UbiquitousMan

Do the shows begin to blur together? How do you stop that and after so many gigs is the joy still there?

Hey man, Im not sure if you will read this, or ever see it. I hope you do. I read that you have Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Well - so do I. I was diagnosed when I was 13. Also - my grandfather died of it, my grandmother died of it, my mother has it, and my uncle has it, and my brother just went to a cardiologist for an echo and they are asking him to come back in for a 2nd look. Like I said, I was diagnosed when I was 13, and Im 29 now. When I was diagnosed I was given 3 - 5 years to live. Do you want to know something? Fuck life expectancies. I crushed it. I have had more tests on my heart, more time spent in hospitals, more people feeling sorry for me than anyone I know who is my age. I got this in Jr. High, and it was bad, really bad. But they wanted to try out this new medicine on me, and combine it with another medicine, and soon those medicines got stronger and better versions and they started me on those. Guess what - my last visit to my cardiologist was amazing. He said, "If I didnt know you had Cardiomyopathy, I wouldn't be able to tell anymore".

So - here is what Im telling you. Your not dead until your dead. Trust in modern medicine, they are doing some AMAZING work in cardiology studies/medicine. Hang in there. If I had given up when I was 13 Im sure I would be dead by now. But now I am a husband, a father to literally the cutest 9mo old girl who just took her first steps TODAY and now wont stop moving around, and a recent first time home owner. All things that I NEVER thought I would be able to do, or told I would be able to do.

Fight it man. Let the doctors keep you alive. Let the medicine do its work. Stay healthy. Stay Active. Find something to live for, because I truly believe a cure isnt far away. Look at me, I still take 2 pills every day (Metoprolol and Losartan) and I will for the rest of my life. But think about the people with illnesses that have NO positive outlook or medicine they can take. They would do ANYTHING for even just the slightest chance.

Heart Transplant. Yes, they are risky, and if you get one - your right - You could live for a short time or a long time. But would you want to have a CHANCE at living a long time with one? Even if its a 5% chance, its still a chance. Think of the things you will not see. Every time your daughter does something special in her life, she will think of you and wish you were there to see it. Who knows in 10 years when my daughter is 10 years old my condition could take a turn for the worse, but you know what? You can bet your ass Im going to fight like hell and take every opportunity and chance I have. Dont give up man, please. It makes me feel like there is no beating this, and right now I feel like I AM beating it. I want to be united with you. I want to fight WITH YOU.

Take care, I wish you all the best.