Breathe
Krude has experienced a lot of what life has to
offer. Been there. Done that. Blah. Blah. Blah. Same old story. But in
the realm of Now, I want to tell a true life tale about nearly working
myself to death in late 2002.
I was working for a company that sold and installed windows
and doors. I was on the installation side of things. In December of 2002,
things were the usual hectic with all the holidays and such. My line of work
was jacked. Mainly working in cold environments due to installing exterior
doors and windows. So by Xmas,I was in bad shape.Felt run down and generally
ill. My son was with me on Xmas that year (due to ongoing divorce proceedings).
And I needed to do a bunch of shit to make his holiday awesome: assemble toys
and set up a Game Cube. So Krude being Krude, I did what most good dad's
would do. And that's doing whatever it takes no matter what.
On Xmas morning,Krude Jr woke up early and went to my living
room and found what Santa had brought him. I was still in bed and feeling
like death. I somehow staggered into the living room.The look of unfiltered joy
on his face after he opened gift after cool gift almost made me forget how
shitty I felt. It was a good day. For about an hour. Then I collapsed on the
couch under a blanket and watched my son have the time of his young life.
The next day, I was back at work. The end of the year meant
mandatory inventory duty for everybody. There was no calling out sick. And I
was beyond feeling shitty. So I tried my best to gut it out. Halfway through
the day,while up 25 feet on a cherry picker, I developed vertigo. I
looked down from my high perch and the warehouse was spinning. Sweat was
pouring from my head. My knees started getting wobbly. So I jockeyed the cherry
picker to ground level. Unhooked my safety belt and fell to the concrete floor
in a sweaty,dizzy,high fevered heap. My foreman at the time saw me and ran
over. He took one look at me and told me to go home or to a doctor. I chose
doctor. That way I could get a medical note to get paid for missed days.
I caught a ride from one of my co workers to my doctors
office. As soon as I walked into the office, my doctor saw me and immediately
motioned me towards the exam room. I propped myself up on the exam table. Still
feeling like I was hit by a bulldozer. Not even 10 seconds after sitting down,I
coughed up blood. The doctor sees this and immediately calls for an
ambulance. Off I go to the nearest hospital. Wearing steel toe boots.
I was quickly admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with double
pneumonia. I had only the slightest bit of breath to take. Talking was
impossible. Couldn't watch any television that might make me laugh. Too
painful. It took a few days of being still in bed with an oxygen hook up to
even consider trying to talk. When I did start to talk,doctors were asking why
I put myself in this position. That I nearly killed myself by going to work. No
shit.
One week of hospital care then turned into 3 weeks of home
rest. I was out of work for one month. Even when I felt good enough to work
again,I needed to gradually build my wind up. That took a few weeks. Damn. Good
thing I was in great physical shape back then. Don't think I would've survived
if I had been overweight or a smoker.
Damaging your lungs is one of the worst ways to make
your life a living Hell. We all take breathing for granted. Until we can't
breathe. That's when the reality of life begins. Life is living. Can't live if
you can't breathe.
I learned my lesson about going to work while feeling
cruddy. I don't do that anymore. I just go straight to the doctor now. No
bullshit. Get a professional opinion. And a note. Mahalo
Cough/Cool
KK
@kapn_krude