OT: The Things We Take for Granted....

[Caduceus]

This post got me thinking... As some of you may know, I'm a doctor. When I was in medical school I was working in Surgery with a resident who thought she knew it all. As we went into a room to change the dressings on a surgical patient who had hepatitis (liver disease caused by a viral infection), I placed a splash guard on my mask and handed her one. She laughed it off and proceeded to change dressings and got fluid in her eyes. She went on to get tested and thankfully didn't contract hepatitis from contaminated fluids, but this definitely took her down a peg or two. She later apologized to me for having been so haughty and forever after observed simple medical safety precautions.

[Raging Deadstar]

It's why I can never stay angry at friends. The Most important thing to me are my friends, the thought that any of them could be taken away any moment makes me thankful for them every morning.

[AgentZero]

Well one thing I don't take for granted these days is my eyesight. Just found out recently I've got a lovely case of Night Blindness. During the day, everything's fine, but as soon as it gets nice and dark I can't see a thing beyond a couple metres.

[Baron Munchausen]

That can be a warning sign of serious health problems. How often do you visit a doctor?

[Slynky]

I think, if I can speak without sounding like the proverbial "old guy of wisdom", the older we get, the less we take for granted. Sometimes, I lament the things I wish I could do, have, or that I had this feature or that. But I realize much more quickly now that I'm lucky. And shouldn't waste any time on lamenting.

But don't let that small (lucky) lesson be forgotten. My brother-in-law had a horrible car accident when he was 17. Life flight and the whole thing. Intensive care for days. Nearly died. He was a changed guy. Started working at the local church youth group building. Saw life in a different way. But, just recently, I learned he (age 24) speeds around the streets now, in his Toyota Celica, showing off for the younger kids he has in his car (our son, for example). Seems he has started taking life for granted again.

You show wisdom beyond your age, R-13. Don't ever forget the horror carelessness can bring you!

[Atrocities]

I take all the normal things in life for granted, like knowning that my luck will never change, that I shall never escape my depression, that if I think about loosing someone, I will. So I try not to take to much for granted any more... I took my momma cat for granted, and she died.

Have I deperessed everyone by now?

Seriously, Power, water, food, family, the usual things that we all take for granted I too take for granted.

[AgentZero]

Baron Munchausen said:
That can be a warning sign of serious health problems. How often do you visit a doctor?

Well, lessee, if the current trend is anything to go by, about once every four years. Although November of Last year I was laid up in hospital for 6 weeks, I think I'm all caught up on my doctor's appointments now. Seriously though, if there is something majorly wrong with me, I don't have the money to get it fixed so I'd rather not know.

And AT, cheer up for Gs sake! My grandfather had a colourful expression I hope I won't get in too much trouble for repeating here: "Life is like a dirty whore. It's the most beautiful thing, you just gotta look real hard to see it."

[Baron Munchausen]

Well, I hope that hospital stay wasn't related to any liver problems. One of the possible 'side effects' of cirrhosis is night blindness. It has something to do with a missing liver enzyme. Remember the thread title and don't hesitate to go back to the doctor. (Erm, does Ireland have 'national health insurance' of some sort like most of Europe? I hope it's not a 'pay your own way' place like the US...)

[Mayday]

I recently had laser eye surgery, allowing me to see unaided by glasses for the first time in about 15 years. I finally have good peripheral vision. I no longer take it for granted.