One of the things that really changed for me since kidney failure and cancer was accepting that I am definitely a lot weaker than I used to be and I have very little stamina. Add heart surgery and a cracked femur and it is really tough. I have been unable to golf for a couple of years now and to go out fishing is tough by the end of the day and it is best if I have support from a friend while at it. I have only fished once this year as most of my friends are too busy or hate fishing.
And it is so embarrassing to ask for a carry out of a bottle of water at the grocery store and then wait for a friend to visit to carry it in for me.
Currently the thought of firewood is really stressing me out. I can hardly split a piece let alone find it, buck it up load it, unload it and then split and stack it. I have been blessed by Barry and Justin who gather and split it for me. I am too weak.
Most folks, when they see me, are quick to say that I look good, with lots of healthy colour and what not. But they definitely are not able to see what is happening inside my body. My bloodwork this week was very bad. Dialysis is just not as effective as having functional kidneys. It takes a lot of resting just to get the energy for a walk with the hounds.
And that is a great reminder to me that everyone has stuff going on that the rest of us have no idea about. We get quick to judge by our personal standards and experiences with no right to do so.
So be prepared to help and support every-one you meet in some way. You would be surprised by how many people are in tough and really need support from any-where.