Hello Riders,
Nice to hear from you all. Your kind words and support are very much appreciated. I just what to add some clarification why I can’t ride at this moment. I’m uncertain about further surgery though they may have found a new problem since my original posting
that they may be able to correct and that could be actually holding me back from healing completely as I have after other surgeries.
My story goes back over twenty years when I first had aortic and mitral valve replacement (hear valve replacement). I was fine until they discovered an aortic anurisym (like a bubble in a tire ready to burst) last year and repaired it. They discovered hepa
titis C they think from my original surgery and severe anemia. I felt like I could heal and ride again, but I on occasion, could not walk from the bed to the bath without getting short of breath and dizzy, having to stop and rest even walking a short dista
nce. I would attempt to walk to rebuild, some days better than others, trying to ride only stopping to lean on a pole or a building one half block after starting. I got worried I’d get out and not able to make it back home. I live in a rough section of dow
ntown Atlanta (right John Drummond?), and even walking home could pose grave danger. I knew when I was able to ride that I could always get away from any dangerous situation.
Last week they put a sonic camera (TEE) down my throat and the doctors found one of my original plastic valves was leaking. Possibly the suture coming loose or the flesh tearing apart from the stitching. I meet with my surgeon on Wednesday to find out if t
hey have to go back in and replace. So, that could be causing my inability to produce the energy I need to ride. This will be the sixth time they opened my chest. Sometimes, I just wonder how much more my body can take.
I was having a bad day when I posted how much I missed riding. Since then, I’ve heard from lots of riders to hang in there, so I’ll try to not let it get me down. I’m not usually like that. Depression seems to be one of the symptons associated with medical
issues like I’m having.
Again, all you diehards, thank you for your support…and let this be a lesson to y’all…to eat well, exercise, get plenty of rest, take your vitamins, and ride like hell and heaven…for me !
The Sidewalk Surfer
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup
I know other’s have said it, but once again thank you for sharing openly with us all. It sounds like you are doing better with things now. It’s no crime to have a down day! Your heart may be weak, but I’m sure you are becoming a stronger person through all that you have gone through. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life it is that we have difficulties, pains, sorrows, trials, etc. and we can choose to learn and grow from these or let these things bring us down. We have the free will to choose the direction we are going to take it.
When I was a kid I had my “heart” broken by some circumstances in my life. I thought I was going to die, my “heart condition” was leading me toward suicide, but I learned that the trials we face in life can make us stronger if we let them and ultimately give us a chance to help others when they are down. We live in a greedy, self absorbed, help yourself first kind of world. It’s amazing the affect a kind word, a helping hand, or inspiring act such as unicycling can have on people. One of the things that I love about the unicycling community is how everyone reaches out. Keep it up folks! And remember to keep looking up and watch out for the bumps in the road. When they do get you down, pick yourself up and keep on trying!
In message “Re: Fight on to live on and ride on !”,
dustin wrote…
Very inspiring words, Dustin. I totally agree and thank you for posting this.
>> I was having a bad day when I posted how much I missed riding. Since
>> then, I’ve heard from lots of riders to hang in there, so I’ll try to
>> not let it get me down. I’m not usually like that. Depression seems to
>> be one of the symptons associated with medical
>I know other’s have said it, but once again thank you for sharing openly
>with us all. It sounds like you are doing better with things now. It’s
>no crime to have a down day! Your heart may be weak, but I’m sure you
>are becoming a stronger person through all that you have gone through.
>If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life it is that we have
>difficulties, pains, sorrows, trials, etc. and we can choose to learn
>and grow from these or let these things bring us down. We have the free
>will to choose the direction we are going to take it.
>
>When I was a kid I had my “heart” broken by some circumstances in my
>life. I thought I was going to die, my “heart condition” was leading me
>toward suicide, but I learned that the trials we face in life can make
>us stronger if we let them and ultimately give us a chance to help
>others when they are down. We live in a greedy, self absorbed, help
>yourself first kind of world. It’s amazing the affect a kind word, a
>helping hand, or inspiring act such as unicycling can have on people.
>One of the things that I love about the unicycling community is how
>everyone reaches out. Keep it up folks! And remember to keep looking
>up and watch out for the bumps in the road. When they do get you down,
>pick yourself up and keep on trying!
>
>If you’d like to read more about the struggles I faced go to:
>http://www.passageway.org/popculture/dustinkelm.asp
>
>We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers, please keep us posted as
>to your status.
>
>
>–
>dustin - artist formerly known as UnicycleDK
>
>dustin kelm
>www.dustinkelm.com
>isa40:30.31
>
>“Confidence doesn’t come from not falling, but from not being afraid of
>falling.”
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>dustin’s Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/920
>View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/18477
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
>rec.sport.unicycling mailing list - www.unicycling.org/mailman/listinfo/rsu
>
Stay on top, Jack Halpern
Executive Director for International Development
International Unicycling Federation, Inc.
Website: http://www.kanji.org
Jay, you’re still a unicyclist! The time elapsed between rides is irrelevent. I’m sure there are lurkers on this forum that haven’t ridden in many years and are on the bubble as to whether to get a uni again. Do you think they should?