(Entrepreneur) What The Heck Do You Do When The Totally Unexpected Happens?
So where the heck do I begin to explain this? It all starting while I was relaxing on the beach. With the balmy summer breeze gently streaming over my face. Not a care in the world mind you. Okay, let me get and be brutally honest here extremely valued reader(s.)
Unfortunately, I was nowhere near the beach. And it most certainly wasn’t summer. (Nowhere near close.) It’s routinely cold during the early winter months in upstate New York. And even though it hadn’t started consistently snowing just yet.
Entrepreneur what the heck do you do when the unexpected not only happens? But knocks you for a loop when it does? This is the rather precarious situation I recently found myself in?
Right About Now Is When And Where You Really Start To Discover Not Only Who You Really Are? (But Whether Or Not Who You Really Are Is Anywhere Near Enough?
So it actually started back in late October of 22. For some odd reason(s) I gradually lost my appetite? I was steadily not only eating less and less. But what little food I was consuming wasn’t providing the usual energy levels I had either come accustomed to.
Or for which I had been previously taking for granted. So as my weight loss steadily continued. I found my usual energy levels constantly shrinking as well.
Suddenly it all came to a head on January 6th 2023. I admitted myself into the hospital It was there I discovered after a series of tests.
First: Unbeknownst to me. My appendix had totally unexpectedly burst and the potentially dangerous toxins inside it were now temporarily, freely flowing throughtout my inner system. (Say what?)
And the really odd part is. I felt nothing. Absolutely no previous pain of any kind. To indicate what a serious medical challenge I was now facing. (And wasn’t exactly prepared for.)
And just “how” serious the situation clearly was. (It was only through the grace of God almighty I was able to get to the hospital before the situation became even worse.
Second: As if that wasn’t enough. I also discovered I tested positive for what fortunately turned out to be an extremely mild form of Co-vid. (And I’m also happy to report I have since fully recovered from the effects.)
(Because honestly, just between you and me. I truly believe had I contracted either the 1st or 2nd strain of this potentially deadly virus. I would not be here sharing part of my ongoing health challenges with you.
Again I felt none of the typical signs normally associated with it.
Of Course I Was Under The Misguided Assumption My Health Would Never Be Or Become A Major Issue!
Boy was I wrong. I laid in that hospital bed for a grand total of 19 days. And made the major mistake of rarely sitting up. Or getting up and sitting in the chair. (As the concerned nurses, doctors and later, the therapists constantly suggested.)
And when the 15-20 minute physical therapy sessions, once or twice a week were finally prescribed. Guess what entrepreneur?
I discovered I could barely walk even while using a walker. And being assisted by the prescribed therapists. If you had seen me attempting to walk, (therapists at my side),just four short weeks ago.
You would probably concluded that poor guy must have been in major car accident or something similar.
And has to learn “how to” walk again. My legs shook and I could barely put one foot in front of the other. In spite of the fact I desperately wanted to.
You throw in the fact as I laid in bed. For about three or four days I had more needles stuck in me than a porcupine.
And it seemed like clock work every three to four hours. The nurses appeared to “check my vitals.”) Or to take yet another blood sample.
They constantly monitored this or that. They constantly injected me with this or that. I slept a lot too.
It Didn’t Or Doesn’t Matter How You Got There! (What Matters Is Where Do You Go From There!)
Even though I only admitted it to my immediate family members. I was terrified beyond belief. What “if” my legs didn’t respond to physical therapy?
Finally both the doctors involved and the assigned therapists recommend me for physical therapy. And the social worker assigned to my case electronically sent out, (according to her) a minimum of 100 local referrals (requests.)
To get me admitted to one of the areas many certified physical therapy facilities. Finally I was discharged from the hospital on January 25th. And on the same day driven to a physical therapy facility in Hackensack New Jersey.
It was actually my first time ever being in Hackensack BTW>
And for the next 17 days I received physical therapy for 75 minutes at a time twice a day. They gave us (the patients) Sunday’s off.
I also found out (OT) Occupational Therapy basically meant from the waist up. And (PT) Physical Therapy related to my legs.
