Danelle Ballengee- Interview

1. Your successes as an athlete are numerous, do you have an accomplishment that you are the most proud of?  What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
I’m most proud of my consistent top results over the last 14 years.  I’ve continued to compete at a high level and win National and World Championships.  I’m the winningest endurance athlete in the world.  I’m proud of that.  As far as single events, I’m most proud of my 14ers record—the fastest female to consecutively climb all of Colorado’s 14,000 ft + peaks (14 days, 14 hrs, 49 min.)

2. You seem to participate in every endurance sport there is and are a serious competitor in every race you enter.  How did you first get involved in these kinds of events?  What was the first sport that you trained and competed in? 
I remember as a kid I would run around and set up obstacle courses around the house.  I set up crazy sledding hills.  I would go camping and fishing with my parents and grandparents and spent a lot of time outside, and loved it.  My first competitive sport was soccer.  I liked running around and I liked having a goal of playing well and trying to win the game.  When I was in high school I joined the cross country team and that was the start of my endurance sport ‘career’.  My coaches were great and taught me to race hard, but most important to enjoy it and to be happy with my result as long as I gave it my best.  That stuck with me—still to this day!

3. Which has been your favorite adventure so far?  Are you partial to any one of your many sports? 
I enjoy adventure racing, but my favorite adventures have been training for the races.  I’ve been to some incredible places.  The National Parks have provided a playground for some great adventures.  The rocky mountains have also been a great playground for me—I really enjoy climbing peaks.  I’ve traveled quite a bit and have had some great adventures touring around other countries.  As far as racing, I think the skyrunning races have been the most enjoyable adventures for me.  Adventure racing comes in a real close second.

4. What were you training for when you went on your ten mile training run that day in December?  What did the rest of your competition season look like? 
I wasn’t training for anything in particular.  I was out there enjoying a recent win with team Buff/Coolmax at a race in Mexico and transitioning to the winter season, where I was to race for Tubbs Snowshoes and try to qualify for the World Winter Tri Champs.  I was out on an easy, casual, enjoyable run/hike.  Perhaps my goal was to relax, enjoy, and motivate for the upcoming season.  I was making plans for the next summer to do some Skyrunning Races, a few Adventure Races with Team Buff/Coolmax, a mountain bike race or two for Motobecane, and the US Rogaine Champs again with Rebecca Ruesh.

5. I know you had a difficult time during Primal Quest this year and that feeling lasted into the Adventure Xtream 24 hour competition.  Did you bounce back after that?  Did you have any really great races between then and your accident that reinstated your confidence and your excitement towards racing?
I hated Primal Quest last year.  It was stupid to be out in that heat and I was frustrated that one of out teammates messed up and pretty much bailed out during the orienteering section and knocked us out of a potential podium position.  I had suffered through a lot up to that point, which made it more frustrating.  The television completely misportrayed what happened to our team and made it seem like the blisters I had on my feet was our team’s downfall.  Not true at all!  My feet did have a bunch of blisters, but I kept taking care of them and blisters have never slowed me down in an adventure race. 
  After that race I really just wanted to do some solo races to revive myself and to have fun with the sport again.  I wanted my title sponsor, Spyder, to have something to be proud of.  I won the solo race outright at the Adventure Xtreams in Breckenridge and Vail.  I won the Jay Mountain Marathon, I was second at the Pikes Peak Marathon and ran my fastest time ever there.  I won the World Skygames Championship in Andorra.  I was second at 24 hrs of Moab and set a course record at the “Other Half Half Marathon” in Moab.  I won the Two Harbors Kayak Marathon.  I won a few orienteering meets.  Taz and I together won the Turkey Trot in Moab.  And finally, in December I joined Team Buff/Coolmax for a win at the Nuevo Leon Outdoor Challenge.  I had a fantastic season after Primal Quest.  One of my best ever.  It took a while both physically and mentally to recover form Primal Quest, but a couple weeks rest and then getting out there and having fun again did the trick.

