#cannabiskeepsmealive

[salty-dawg-entertainment]

My Story Of Survival My name is Park Major and I am a 46 year old Gulf War veteran. I was born in Knoxville, TN in 1972 and was raised by my parents alongside 2 sisters. Three days after my 10th birthday, my mother committed suicide after a long battle with depression, but that was only the beginning… I had an extremely abusive father as well. By the age of 13 I was already medicating with cannabis to treat my own depression and for this, I was condemned by my family and friends. At the age of 17, after a violent fight with my father, I left home and went on with life on my own. I finished high school, went to college for a while, and then joined the Navy in 1991, all on my own. I abstained from cannabis my entire Navy career. During my service during the Gulf War, we were exposed to many vaccines, toxins, and other chemicals my doctor believes greatly aggravated my illnesses. I received an honorable discharge in 1994 and took up a career in cross country truck driving. About 6 months after my discharge I started experiencing my first signs of medical problems. It started with intestinal problems, migraines, night sweats, and symptoms of PTSD. In 1999, I was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor. Shortly after that I had a lymphoma tumor removed from my neck the size of a golf ball. I progressively got sicker over the years while constantly monitoring my pituitary tumor, all the while refusing radiation. At that point I decided to start medicating with cannabis again. In 2008 I decided to seek my VA medical benefits and was quickly informed that I had to stop my cannabis use or fear losing all my benefits. So, I stopped using cannabis and went the traditional pharmaceutical route instead… I soon became too sick to work and was at risk of losing my license due to my risk of seizures. I stopped work and filed for my VA pension and was approved. By 2010, I was on 35 pills a day. One night, in my sleep. it happened… I had my first seizure. After many tests it was concluded that the VA had overdosed me on pills trying to treat all my conditions and the side affects that resulted from the pills meant to treat those conditions. It was then, in June 2013, when my world crumbled. I had been having chest pains and went to the hospital. My doctor diagnosed me with Marfan Syndrome, a genetic defect where your body doesn’t make the protein it needs for the connective tissue, heart, lungs, etc. What did this mean? My #1 risk was aortic dissection otherwise known as “sudden death”. I was told it was incurable. If caught at an early age it can possibly be treated, but that there wasn’t a lot they could do for me at my age. Best age for surgery is before 15 yrs old, I was 42. I was told that I may have a year to live; There was nothing they could do. My doctor told my he would keep me out of pain and to get my affairs in order. In November of that year I was diagnosed with a Thyroid tumor. I went home, contacted the Undergreen Railroad and Moving for Marijuana, got my house “in order” and moved to Colorado. I knew cannabis was my only hope. I had been reading a lot about cannabis oil and had done my research and truly believed that this would be my answer! On February 3rd 2014 I arrived in Colorado Springs, Colorado and I immediately began medicating with cannabis oil. In March, I found out that my thyroid tumor was still growing and I started having trouble speaking, so I increased my oil dosage. In June 2017 the VA decided to do surgery to reconstruct my chest that was deformed due to my Marfan Syndrome. My rib cage was formed back squeezing my heart between my sternum and my spine. I was told I would be in the hospital for up to two weeks and recovery could take up to a year. After four days in the hospital it was wanting to go home but was informed that I would not be possible until I was able to get off the epidural, IV pain medication and oral pain medications I was on in the hospital. I reached out to a friend and received cannabis oil that night in the hospital. After 24 hours, my pain was in control and I was discharged. I was on various pharmaceuticals for months while going through rigorous physical and occupational therapy to learn to walk, get dressed and basically take care of myself all on my own, but by using cannabis and cannabis oil I was able to wean myself off of all of them In less than a year, again. In February 2018, I was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma which turned out to be in stage 2. I decided to return home to my family and kids at that point due to not wanting to go through another surgery without those I loved near. Unfortunately, by making this decision I knew I would have to do without the cannabis that had been keeping me alive. Two months ago, on November 1st, 2018, I had my surgery to remove the tumor and part of my left kidney. This time though, I made the choice of not taking any pharmaceuticals at all. I obtained more oil to deal with my pain and to try to keep my cancer from returning and was out of the hospital in three days. I never got my pain medication prescriptions filled or any other medications and have since been pharmaceutical free, using nothing but cannabis, cannabis oil and other concentrates to control my pain and other ongoing issues. I still have a few tumors, including the thyroid tumor but the thyroid tumor no longer appears to be growing at this time. After numerous scans, my pituitary tumor is no longer visible also. I owe it all to cannabis oil. I refuse to give up and will continue my fight using cannabis and other natural holistic medicines. The VA refuses to treat the Marfan Syndrome, other than the chest surgery they performed, because they say there is no cure, but no studies have been done with cannabis –there is a possibility of a cure in my eyes. I am still in the process of ridding my body of the tumors, but there are certainly a few things I can testify to when it comes to cannabis: I’M STILL ALIVE (Long after the doctors said I would be!) I now have a better quality of life. I’m off all the prescription medications and have had more better days than not since starting this journey. Cannabis returned to me my love of art! I think that’s been the biggest difference cannabis has made in my life. From a very young age, I had a strong interest in art, but after the military I was no longer able to draw. I felt as if I had lost my talent which added to my depression. Once I got off all the prescription pills and started cannabis treatment, it happened that one day in May, I got the urge to draw – The first time in 20 years. What started out as a sketch turned out to be my first work of art in 20 yrs. I cried. It felt SO good to be able to draw again. My creativity was back. Cannabis, for me, has brought back a happiness to me no pill ever could. Although I still have my bad days, I try to educate myself and give back through volunteering and educating others and do all I can to share with others how cannabis has truly changed my life. I am now still living happily in Oklahoma with my service dog, "Dude". I am also beginning a new chapter in my life by venturing out with my skills and education I have learned over the years, and with the help of another veteran and friend, turning "Sophisticated Cannabis" into a full blown dispensary and grow facility geared toward helping veterans and reducing the number of veteran suicides. This has always been a dream of mine to give back and reach out to my fellow veterans to help give them the chance at life that I have had thanks to the help of many others. I want people to know that cannabis can save your life. I was diagnosed as terminally ill and sent home to get my affairs in order. Instead, I decided to try cannabis and now have a new lease on life.

