Reply...
It must be an incredible strain to have to deal with such a health issue. Hopefully you are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.
Chris,
I take it in stride. I've been dealing with health issues literally since birth, and have been defying the odds all my life. My parents were told I'd be lucky to make it to the age of five, and that institutionalizing me would be my best chance. My parents, specifically my mother, told the doctor to rot in hell. She got me the help I needed, and I then went on to graduate from high school, with summa cum laude honors from college, then obtained one master's degree and am working on a second, found a wonderful girl, married her, and have four children. I also took care of two sick parents, one of whom I was rewarded for by renewed health following a kidney transplant.
I have little in the way of regret, and love what I do, despite the health issues and the toll it takes on me. My brain is the most powerful tool I have that has never been affected by the rest of my body. I made a vow to myself and my wife that I will never let my physical limitations drown out my ambition until I literally have no other choice.
The only thing I don't know is to what extent these problems will shorten my life span, and I have prepared for that as best I can with financial security for my family, and my children and wife are aware that my physical problems mean that I never can be certain when I'll go tits up. All I can do is live life the best I can until the day I can return this body to sender.
There are many people in my situation who would have given up, but I went the other way; it turned me into a resilient, stubborn ***. Sometimes it can be a detriment, as Erica has said to me more than once, but it's also made me incredibly determined to prove my doubters wrong, and I know it has inspired both my wife and my children to firmly believe what I've said many times; the only person holding you back is yourself.