Last week I featured a two part Patient Snapshot about a recently diagnosed multiple myeloma patient named Ken.  By the time doctors figured-out what was wrong, Ken’s bones had begun to collapse.  But he persevered, recovering to the point that he is now able to actively do what he loves most–fishing.

I introduced Ken this way:

I recently met Ken while speaking to a support group near Clearwater, Florida.  Ken is outspoken, animated and full of life!  When I asked him to become a part of my Patient Snapshot series, his enthusiasm burst through.

Ken never told me his age, but when I emailed him to ask I learned he is 76!  You wouldn’t know it if you met Ken.  My guess would have been mid to late 60′s.

Ken is a positive, high energy, over the top kind of guy.  He relies on affirmations to help keep him up and moving forward.  This style doesn’t work for everyone.  But we can all benefit from counting our blessings and stressing the positive aspects of our lives.

Here are some inspirational ramblings from our new friend.  I think any of us can find something helpful and positive in among Ken’s affirmative thoughts:

LEMONS AND LIFE LESSONS

12-27-11

LET GO: of what I think I know, believe, and deserve. Stop fighting
anything or anybody–just get healthy.  Forget about the “if onlys.”
Release fear (of unknown, pain, loss of control, limitations, being
dependent, not getting what I want, losing what I have, and not
looking good).

PRACTICE: spiritual principles in all my affairs.

REMEMBER WHAT I LEARNED THIS YEAR SINCE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLE
MYELOMA AT CHRISTMAS 2010.

Spiritual principles would solve all my problems.

Set a strategy for running the “Moffitt Cancer Center Marathon” as an
“outlier.” Don’t buy the statistical pessimism related to the “median”
or “mean.”

Build a support team and let them help.

Create some “holy ground.”

Generate a daily gratitude list.  Practice gratitude in thoughts,
actions, words, feelings.  Be grateful for progress and advances.

Use the “serenity prayer” instead of my timetable and plan
(I can’t control diagnosis–I can control what I do about it).

Acceptance is the answer to all  my problems today (let go of denial,
fantasy, and wishful thinking–play the ball where it is).  Let go of
entitlement thinking.

Misery is optional. (let go of resentment, self-pity, inordinate
expectations).  Don’t sing the “They done me wrong song.”

Focus on the solution–it will get bigger
Focus on the problem–it will get bigger

Deny denial. (of thoughts, feelings, facts, feedback, or reality).

Cancer is not gift–it just teaches me what my gifts are.

Do what you can (at times, that wasn’t much–but I did it)

When life hands me a lemon–forget about the “why me?” and open a
lemonade stand!

Faith is the antidote to fear.

One day at a time works for me–live in the now.  Do the next right thing.

THANKS FOR:

Learning these lessons (eventually)
Fellowship, family, and friends who helped me learn
Faith that sustains me
Fish that fear me
Physicians and staff that help me (Dr. Baz, Dr. Diaz, Dr. McNeel, Dr.
Price and staffs)
Medicines that help heal me (Revlimid & Zometa)
Surgery that renewed me (kyphoplasty–thanks Dr. Vrionis)
Love that enriches me

Ken Hofmeister

What can I say, other than to add my signature affirmation:

Feel good and keep smiling!  Pat