Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
I have just escaped the premature end of my life because of failure at a major teaching hospital to classify my cardiac condition as urgent. By the time I fought my way on the the operating schedule using all the argument possible to deaf ears, my wife reached out to the CEO of the hospital and he requested a top cardiologist to intervene and immediately take care of me.
It turned out that my main coronary artery had a 99.99% complete block. I was awake and the Cardiologist showed me the XRay screen and pointed out the blockade with a fine hair's width of remaining patency. He fired a series of requests for a sequence of numbered dilators, probes and balloons and in 2 minutes a stent had been placed to push the plaque to one side and now I had the vessels of an 18 year old once more!
He told me I wouldn't have survived well waiting any longer and probably might not have made it to the "add-on position the resident and fellow had assigned me for the end of the day!
This episode has forced me to rethink some of my guides. I had until then, three mottos all my life:
1. "Dress British, think Yiddish"
Or be proud of your ethnicity and background!
2. "Good Enough", isn't" meaning try to deliver excellence and be reliable and steadfast
3. "Be nice to the others in the tour bus!"
Meaning, despite how much talent, wealth, education and humor we have, be considerate and generous to everone else. IOW, "Love your neighbor as yourself!"
That set of aphorisms has been useful to me. However now I must add a 4th most critical rule for myself:
4. Be one's own unrelenting advocate and don't conpromise or give up on fighting for yourself. I was conflicted about pushing myself forward. But I was not self- protective and it nearly cost me my life!
The last is a good lesson, having been good to everyone else, one has a duty to save oneself too!
Thank goodness It turned out well!
In my situation, any other person without my medical knowledge and powerful connections would have been dead!
So don't rely on the "system" and accept what's served if it is merely "good enough". If you think it puts yourself or your loved ones at risk, ignore the facade of grace and good manners and circumvent the blocks to getting to those who can help you!
"Good manners", graciousness and a smile can be the patina covering disinterest and dismissal!
This is a lesson to learn!
Asher
It turned out that my main coronary artery had a 99.99% complete block. I was awake and the Cardiologist showed me the XRay screen and pointed out the blockade with a fine hair's width of remaining patency. He fired a series of requests for a sequence of numbered dilators, probes and balloons and in 2 minutes a stent had been placed to push the plaque to one side and now I had the vessels of an 18 year old once more!
He told me I wouldn't have survived well waiting any longer and probably might not have made it to the "add-on position the resident and fellow had assigned me for the end of the day!
This episode has forced me to rethink some of my guides. I had until then, three mottos all my life:
1. "Dress British, think Yiddish"
Or be proud of your ethnicity and background!
2. "Good Enough", isn't" meaning try to deliver excellence and be reliable and steadfast
3. "Be nice to the others in the tour bus!"
Meaning, despite how much talent, wealth, education and humor we have, be considerate and generous to everone else. IOW, "Love your neighbor as yourself!"
That set of aphorisms has been useful to me. However now I must add a 4th most critical rule for myself:
4. Be one's own unrelenting advocate and don't conpromise or give up on fighting for yourself. I was conflicted about pushing myself forward. But I was not self- protective and it nearly cost me my life!
The last is a good lesson, having been good to everyone else, one has a duty to save oneself too!
Thank goodness It turned out well!
In my situation, any other person without my medical knowledge and powerful connections would have been dead!
So don't rely on the "system" and accept what's served if it is merely "good enough". If you think it puts yourself or your loved ones at risk, ignore the facade of grace and good manners and circumvent the blocks to getting to those who can help you!
"Good manners", graciousness and a smile can be the patina covering disinterest and dismissal!
This is a lesson to learn!
Asher
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