6. You are obviously no stranger to the elements.  Do you think that the pain you went through during Primal Quest, enduring severe dehydration, exhaustion, and painful blisters, helped you survive those 52 hours in freezing cold isolation?  Do you think that all of your practice in endurance events and all of your training is what kept you alive?
I really don’t think Primal Quest taught me a whole lot other than not to agree to do a race like that again.  My feet weren’t too bad at PQ, I just had to keep taking care of them (despite what the TV show led you to think).  Dehydration and heat just slowed us to a painfully boring pace.  I do think my years and years of experience in the outdoors and racing helped me out there when I was injured and stuck in the canyon.  From those experiences I learned to take care of the basics—stay hydrated, keep warm (keep moving), stay awake, stay optimistic, constantly think, and never ever give up.  When I was out there in the canyon those three days and two nights I didn’t consiously think that what I was doing was keeping me alive.  It all just sort of happened naturally.  I think it became engrained in my head after years and years of outdoor experiences.  Now that I’m recovering in the comfort of my home I realize how lucky I was.  It was a bummer I slipped, but it was an accident—and accidents happen. The fact that I survived and am alive right now and I have a good prognosis that I will recover fully—I’m so so lucky, it’s hard to believe it’s true, even now a month later.  I think about it every day, every night. 

7. What was going through your head when you were out there?  Did you know all along that you would survive?  It seems like it would have been really easy to lose hope when you are cold and hungry and in pain like you were.  What did you tell yourself to keep your spirits up?  What did you do to occupy your mind to keep it from drifting to dark places?
A lot was going through my head.  I thought a lot about how I could get out of there—crawl, drag myself, whatever.  I kept hoping someone would come up the canyon.  I kept yelling for help.  I spoke with Taz, telling him I was hurt, asking him if he could go get some help.  Telling him I love him.  I thought about my family, how much I loved them, and my friends, how much they mean to me and how much I love them too.  I was afraid of death, it scared me so much and the more it came a reality the more it scared me.  I wasn’t ready to die.  I thought about how someone might notice I was gone; my friend I told I would call him back in a couple hours just minutes before the run.  My neighbor—hoping she would notice I didn’t come home.  My truck, it was still parked there…  I thought about my life so far, and about my future—that I could have lot’s more great experiences, just like my past.  I had just met a really nice guy who I wanted to hang out with more, I thought about him. (we’re hanging out again!!).   I thought about the opportunities I was working towards for racing, coaching, travel, and sponsorship for the coming year, and for competing in the coming year.  Things were falling into place and I was bummed that I wouldn’t be able to pursue them. 
Most of all I thought about surviving—what little things I needed to do at every moment to stay alive.  I constantly had to keep moving whatever little movement I could do.  I kept sipping water, enough to keep alive but not to much to wet myself.  If I wet myself it would freeze and be cold.  I knew I had to stay positive, so I fought away the negative thoughts and stayed positive.  You know, when death becomes a reality it’s really scary.  It made me sad and angry, angry I took that stupid step, angry the ice was there, angry that I even went on the run.  I had to fight those thoughts and give myself a break.  Everyone has an accident—I’m only human, it was an accident.  That though occurred in the canyon, and still occurs today.

8. How much of a factor did your dog, Taz, play in keeping you alive?  Did he keep you warm?  Keep you company?  How do you think things would have been different if he hadn’t been with you?
Taz is my best friend.  He truly is a hero; he played a huge huge part in saving my live.  What an amazing dog!  For one, his companionship and protectiveness helped keep me calm out there.  Second, after I fell and I was crawling/dragging myself out of the canyon I followed his route so I knew where to go.  Third, he cuddled up next to me that first night to provide warmth.  And the most amazing thing Taz did was to run all the way back to my truck where the rescue crews had assembled at that time.  They realized they needed to follow Taz, and sure enough Taz led them straight to me!  The whole time I was stuck out there Taz kept checking in with me, licking me lots and letting me pet his warm soft fur.  He knew I was hurt, and he provided whatever comfort and help he could.  He helped, in a huge way, to save my life!  (He was a shelter pup, who I adopted three years ago, I’m so happy I saved his life—because now he saved mine!)  I can’t wait to hike and run with Taz again and I’m really enjoying just being with him as I recover.

9. He left you a few different times during the whole time you were out there.  Did you have any idea what he was trying to do each time he left?  Were you worried that he would leave and never come back? 
I noticed he would run up and down the canyon.  I never worried that he would leave me, he always came back to check in.  He’s a dog, and he’s really devoted to me as I am to him.  I knew he wouldn’t leave.  I actually asked him if he would go get help.  When he ran off, I just hoped someone would see him and follow him to me.  I didn’t know he ran 5 or 6 miles away, towards my truck.  That’s amazing.   And I’m so lucky the rescue crews were there at the same time, and that they knew he was my dog and that they knew to follow him.  Amazing!  That time, when he ran that far, I was fading a bit.  I had lost track of time and was more concerned about surviving and taking care of myself.  And then Taz did come back, and sure enough he had found help!  I was in tears and Taz was wagging his tail and licking everyone.  He’s an amazing dog and sooo sweet.

