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Wesley's
Story
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| Wesley
received a 1 year gym membership and personal training
sessions from the foundation. |
 Hello,
my name is Wesley. I am on hemodialysis
and have been for almost three years.
I would like to give you a summary of my life before
dialysis. I am an ex-marine. I came out of the Marines
in 1971. At that time I weighed 195 pounds. I got
married in 1973. I went to work in the coal mines
until 1979. In 1978 I joined the Marshall County
Office of Emergency Services as a volunteer. We
handled things like floods and catastrophes of many
kinds. I was also with the Marshall County Rescue
Squad. We responded to accidents when the jaws of
life were needed and applied first aid as needed.
We were on call 24/7. In 1994 I joined the Marshall
County Search Team. We were called to search for
lost or missing persons. In 1996, I got a Rottweiler
and trained him for search work. I was in charge
of the search team for a period of time and was
the K-9 trainer. All of these activities required
a lot of physical activity, mainly a lot of walking.
I love training the dogs and working with the people.
I really liked that job. It ended in 2003.
I don’t want to seem like I’m braggadocios
as Marines are, they have a mind set that they can
do anything. Needless to say my mind is willing,
but my body is saying no, no, no. I hate the fact
that I am all screwed up. If I wasn’t I would
still be out there doing that work. What I once
was, and what I am today is by far two different
people. I used to have drive that was unbeatable,
and as that Marine I spoke about I could do anything
and win at any cost. I am no longer built like a
Tee; I am built more on the order of an O or a cantaloupe.
I think if I had someone to push me, kind of ride
me like a drill instructor, it may snap me back
into good enough shape that my attitude would better
represent what I used to be.
My back and my knees are giving me a lot of problems
and walking for exercise is out of the question.
It was made to mention about me going to the fitness
center. I think it is a very good idea. Because
it hurts seeing myself be torn down day in and day
out. I feel that if I could exercise in the swimming
pool it would be less stress on the joints and would
help me lose weight. With a trainer pushing me to
exercise would keep me more motivated. I need exercise
badly, but I am not getting due to pain. So, I feel
that the pool would do me a world of good. If I
went there I feel I would be healthier.
The people here are really nice. I just think they
don’t fully understand me and my background.
I think sometimes they don’t want to get close
cuase they know our time is short and they don’t
want their feelings hurts. They tell me it’s
not and try to invoke good cheer. But as a born
again, spirit-filled Christian, I have made my preparation
and peace with God and if anything happens I know
where I will spend eternity. I don’t want
to, but I think it’s always good to stay one
step ahead of the ball game. But that’s just
me.
To everyone that reads this, to you my hope is that
you will know the Lord as your personal savior and
to know that Jesus came and dies for you as well
as me.
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