[salty-dawg-entertainment]

DAY 29 POST OP

I finally got my X-Rays to download so I could upload them and share them with everyone. These are actual pictures taken just a few days ago. The X-Rays were done to make sure my titanium bars had not moved since the surgery and after I got chocked and my wife had to do the Heimlich maneuver. Overall I am doing pretty well, all things considered. I had to go on oxygen at about day 25 post op. That has been my only set back. I have had some diminished lung capacity and staying low on Oxygen at night and during exertion. I am still in quite a lot of pain but I have been told this is normal and the pain will continue for at least another 6-8 months. I now have a medical alert dog tag I wear alerting to everyone of my condition. I also have a card I have to carry in my wallet. I am open to answer any questions anyone may have about this surgery. I have been answering many questions for everyone all the way down to the physical therapist, Occupational Therapist and even the home health nurse. Many people have never heard of this surgery (Nuss Procedure) or knew anyone who has had it. Unless you have a severe pectus excavatum you wouldn't have to have this surgery. It is very rare therefore I do not mind the questions.

[salty-dawg-entertainment]

How Cannabis Gave Me My Life Back For A Second Time

As many of you know, I recently had a major operation to repair my chest. I suffer from Marfan Syndrome and had a severe Pectus Excavatum (sunken in chest). The surgeon performed what is called the Nuss Procedure. That is where incisions were made on each side of my body just under my arm pits and custom made titanium bars were slid in to place just under my ribs and sternum and just above my heart and lungs. These bars were made curved so that once they are slid in they they were flipped forcing my sternum and ribs outward to a more natural position.

This is the most painful thing I have ever went through and was told by my doctors and nurses that this was about the most painful surgery anyone could go through. I was expected to be in a semi coma state for a few days after surgery and hospitalized for at least 10-14 days. Instead, the medicine they gave me didn't put me in a semi coma state me like they expected due to my high tolerance. Immediately upon opening my eyes, my wife began giving me cannabis oil. So instead of a semi coma state for 3 days I was up and walking by the second day. My doctors were shocked. Throughout my stay, due to the severity of the pain, my doctors were giving me an epidural providing continuous drips of Hydromorphone. They were giving me Dilaudid every few hours intravenously. They were giving me 30mg Roxicodone every 2-4 hours and Morphine orally every 6-8 hours. Believe it or not, for the first few days that wasn't even stopping my pain. My wife started giving me the cannabis oil and that helped get the pain under control. So much so, that by about the 4th or 5th day I was actually turning down the pain medication at times. On the 4th day the epidural came out and I increased my oil consumption and still managed to keep my pain under control. I ran out of oil on the 5th day and the pain became unbearable. I was having to use my pain pump quite often. I reached out for help to obtain more oil and a wonderful friend and fellow veteran showed up at my hospital room and gave me more oil. After that, I never had to push my pain pump button again. On the 7th day the doctor came in and said they were removing the pain pump since I wasn't using it. Getting the pain pump out was the final step for me to be able to go home. My doctor told me he was shocked at how well I was doing, how well I was managing my pain and the fact I was resting so well. Unfortunately I couldn't tell him my secret of how I had accomplished this as using cannabis at the hospital wasn't allowed.

Yes, I was sent home with pain meds, but when the pain comes on I first reach for my cannabis capsules and usually get it under control although it sometimes takes 2-3 capsules due to the severity of the pain. That is still safer than taking massive amounts of opiates. I leave the pain medicine for very last resort.

