If you came here via Google or WMAC, a local radio station, you’ve likely heard about my diagnoses of end-state colon cancer, something that is very serious. I made the decision to abandon my campaign to become Albany’s 76th mayor, and probably the first candidate to run under no political affiliation.
I’m happy to say that the cancer diagnosis was in error. It’s something that can happen. As it turns out, I have a severe bowel obstruction, something that is almost always fatal if left untreated immediately. Given that I have not had surgery for way too long, such surgery would be a waste of everyone’s life.
Because of the high risk involved in all of this, I have made the decision to not move forward with surgery, because, to be quite frank, there is too much risk of something going wrong. Seriously wrong.
If everything goes right, that would be great, but if there were problems, I might be paying for it for the rest of my life in the form of a colostomy bag. Google’s AI offered this:
“Yes, a bowel obstruction, if left untreated, can be fatal. The blockage can lead to tissue death, infection, and potentially multiple organ failure. Immediate medical attention is crucial for addressing the obstruction and preventing these serious complications.”
Because of the high risk of failure, I am choosing to not put my ass in a surgeon’s hands, no matter how competent he or she may be. I absolutely refuse to put myself in a situation where I’d need such a thing for even a minute, let alone for the rest of my life.
I am not trying to be dramatic here, but I’ve made final arrangements with a local funeral home and with my parish for a Funeral Mass. Because I am prepared, I already have a DNR and MOLST. Simply put, a DNR tells first responders outside of a hospital to not be heroes.
The MOLST, intended for when I am in the hospital, instructs medical personnel to do nothing but give “comfort care,” something that I am unable to reject here in New York state.
But all of that stuff is better left for a separate article. So here you go. I have instructed my supervisors at work to ensure that no one tries to be a hero and they know about my bracelet and the paperwork that I have in my back pocket at all times. I’ve essentially told them to wait five minutes and then call an ambulance. By the time EMT personnel get there, it will already be too late.
How long will I live? Hours, days, minutes, weeks, months? There’s no way to predict that, but as of the time that this article was written, the last time I had a bowel movement was three weeks prior to this article’s publication.
Do you understand just how serious my situation is? This will almost certainly cause my death and the most likely cause will be sepsis. I’m aware of what I am doing. I am very astute.
This diagnosis, which has been confirmed by a second medical opinion, has caused me to do things that I swore I’d never do or do again. For example, I have once again become a smoker. Yes, yes, cigarettes cause cancer, but in my situation, that’s the least of my worries.
The bowel obstruction isn’t the only reason why I’m declining surgery. I also deal with Neurofibromatosis, type 1. I have not had any symptoms, but that will almost certainly change as I grow older. Why would any sane person want to put themselves through such an ordeal?
Look, I made it seven years longer than I thought I would. My father died of a heart attack when he was 40. Knowing that as a younger person, I always said that I would die at that age. Well, I’m 47 as of the time that this article was published, so these have been bonus years.
I’ve survived many things in life. I’ve made it my decision to not survive this, unless my body has other ideas. I almost died of a burst appendix in 2013.
I almost died in a car crash in 1999. My body would have gone through the window had I not been wearing my seat belt. Instead, I had stitches on my head because I hit the window but obviously did not go through it.
I should have died at least two times over, so it looks like my luck has finally caught up to me? Why try to to defy that through medical intervention? That doesn’t make sense!
It’s time to be realistic and not waste time and money on major surgery. I refuse to ever go into a hospital or an ambulance ever again, and that’s for any reason. Never again!
If the EMT personnel respond and try to con me into getting in the ambulance, I will politely but very firmly decline medical attention. If I am taken to the hospital against my will, I will show them my paperwork and bid them a nice day as I gather my things and leave of my own free will.
I am quite serious about this. I went to great lengths to get the paperwork and the bracelet. I intend to see it through.
When I first thought I had colon cancer, it wasn’t that much of a shock to be honest. I decided back then to decline cancer treatment or surgery because of the ill effects such things could have on my quality of life.
When it turned out to be a bowel obstruction, I right away declined the surgery. When I was told that it would definitely be fatal if I didn’t act immediately, I shrugged it off and left the doctor’s office.
It is what it is, folks. Time to sit back and let nature take its course.