So, my wife and I are trying to decide where to go on our big vacation. Originally we had a cruise scheduled. But it looks like it will land on some bad timing for my work so we have started looking at other locations. We are looking at Fiji, Tahiti, and Hawaii, and also Washington DC. I know it seems like a strange list, but we love DC and the east coast. But I think we will end up on some small island in the South Pacific.
After some thought the other day I thought about my CF, and wondered about things like car accident, or snorkeling issue. What if I and my wife become incapacitated? If the doctors don't know that I have CF, it could be a big problem. I remembered as a kid I had a little medic ID, it had my name, my parents name and my "Problem" Cystic Fibrosis on it. I had it ever since I could remember. I quit wearing it when it became too small. Also now that I am married, I don't think it needs my parents names, but maybe my doctors name.
So I began shopping around for a medic ID. Strangely it was a little traumatic for me. I thought immediately of the 12 step AA program and realized that step 1 was my issue.
The question is, do I really want to admit that I have a problem?
As a child and a teen the bracelet only brought questions. I never was one to hide my CF. Everyone knew I had it. Since a small boy I have been speaking to people about it. I spoke to many High Schools in the area, and even a few churches about living with CF and about the things I have to do to stay alive. But the bracelet brought questions from even just acquaintances. Was I still prepared to be so honest? Could it affect future job possibilities? or other areas of my life?
Admitting that I have CF, can sometimes be hard. Some day's I want to ignore it. There is never a vacation where your lungs work perfectly. There is really only one cure for it. And that is what most of us are trying to avoid.
In the end I decided that safety was the best policy. I have purchased one from American Medical-ID. For me they had the best selection. Having one before helped, since I know that I want a stainless steele one, since they take a beating. Incidentally my tastes are very cheap. It was only about $35. I expedited the order since we could leave as early as the beginning of next month.
I think that I have decided it will be nice to have one again and to have a way to bring it up with more people. The more that know about it or someone with it, the more money it will get. That takes us closer to a second cure.
When it comes I will let you know how it is. Also I will let you know where we decide to go.
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I have an addiction to Oxygen... Don't you judge me!
About Me
- Jack Phillips
- Well, I have Cystic Fibrosis... which is where my addiction to oxygen comes from. But I suppose everyone has one.
2 comments:
I hate how even the supposedly "simple" things like planning a vacation become a lengthy decision making process that must include so many CF considerations. Now with tighter security at the airports, we've got even more to deal with. Before you go on your trip make sure you get a prescription and a doctor's note for EVERYTHING--including a bottle of water--so that you can stay as healthy and safe as possible. I plan to do the same for my upcoming business trip. Do you have one of those tiny portable nebulizers?
Yeah, I have portable Neb, but it isn't tiny. I need to get a new one. But this one works well.
I forgot about the prescrips so thanks for the reminder. I booked the hotel and flight yesterday for hawaii. I love sea level... 8^)
Got my medic ID, it is pretty nice. Very reminiscent of my first one. Sadly it always reminds me of my younger sister who had one also but died when she was 4.
Dang villian has taken too many of my friends and family.
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