I like the link, Todd. As often as my PE experience has made me want to beat my head against a wall just in sheer frustration, I've also always tried to look at the positives that the experience has brought, of course, that's the way I learned to live a long time ago. My viewpoint is that every single experience we have - even the horrible ones - is part of what makes us who we are. And we can make a conscious decision regarding what effect these things have on us. We can either embrace the good which we can take from it, stay positive and become more compassionate and patient and recognize our strength. Or we can sit around and become bitter for the unfairness of it all. I choose happiness, and I think fortunately most people here do the same, which is why I still like to be a part of things here.

Thank you for posting this Todd. I was up again late last night when you posted this and I watched it several times. Like Shilosmommy, I have wanted to beat my head against a wall more times then not out of frustration and anger that it happened to me.

Watching that last night and again this morning made me realize that maybe there is a gift in it. My mom and I have never been close and now we talk, we hardly ever agree, but we're talking and that's something. I now tell my mom and brother I love them before bed every night and I call my dad who's a truck driver and tell him the same. I've lost a lot of friends but now I know who my true friends are. I'm no longer scared of needles and I used to be terrified of them. I listen to my body a lot more then I used to. I don't take anything for granted anymore. I now know how precious life is and I know that it can end at any moment without warning and that makes me appreciate each day I wake up even more.

Thank you so much for posting this, I've been fairly depressed lately and it helped to watch that and try to find the positives.

I appreciate your comments. I'm glad you're here and found it useful.

Todd

Thanks Todd.

It really is a choice on how you SEE things. I naturally fight unearthly, unscientific views. I don't believe in destiny. I don't believe in fate. I don't believe things are preordained. I don't believe the expression, God doesn't give you more than you can handle. I don't believe that things happen for a reason. I think stuff just happens in life.

I see things merely as they are- an event. BUT, you can choose to find meaning in the things that happen to you, you can choose to find the good and the right and the possiblitities in these things. There's that great Leonard Cohen line, I've quoted a million times because it's makes so much sense in my own life:

There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

You have to get right with the events that happen to you, so you can move on, grow, etc. So, you aren't raging all the time, so you have peace, so you see the good. So, I choose to just let it be, and in doing so, I choose happiness too.

And I yeah, I am thankful every single day. Still.

Thank you Todd, how very alike our experiences are. I felt as though she were speaking my life. I was even surprised to find out that it was a different dx! But yes, the best gift I ever survived. Thank you.
Jo

After watching my husband, and best friend, die of pancreatic cancer I have to admit that I was very grateful to have survived those bilateral PEs in January! They are still there but I am still here!

As it turned out, my youngest son, who was planning to move to this area in a year or two, moved the time up and moved this year to be closer to me. I love having him an hour away instead of 12 hours away. He also gave me one of his three kitties who has been the "purrfect" companion for me!! You never know when you will be taking the good with the bad in this life.

Thanks for sharing that!! Very inspirational and puts things into perspective.