A Senior Moment

Sy Shwiller

On 1 April 99, I was operated on by the talented personnel at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center to remove a cancer. In pre-op the surgeon said the odds were not in my favor. So, on the gurney with medial “stuff” hung from the ‘tree’ and needles stuck in various places in my body, the Chaplain parade began. In came a Priest, then a Baptist followed by a Methodist, and finally a Rabbi. I figured if the operation were a success but the patient died, the Road had been readied. 14 hours later, I awoke in ICU to Liz and son, Dr. (Col) Brad. I was hurting, disorientated, and feeling very sorry for me. Then my son Brad brought a sheath of papers. “Here are e-mails from your friends.” The next five months included chemo and other forms of torture, but the arrival of e-mails was total nourishment to my ID, ego, and soul, assuming I have one. The messages reinforced my determination. I knew that to recover I must depend upon my competence, which was dependent upon my ATTITUDE. Some people have faith and/or believe in the efficacy of prayer. I have ATTITUDE! I found an anonymous sentiment about ATTITUDE that so inspires me that I always share it with people who are dying in my hospice work.] ]I once read that attitude is more important than facts, or the past, or education, or money, or circumstances, or failures, or successes, or what others think, say, or do, or appearance, giftedness, or skill. Attitude will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is that every day we can choose the attitude we will embrace. Our attitude is the one thing in life we control. We can play on this one string we have, our attitude. Life is 10% what happens and 90% attitude. I take every opportunity to “preach” good Attitude. Good Attitude mightn’t extend life, but it can change the remainder of life from simple quantity to something of quality. Since the cancer, I have had a heart attack, two major heart arteries unplugged, broke an arm (permanently), still get Chemo every six weeks, cracked three ribs, and developed COPD which requires oxygen while I sleep. To repay my debt to society for keeping me going, I still volunteer with Covenant Hospice. I drive terminally ill people to appointments, sit with the incapacitated so that their caregivers can shop or get respite. I attend Fellowship and other group meetings regularly. There is one problem. Sometimes my Attitude feels better than I do, and me and my Attitude have some serious discussions on how to handle a given situation. If I am able to get vertical, I usually accede. I am 87 and counting.

Sy Shwiller, retired Colonel USAF