The DU Lounge

My mom's side of the family is riddled with cancer. She died of lung cancer that metastasized into bone cancer at age 64.

My dad's side dropped like flies from heart disease, quite a few in their 60s. My pops followed the pattern, suffering a major coronary at 51 but he survived thanks to a quadruple bypass. He had a couple more heart attacks and a couple of stents inserted. Then came bouts of AFIB and he had to be shocked back into rhythm a few times.

So he died of a heart attack, right? Nope! He developed lung cancer and it metastasized into bone cancer, exactly the same as my mom but eight years later. He was 72.

I turn 52 at the end of this month. I've been remarkably healthy all my life but I know the odds are stacked against me. Even though I have avoided smoking, which they both did for much of their lives, genetics are so hard to overcome.

I saw a documentary about the president of the American Heart Association or some such organization. His father died of a heart attack in his 60s. His dad had ALL the bad habits, smoking, heavy drinking, greasy foods, seldom exercised. So the son vowed to lead a healthy lifestyle and avoid his father's fate. Sure enough, the son still suffered a heart attack in his 60s and only survived because his daughter, a nurse, was in the elevator with him when it happened and she administered CPR immediately.

When the Grim Reaper has your number, you better hope your medically-trained offspring are there on standby. Otherwise...

Enjoy your drinks, Aristus!