contrast of his sudden serious illness with the joy in his life is jarring.
Third, he did nothing wrong to contract this malady. This isn’t like heart disease or cancer where smoking three packs a day can be a preventable cause, nor is it cirrhotic liver disease where overindulging in alcohol can play its part, nor is it doing your best Fast and Furious impersonation and totaling your car.
One day he was diagnosed (correctly) with an ear infection, and was placed on appropriate antibiotics, the next day he developed a headache which after two hours became the worst headache of his life, and his spouse appropriately called 9-1-1, he was taken to his local ED where he was diagnosed and treated swiftly and correctly, and transferred to a tertiary care hospital in New Atlantis where is is receiving outstanding care.
So the fourth thing is that not only is this a case of lightning striking, but even though by all appearances, everyone did everything the right way, he still might not make it, and if he does, he may never be 100% again and only time will tell.
So, beyond the breeder being constantly in Dr. J.’s prayers, it has left him with two points he is taking to heart, and is recommending to all of our younger readers:
- Be grateful for what you have and the loved ones around you. Remind them that you love them on at least a semi-regular basis.
- Life is fragile, and random freak things can happen that don’t make sense. Make an effort to be prepared so that if catastrophe strikes, the emotional impact is your biggest, and hopefully only worry. In other words be a responsible adult who is properly insured and with savings and an emergency fund.
- In a manner that may sound opposite to the last suggestion, while you are being a dutiful ant, embrace your inner grasshopper on occasion, and responsibly follow your dreams.
You only live once, after all.
