My Health Journey

My Journey began in the Early 90's as a Desk Clerk at the local ER. I got involved in competing as a Heavy Events Athlete in the Southeast Scottish Highland Games. I did well and used my large 350 lb body to succeed in the various events. I picked up a Caber at the Grandfather Mtn. Highland Games to toss it and herniated two lower lumbar discs. My Doc told me no more games or my favorite past time Golf! I had terrible eating habits and at the time my Thyroid decided to go nuts! I already had sleep apnea and it got worse with every pound I gained! I ballooned to near 800 lbs. My legs were giving out on me understandably. I was working at the UPS Call Center in Greensboro, NC as an Investigator and would hae to walk 1/4 mile from my car to my desk. It would take 5--10 minutes to recover my wind and slow my heart rate back down. My Doc put me on disability. In 97 I started getting Cellulitis in my legs and soon it would develop anywhere a small cut or even an ingrown hair would be. It would take 3 weeks of IV Antibiotics to clear it up. After a couple of weeks it would reappear. I went to the hospital over 50 times for Cellulitis before going for my severe sleep apnea. I recieved a trach 13 years ago and ended up on a ventilator 10 yrs ago. I hae been bedbound since then and was ina long term care facility in Greensboro, NC for 10 years. I left that facility on May 2nd this year at 644 lbs. I went to a hospital with Respiratory Failure and after the third trip to the Pearly Gates I decided that it was time for me to get healthy. I ate only what the hospital served me and in two months lost 71 lbs of mostly fluid weight. I was transfered to Cincinnati, Ohio dur to NC not having any beds available to 573 pound vent patients. At first I was angry, scared and confused at how a state with so many health centers and Medical Schools could not take care of one of their own Sons.