| I.S.C. Graydon's Grumblings |
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Sometimes Your Left To Twist In The Wind
This can be worse than having to listen to broadcaster Jim Rome on laughing gas.
Worse than sitting through back-to-back showings of "Friday The 13th."
This can be like dying a slow, painful death.
Simply, because the truth hurts.
Cry uncle?
Never.
Not this grizzled Irishman. And there is no time to start brooding on the couch, while your life slips away.
And actually, I shouldn't be telling anyone about this. The last thing I want is to gain any simpathy. That's not in this Irishman's vocabulary. I've always had the philosophy that 80-percent of the people simply don't care, and the other 20-percent are glad you got it.
I can't begin to tell you about how much working the ISC Website, and writing columns the last year has meant to me. It has given me new life. Like a new beginning. Like spring time. I didn't realize how much I missed writing. And how much fun it can be.
It's given me a new source for living. Thank you very much for the opportunity.
And writing for www.remembertheABA.com has also given me a new life. It's a renewal of what life really means to me.
But there is also the stark reality that I face.
It is called idiopathic myelofibrosis. It means "bone marrow transformation of unknown origin."
And if you can figure out what it means, call my doctor. He tells me they caught it early enough. But it's a Cancer.
Not to worry. You still have unfinished business. You still have to feed the dogs and cats.
It's like one of my old bosses, John Mooney, at The Salt Lake Tribune, always related to me, "I have had four doctors tell me that I if didn't start taking better care of myself, it would lead to an early grave. And I've out lived all those doctors. They're pushing daisies."
And the laughable Irishman, Mooney, is 80-years old.
I love his approach to life.
Reading from a Mayo Clinic medical book, it indicates that medications are available, but there is no cure. Eventually, the growth of plasma cells interferes with the production of with the normal red blood cell, white blood cell, and the platelets by the bone marrow. As the cells grow and take up more space in the marrow, the bone may weaken, causing pain, in the back, and ribs.
In other words, I have to report to the doc and periodically undergo an oil and lube job. Or what they call a blood transfusion, which will eventually lead to a bone marrow tranfusion.
And in reality that's not bad. Every now and then, everyone should get an oil and lube job. Then, you'll be able to go out dancing every Friday and Saturday nights. Not a bad idea. I hear that one person, who was my age -- fiftysomething--got a blood transfusion from a teenager. And you know what teenagers think about. His wife said, "enough already!"
Then, when the doctor responds and ask you to get more rest, you tell him or her, "I've got rhythm and who can ask for anything more!"
Before you get into this business about consulting a doctor, and possibly saving your life, there is other business to conduct.
Like the worst thing about this was going into the doctor's office the first time, and hear his receptionist say, "and what kind of insurance do you have?"
Imagine that.
You could be whispering your last words, and she'll say "Hey! What kind of insurance do you have?"
The dollar signs ($$$) are registering.
It's like they really don't care about your condition. It's harsh. But then again, it's a reality check.
Maybe, I came from a different era. That's where the doctor voiced his concern more about the patient. And you better believe what the receptionist is voicing isn't coming directly from the doctor. She's his mouthpiece.
They make you feel like your just a number and not a person.
And you can hear the late legendary Frank Sinatra piercing your ears with, "That's life."
And that is life.
You have to pay the fiddler before you can dance.
In reality, we shouldn't be talking about this anyway.
Right now, I am taking both the late Jim Valvano's and Mooney's approach to life. It's like a battle cry. "Don't give up! Don't ever give up!"
And I won't.
Editor's Note:
DAN PATTISON has been a sports writer and columnist for over 30 years with
The Deseret News, Salt Lake Tribune, Las Vegas Sun, The Sporting News,
Basketball Times & USA Today. He is currently enjoying his
association with men's major fastpitch and as an ISC Commissioner.