I started slow. But gradually got to the point. In all of 17 total days mind you. I could walk twelve flights of stairs twice. While my (PT) therapists stood by just in case I needed help balancing myself.
And the last few times I walked the entire hallway near the physical therapy wing. My therapists didn’t bother to pull my wheelchair behind me.
(As he and others had done in the past. Because he said I no longer needed it.)
Was My Future Now Gonna Include Either A Wheelchair Or A Walker?
One of the (OT) therapists gave me an extremely valuable crash course in effectively using a wheelchair. Just in case I needed it once I was officially discharged.
And having never used one previously. She would remove my leg guards’. And unlike all the other therapists. She made me wheel, (first maneuver) myself out of my room. Then wheel myself down the hall. Then back myself into the elevator.
(Some serious tough love for sure.) But thanks to all of them. And the extra reps I constantly put in on my own.
Because I was determined to walk again under my own strength.
Upon officially being discharged on Thursday morning February 16th. I was able to at least do the old man shuffle.
(Walk) without the aid of wheelchair, a therapist or a walker. And my progress thus far has been slow and steady.) Although I’m not fully out of the woods just yet.
And I still face a few other serious health challenges. I’m extremely happy to report my future definitely looks much brighter than it did.
You Definitely Already Know Not To Take Your Health Lightly Correct?
BTW entrepreneur. If you haven’t had an MRI x ray yet. My advice is don’t. (Obviously if your doctor(s) conclude it’s necessary. Then you definitely need to have it done.
I had my first one done while in the hospital. And thank goodness they didn’t find anything else super serious. I was also made aware I definitely need to be far more aware and careful of my current and future eating habits going forward.
This entire ordeal opened my eyes extremely wide into “what” can potentially happen. And “why” you/we shouldn’t ever take our health for granted.
So that’s the reason “why” I chose the picture of the women sitting in a wheelchair. Even though my situation was definitely the unexpected.
(And I’m beyond grateful I no longer needed the assistance of either a wheelchair , a trained therapist tor a walker in order to get around.)
Entrepreneur you truly never know “what” challenges await you/us. Don’t you agree?
I Sincerely Hope You Will Forgive My Temporary Inactivity On My Blog!
Even though I basically had 19 pre written posts scheduled to be published ahead of time before I checked myself into the hospital. I still ran out of pre written material. I sort of prided myself on being able to consistently publish fresh problem solving “how to” content.
And on average do so about six days a week. Nothing on Sundays. Now I’ll start cranking content out again very shortly. I just need to work out a few other wrinkles first. It’s great to be back.
And I look forward to reading your comments very soon!
Just Remember To Keep On Keeping On!
P.S. Now as is customary during this part of our show. Please share your extremely valuable comments (in the comments section below)
that you can apply to your business, product or service in the next 30 days or less!
As always if you got any value out of this post, please share this on your favorite social media sites or tweet this. Thanks!
And if you’re currently registered on Linkedin or twitter, and you’re serious about doing some type of power networking. Let’s get connected asap!
Extremely important note: And if by chance, you happen to know any of the lesser known podcasters,(or radio show host) who also target small business owners, service providers or aspiring startups entrepreneurs etc.
And they’re pro-actively looking for potential guest speakers. Please don’t hesitate to-either- pass their name and contact information directly to me or vice versa! Thanks!
(And be sure you head over to Spotify.com and setup your free account. This way you can listen to my podcast “The Marketing Minute” and leave me a greatly appreciated 5 star review. Provided you honestly feel it warrants it. Thanks!)
(Click the link just below, and watch the first video at the top of the page, if you’d like to see the entire 33 minute replay, of a guest podcast on marketing your small business or service. I Recently appeared on.)
(And speaking of you consistently generating some type of reliable passive income. This may just be what you need right now. Click the link to “discover” the real secret of the ultimate insiders.)
And be sure you grab your explosive free 22 step small business marketing mastery kit series, because it will help you increase your gross profits by as much as 25% in the next 90 days or less. (Provided you’ll consistently implement as instructed.)
And help you master your effective communication in marketing skills.(No matter what your particular niche market is.) It’s a $97 dollar value and it’s FREE! Please note some links on this page are affiliate (income producing) links.
