Sometimes people ask me how I’m doing in relation to my kidney disease and need for a transplant.
My kidney function is now between 8 and 9% (remaining). See www.mikeneedsakidney.com. I’m expected to need the transplant later in the year.
Honestly, I’m not that worried about it. I’m confident that a donor will come through and I expect the transplant to be successful and to be back working less than two months after the operation.
Now I may change my tune a week before the transplant. I got pretty nervous before my tonsillectomy, so I can’t predict what will happen with this one.
But right now, I’m really not concerned with it. At all. Maybe I’m procrastinating. I think part of it is that I’ve been pretty busy. And so cynical after I was backstabbed last October. It makes the thought of the transplant seem minor in comparison.
I’m not being brave or exaggerating – I just don’t really care about it at all right now. I’m not afraid of it at all.
I think my attitude is typified in the scene in “Forrest Gump” – number 18 on my list of 100 Best Movies by the way –mikefrandsen.org/2009/04/12/100-best-movies/ — when Lieutenant Dan was on top of the shrimping boat.
(By the way, “Hastings” from “24” is the same guy who played “Bubba” from “Forrest Gump.”)
Anyway, Lt. Dan had told Forrest that if he ever became a Shrimping Boat Captain, he would become his first mate.
So he shows up in Bayou La Batre, Louisiana to keep his word. So a huge storm develops that would ultimately knock out all the boats except for the “Jenny.” The wind, rain and thunder comes furiously and relentlessly but Lt. Dan stays up at the top of the boat, shouting:
“You’ll never sink this boat!
Come on!
You call this a storm?
It’s time for a SHOWDOWN!
(maniacal laughter)
You and me.
I’m right here.
Come and get me!
(More laughter)
You’ll never sink this boat!”
So like Forrest would say, “That’s all I’ve got to say about that.”
