Coping with old age and serious illness. Anyone positive want to share

Posted by ellu @ellu, 13 hours ago

I am a 72 year old widow and mother of 4 adult children. When my husband died 4 years ago I knew I had to reach out to make more friends, so I joined several local groups. I have some close friends and
enjoy going to community events. I have had bipolar disorder all my life (well controlled with medication), and earlier this year was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. I am still leading an active
life and am philosophical about my situation. Is there anyone out there interested in chatting about getting older or coping with illness? I have ideas to share, and would love to hear from people in
similar situations who would like to chat about our lives.

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jofree | @jofree | 11 hours ago

Hello Hellu,
My name is Joseph (Jofree) and thank you for writing this sharing. I am 80 years walking this earth and we, my wife Cecilia and went through to the other side of 3 years with Colon Cancer, radiation and chemotherapy; still cancer free. We then faced 2 additional years back at the Mayo (Jacksonville) for radiation enteritis, blockages. We faced a permanent colostomy, and because of the effects from several surgeries and the radiation, our physical lives all but ceased. That was in 1999. We decided to make the best of our lives together because each other was all either of had. Well, we were always avid bike riders, our 4children are grown and live away, when we started falling off our two wheel bikes we moved on to three wheeled recumbent, with 24 inch tires. East to ride, get in and out of; Our two wheeled bikes had odometers and we put over 7,468 miles on them, Currently, the mileage on our recumbents is 2,789 miles. We ride and volunteer at various locations in our country town, weather permitting about 100 miles per. I also have neuropathy in my legs but in that seat, I am 21 years old. I use two canes I made to travel wherever we go someplace and I have not fallen that far.
I can't imagine the pain and challenges you have face alone and here you are helping others. Thank you immensely for your courage and strength to reach out to others. Your an amazing individual.
Sincerely, Jofree