As you read this, chances are there is a person sitting next to you that wants to die. They may not have plans to take their own life but they probably wish someone else would. You may have had those thoughts yourself. I did. I used to wish for a semi-trailer to crash into my car or that slick roads would cause me to drive off the bridge. This may disturb some of you as you read this but I want you to know that these thoughts are very common. I remember reading a study years ago that said more than 50% of college students reported having suicidal thoughts.
As I have opened up about my story, I quickly learned that I was not alone in my suffering all those years. People you may think have it all, actually think the same thoughts I did and unfortunately too many people can’t find a way out and taking their own life is their only relief. Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. And instead of rattling off alarming statistics, this is my attempt to prevent suicide. This is my attempt to motivate you and give you the will to live. This is what helped me. You must first understand the story. I will tell it to you in 7 pictures and end it with a 1 minute video.
That is all you need to stay focused for…7 pictures and a 1 minute video.
On December 10, 2010, more than 300 people showed up in a record-breaking snowstorm in Green Bay, WI to wish my Dad well on his retirement as one of the most respected surgeons in Northeast Wisconsin.
In February 2012, almost a year after his diagnosis he was informed the cancer had spread.
When he got the results, he looked at us and said, “Want to go to the water park?”
As a physician he knew what was happening to him. So he calculated how much time he had and then he started to WORK. For four days in the hospital he worked and worked and worked so he could carry out what he wanted to before he died.
He strengthened his hand so he could write to us. He learned to talk again so he could say his last words to us. He practiced walking up and down stairs so his wife and children didn’t have to help him at home, he practiced his vocabulary with preschool flashcards so he could play with his grandkids , and most importantly he still smiled.
After those 4 days we brought him home and he passed away peacefully with us by his side six days later.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.