Echoes of my Father

Well, to anyone still reading I'll say again-having Facebook makes blogging something I don't get to often, sorry about that.


In class, I always tell you all to take care of yourselves. I have firsthand knowledge of how it feels to lose a parent and if you do not take care of yourselves you cannot be there for your kids. Period. When my Dad died in 1980, folks didn't get their cholesterol checked regularly or their blood pressure, get regular physicals or anything else. We didn't know all we do about nutrition and exercise and all that. You went to the doctor when you were sick, unless you were a kid-adults didn't go regularly for the most part. Now we know better-we know that regular physicals, checking all 'your numbers' (cholesterol, sugar, blood pressure) is super important. The ACA has made it possible for us to all get a physical, once per year, for NOTHING. If you're not doing it, what the HELL are you doing??????????????? You have NO right to NOT take care of yourself, you say you love your kids? Well then show it by taking care of yourself! As Maya Angelou said, "When you know better, you can do better."


So, I had my physical in December and it was only my 2nd one with our 'new' doctors at Beth Israel. It's a well known fact that my husband and I are very picky when it comes to medical: insurance, doctors, dentists...we are medical consumers (all of you are too of course) and we should spend our hard earned dollars with the folks who give us the best service all around. Anyway, so BI Lexington is our new practice and we love it. Dr. K our PCP heard my murmur for the first time this year (I've been multiple times for a few things so she has listened to my heart many times but I guess this was the first time she heard the murmur.). So, because of my family history (father deceased before 50 from heart disease) and even though I do NOT have the genetic marker (yes, I've been tested. Have you? C Protein blood test-ask for it. Your doctor will NOT suggest it...you gotta ask!), she wanted to do a cardiac echo (resting) on me this year. I've had a stress test (2005) which showed my heart is AWESOME but she wanted to do hear own baseline. (Colonoscopy ordered too and yet to come in May, it's scheduled people...yours should be too!) So, off I went yesterday...
The times I've had to have a cardiac test (thankfully it's few), it always brings me right back to my Dad. I'm fine during the test (30 minutes of goop on my chest and neck with a total medical nerd technician (but very competent and, really, that's the important part)), but afterwards? I fall apart.
NOT because of the results-I'm normal. My murmur is from two leaky valves that are NO problem. He said, you're very lucky, you're normal. You've got nothing to worry about, you don't have ANY signs of coronary artery disease. You're too young to be here but, it's good your doctor checked. I'll take YOUNG any time any where I can hear it! Thanks Frank!
In the car, that's where the tears come. I think of my Dad and I think I wish all these tests were widely available in 1980. They were around, but not for everyone. I think of all the money we've raised, over the years, for the American Heart Association and I know it has helped. I know it helped my Uncle live much longer than my Dad did and it gave my cousins and their kids their Dad/Grandpa for decades longer. I'm thankful for that.
I think of my Dad and always wonder what he'd look like as an old man. He was so young when he died, would he be fully bald or would he still have some hair and be gray. I know you probably think it sounds like a dumb question but I wonder. I wonder what car he'd drive as an old guy-I doubt it would be the HUGE Cadillac he loved. I wonder if he'd want an iPhone and I know he would. He was a computer geek from back when computers were the size of buildings but he always told us, "One day you'll hold a computer in your hand" and every time I look at my iPhone, iPad and iPod I think, Dad, you were way before your time!
Whenever I have to get up on the ladder here at the Center and fix something, or hammer something I know my Dad would be here helping me. I know he'd love meeting all of you and he'd be happy to sit and watch me do what I do. How do I know that? Well, because when I used to have the 6-close shift at McD's in High School he would come and sit in the dining room with his paper or book and cup of coffee until my shift ended (they let him stay there after close too) and then he'd follow me home. He used to say he loved watching me work and he just wanted to 'be there'. It's really one of my best memories-a tough looking guy with a huge soft inside. Hmmm, I wonder who that sounds like? LOL


So, please go get the tests your doctor tells you to. Please don't miss your physical-I don't like being poked and prodded and questioned any more than you do and, honestly, I'm not really looking forward to my colonoscopy, the test that marks your 50th birthday...but I'm doing it. I'm doing it so I can live a long, healthy life (G-d willing) and do all the things my Dad didn't get to do. He didn't get to BE old. He didn't get to travel, see the world change, experience all the technological updates (he would have loved it ALL-from ATMs to cell phones to Bluetooth to GPS and beyond), see the world change...people are going to MARS! He didn't get to have a 50th birthday party, or a 60th, 70th or 80th...that's a lot of living to miss. I don't want to miss out on any of those decades! You don't either!


So, again, please. I know it's hard to eat well 5 days a week (but try and go a little nuts on the weekends). I know it's yucky to get a colonoscopy or a stress test or get a blood test. Trust me-they're ALL easier than joint replacements and I've done THAT twice! But do it. Do it all. Do it for your family and for yourself. Don't you want to live a LONG healthy life???? Of course you do. So, make that appointment. Follow through with any further tests your doctor feels you need. Don't be scared. Be grateful. Be thankful that you have insurance and you can go and that we live in the US where it's available and you live in Boston and you can find doctors doing the most updated tests and cures. Get your ass up and dance in class. Stop procrastinating, stop making excuses. All this stuff helps you live BETTER so you can do all the wonderful things you want to do! I promise, you won't regret it!