Dose Of Perspective

On a Sunday night, a couple of weeks ago, I bawled my eyes out as 60 Minutes told the story of a husband and wife who travelled to America to try a new (and by all immediate accounts; successful ) treatment for his Alzheimer’s.

The results from the first of three planned treatments were very promising; he had regained some of his memory and was feeling like a new person, however, they soon realised that they couldn’t afford to stay and pay for the remainder. So, they returned home to Australia, and sadly he died shortly thereafter.

I was mortified for them. I can’t fathom what that plane trip home would have felt like. Knowing that there was no hope left and he would soon die. What’s more; I could never imagine not being able to afford to keep the one I love alive. I am newly engaged.  My love for my fiancé is unmeasurable. To have him taken away, due to a lack of money, not lack of treatment available… oh my  goodness, what a cruel, torturous situation.

“UM. HELLO REBECCA!” Perspective said.

My mind then expanded. Horn of Africa. Pensioners. The poor, urine-soaked homeless man I saw this morning. Almost HALF of the world’s population ‘survive’ on less than $2.50 per day…

And I couldn’t even think of the possibility of not being able to pay for treatment?

I am aware of world issues; I read; I watch the news. Sometimes though, they’re not top of mind.

Goodness me.

What a lucky world I live in.

When did you receive your last ‘dose of perspective’?

Image Credit: Kathryn Sprigg

15 Comments Leave a Reply

  1. I received my dose relatively recently, with an illness that had the Doctors and me in a mini-panic and then the death in the family of my brother’s in-laws. While not immediately life threatening, my illness it had a few more weeks to run to get to that if I didn’t get it seen to, it was a big wake up call in terms of my life and health and am since being treated.

    Then last Thursday morning I took a call from my Dad. He let me know that my younger brother’s father-in-law had passed aware, completely unexpectedly. While at 71 he was hardly a spring chicken, it really showed that, while my illness wasn’t great news, at least I was going to keep waking up in the morning, even if I don’t feel great most of the time. I’m still here, and I should be happy with that – which I am.

  2. Mine comes with seeing my Spanish boyfriend become another number in Spain’s 46% youth unemployment rate. A whole generation have just completed 4 or 5 year Bachelor’s degrees only to graduate and find that there are no jobs. As in, none. I graduated and had Australia’s job market at my feet; I could save, travel, do what I want.

    And certain groups of Australians think the world and our national identity as we know it is ending with a pokies tax.

    Perspective.

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