I Should Not Be Alive

I was just thinking today about how I should not be alive. Yet, here I am. I have said this many times before but I wanted to distill it into one blog post. As many of you know, I was born three months prematurely back in 1984. I wasn't expected to make it, being born so prematurely. However, against all odds, I did make it (although not free from all health problems).

The doctors pessimistically told my parents that the best thing that I would ever achieve is to learn how to sack groceries (which I did do many years later). As of 2026, I have survived 29 operations. Hopefully, I won't need anymore. I have been left with limited mobility due to suffering a tbi because of the uncontrolled increase in brain pressure caused by the original vp shunt failure. Additionally, I have speech issues due to facial paralysis caused by the increased brain pressure.

Life is not easy. I would not wish this on my worst enemy. However, I am extremely hopeful that I will be able to regain my balance, stability and mobility via using my Pons device. I am also hopeful that I will beat my facial paralysis. For as hard as things are, I am grateful for every day that I have. My family and friends have been amazingly supportive. For as hard as things are, I am not paralyzed thank God or in a coma. I am so much better off than some other people. I don't have a degenerative condition and I will only continue to get better with time and effort. I have learned so much from all of this, I don't think that I would change anything even if I could. I am very hopeful and looking forward to seeing what the future holds for me. 

Til next time, Tyler