Unexpected Events

Unexpected life events can impact your life at any time; it could be a job loss, the death of a loved one, an accident, or even the onset of illness. Various types of events can derail your journey in life, especially natural disasters that clearly show us how disruptive life can get. How we cope with all these unexpected life events will determine the outcome that we hope for. I was hospitalized; I was so sick that I had a high fever, nausea, chills, convulsions, and uncontrollable bladder. My dad took me to the ER, where lab tests were done and the doctors informed me I had an infection. Consequently, I was admitted to the hospital,  where 24 hours later the infectious disease doctors informed me that I had a bacterial infection called Bacteremia.  The doctors put me on a cocktail of antibiotics to treat the infection aggressively. After 10 days of intensive antibiotics treatment, my body weakened so much it caused Debility; doctors transferred me to the rehabilitation section of the hospital to help me gain strength from my overall weakness. 

“Life is not what you expect: it is made up of the most unexpected twists and turns.” - Ilaiyaraaja

“No one is so brave that he is not disturbed by something unexpected.” - Julius Caesar

“The twists and turns of your life can be so unexpected, and that’s a good thing to learn.” – Christina Baker Kline

“Some fish love to swim upstream. Some people love to overcome challenges.” – Amit Ray

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” - James Baldwin

In almost two weeks, both occupational and physical therapists did their very best to help build my strength.  For some unknown reason, I continued to get weaker, and I experienced full-body spasms, which was unbearable. The rehabilitation doctor ordered MRI scans of my brain and cervical spine to further investigate my symptoms. The MRI scans of my brain indicated preexisting evidence of my past strokes, while the MRI of my cervical spine clearly showed the mystery and the reasons for my symptoms. The scans showed a narrowing of my spinal cord in two sections, indicating my spinal cord was severely being compressed due to widespread calcification. Upon discussion with the neurosurgeon,  the rehabilitation doctor had me transferred to another branch of the hospital for emergency spine surgery.  I am grateful to doctors for saving my life. Five days after surgery I was transferred back to the rehabilitation hospital to continue with therapy.

 “The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” – Moliere

“Don’t give up in times of difficulty. Persevere on as there will be an end to these.” – Edward Dunedin

“If you take control of those things you can, you are better able to negotiate the unexpected.” – Judy Sheindlin

“Once the storm is over you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm you won’t be the same person who walked in.” - Haruki Murakami

I spent almost 7 weeks in hospital,  I know I have a long road to recovery. I am fortunate to have a strong mind,  that can propel me through my journey of continued healing. Sometimes life can change unexpectedly, especially when you least expect it. You can predict outcomes, although you can do your very best with a strength of mind that can sometimes propel you to do the impossible. It is best to do the best that you can, regardless of all the obstacles and challenges that you may face in your journey of life. I have learned firsthand how unexpected events can change your life forever, what you do after that will determine your true strength and survivability. I sincerely believe that we all have the strength within ourselves to withstand challenges and overcome obstacles. At times, we may need the appropriate motivation and encouragement of professionals, friends, and family to help us along that journey of uncertainty. My personal experiences have taught me that hope never dies unless you or someone else creats it's demise. The uncertainty of life can sometimes surprise and offset the determination within individuals who plan every path and detail in their lives; it is best to expect the unexpected. Simply a backup plan that will help provide you with a prepared mindset should god forbid the unexpected happen. It is always helpful to remain an optimist at heart and a realist when it matters the most. Setbacks can arise in all areas of life: a relationship,  a career, a health scare, or even financial loss. Unexpected events can change your life, how you cope with the challenges determines how you can survive and live to fight your battles.

“Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive.” - Jamais Cascio

“Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.”

- Christopher Reeve

“There are uses to adversity, and they don't reveal themselves until tested. Whether it's serious illness, financial hardship, or the simple constraint of parents who speak limited English, difficulty can tap unexpected strengths.” - Sonia Sotomayor

“The purpose of our lives is not to avoid suffering but to find meaning and purpose in the midst of it.”

– Viktor Frankl

“If there’s life, there is hope.”

- Stephen Hawking