My doctor made it clear to me that it would take 8 months to a year to recover or be able to move around normally or even sleep on my side. So my next goal is to see if I can speed up the recovery using cannabis and hopefully be on my feet after no more than 6 months.

When I was told I wouldn't last another year by my doctor in 2013 I turned to cannabis. I managed to outlive my doctors expectations thanks to cannabis. And now, again, I have beat my doctors expectations with the use of cannabis. Cannabis has kept me alive and gave me my live back now twice. I wanted to share my testimony on my experience with cannabis in the hopes that others will see cannabis as an viable option for many things and to which I can personally testify to cannabis' pain relief and life saving benefits, And last but certainly not least I want to thank all those in the cannabis community that helped me through this. You have all been a life saver. 1💚 ✌️😊

[salty-dawg-entertainment]

Raising Money For Transportation And Expenses Of Upcoming Surgery

I suffer from Marfan Syndrome and has a severe pectus excavatum and I am in need of a major operation to repair his chest to get it up off of his heart. I have fought the VA since 2013 for this surgery. After a long fight and getting senators and media involved the VA has approved to cover the surgery but the surgery is going to be held at an outside hospital in Aurora as they are the only ones who can do this surgery. I have started a fundraiser and all proceeds will be used for transportation cost to multiple appointments between now and the surgery which the transportation is not covered under an outside facility. I must ask someone to take me as we have no means of transportation and I can't expect them to do all this for me for free as gas cost money. I will also be covering living expenses during this time for my wife to stay with me during this surgery as it is recommended by the doctor to have a loved one present to help me.I will be in a semi conscious state for about 3 days and in the hospital for approximately 10 days. I really hate to ask for any help. I prefer to try to take care of my self but this is out of my hands. My life depends on this surgery or I wouldn't ask. My heart is wearing it self out. Surgery will be on June 16th.

The surgeon thinks he can get by with doing a minimally invasive procedure called a Nuss procedure versus the more complex Ravitch procedure The Nuss procedure is less invasive.The operation typically takes approximately 1-6 hours. Through two small incisions in the side of the chest, an introducer is pushed along posterior to the sternum and ribs, and anterior to the heart and lungs. Then 2 concave Titanium bars are slipped under the sternum, through the incisions in the side of the chest. A third, smaller incision is made to insert a thoracoscope (small camera) used to help guide the bar. Taller patients, older patients, or patients requiring extensive correction may receive two or more bars. All bars may be placed through two incisions or additional incisions may be made. The bar is then flipped, and the sternum pops out. To support the bar and keep it in place, a metal plate called a stabilizer may be inserted with the bar on one side of the torso. PDS sutures may also be used in addition to the stabilizer. The stabilizer fits around the bar and into the ribcage. The bar and stabilizer are secured with sutures that dissolve in about six months. The bars will stay in for 3 years and then another surgery will be required to remove them.

For adults who have more ossified bones, an additional option the surgeon has is to make an incision across the sternum so the bar is attached with a wire to the sternum to avoid bar displacement. Adult's bones do not conform as easily to the bar, thus increasing the risk of bar displacement, so the wire attaching the bar directly to the sternum may help avoid a second surgery to correct bar displacement.

Eventually, the bar is secured with muscle tissue that regrows during the recovery time. Although initially recommended only for younger patients, the Nuss procedure is now commonly used on patients in their thirties and forties with excellent results.

Postoperative evaluation indicates a significant improvement in pulmonary function studies and a high proportion of patients report improvements in well being and an increase in exercise tolerance

Although this procedure is categorized as "minimally invasive", post-operative pain control can be quite challenging, thus requiring multi-modal pain management including epidural anesthetics. Nurses who attend these patients post operation generally concur that this operation is one of the more difficult recoveries of any operations.

The pectus repair is a painful procedure. Length of hospital stay is dictated by postoperative pain management. Following the operation, most patients stay in the hospital for approximately 7-10 days.The first 3 days I will be kept in a semi coma state in ICU. An epidural catheter, placed in the back, will be used to give continuous pain medication. This is used for several days, when the pain is the greatest. After a few days, pain medication is given by mouth and the epidural is removed. In some cases it may be necessary to place small tube(s) in the incision to drain fluid. These are removed when the drainage stops, usually after several days.

After the operation I can do no lifting or athletic activities for several weeks while the ribs and the cartridge are growing back. In general, the recovery process takes about 6 -12 months.

Hopefully this surgery will keep my heart from wearing itself out and allow me to live a much longer life with a much better quality of life. One thing is certain, without the surgery I have a very limited life span.

If you would like to donate to this fundraiser please click on the link below. Any and all donations no matter how small would be a huge help.

"Raising Money For Transportation And Expenses Of Upcoming Surgery

Thank you all,

Park Major -Veteran

Email address: parkmajor@hotmail.com

P.S. You can also donate through my paypal account it should be under Park Major or my email parkmajor@hotmail.com

[salty-dawg-entertainment]

Doing some late night trimming. #CannabisKeepsMeAlive