10. What kind of relationship did you have with Taz before this incident?  Had he ever performed so heroically in the past?  Did you have any idea that he had this ability in him?  Had he had any special training that may have helped? 
I got Taz when he was 7 weeks old.  He’s been with me pretty much ever since.  We run or walk together everyday.  He’s climbed high peaks and made it through some amazing canyons.  When I kayak he runs along the shore and sometimes swims out to me.  I take him in my truck with me when I run errands.  I work a lot out of my home, so he’s here with me.  We’re really close.  I’ve always thought he was pretty much a normal dog, a very good normal dog.  But one time he climbed a 20 foot ladder—vertical ladder.  My friend and I hiked to some hot springs and there was a ladder up to the hot pools.  We left at nice place below to relax while we soaked in the hot springs.  Sure enough about 10 min later Taz was with us at the hot pools.  I have not idea how, but he climbed that ladder!  Amazing!  Getting him down was a chore, but I made it by carrying him (70 lbs!).  After that I new he was pretty special, and definitely devoted to me.  Watch out Lassie, here comes Taz!
He’s never had any special training.  I wasn’t sure how to raise a dog, so I read some books and took him to puppy class.  He was super hyper as a puppy, so at first I was worried that I really had my hand full with this crazy puppy.  I used positive reinforcement to teach him.  I always speak softly to him using basic vocabulary.  I almost never punish him.  My ex-boyfriend used to yell at him and smack him or yank him off the bed.  I’m glad I’m not seeing him anymore because I don’t think this is any way to teach a dog, especially one like Taz.  Now Taz is a really good dog.  He’s not perfect, but he wouldn’t be a dog if he was perfect.  He’s a lot of fun, a lot more mellow now that he’s a little older, and overall a great dog!

11. He must have been used to long training sessions with you.  When could you tell that he knew something was wrong?  Did he react or act any differently?
I think he new something was wrong right away, but he didn’t know how bad it was.  I think he realized how bad it was the second day, after I had the talk with him about how I was hurt, and could he go get help.  Then he knew something was really wrong and he started running up and down the canyon, trying to help.

12. When did you know you were going to be rescued?  Did you have confidence that Taz would find help?  Or were you unsure until you actually saw the rescue crew approach? 
I didn’t expect Taz really would find help, although I did think about it, I hoped maybe someone might see him and follow him…and they did!  I wasn’t confident about anything until I heard the sound of the atv motor coming up the canyon and the rescue guy, Bego, said he was here for me.  I started crying, Taz was there and I knew he helped by his demeanor.  I hugged him and he licked me.  Then Bego came over and I told him how happy I was to see him and he told me how happy he was to see me.  We both cried, and Taz went to Bego and started licking him and wagging his tail.  It was surreal.  To be so close to death and then to know I was going to live!

13. What was the first thought through your head when you saw the rescue workers approach with Taz leading the way?  Were you able to comprehend what was happening or were you too exhausted to realize the situation? 
Taz arrived first and was really thirsty—he drank a bunch of water.  I thought “shit, that’s my only water…now I don’t have water.” But his demeaner seemed different and I took note-- it brought to my thoughts a little more hope again.  I had hit pretty much a low point as far my spirits go just before he arrived.  I was feeling helpless—I knew at that point that there was absolutely no way I could crawl out of the canyon myself.  The thought of facing another night was depressing.  The actuality that I might die was that much closer to reality.  Taz being there brought a little relief to those thoughts, and for a moment I felt hope and happiness.  Just having him there to love me helped.  I was still worried.  When I heard the sound in the distance, shortly after Taz arrived my whole mood changed.  I felt unexplainable joy and hope that someone might come; yet concern that they might not come and it would have been the hugest let down.  My senses became heightened and I was more alert than I had been in a long time.  I rehearsed in my head what I would say.   I had been starting to ‘loose my mind’ a bit, I knew I had to hang on.  I yelled so loud for help.  The sound became louder.  I weeped in joy as it got louder and louder—a feeling that I can’t really explain, but if you can imagine that you’re going to die, then knowing you might live.  There’s nothing better than life.  The thoughts of my friends and family passed through my head again—this time of being able to hug them and hold them close.  When I found out Taz had helped lead the rescuers there I could and couldn’t believe it at the same time.  It’s truly amazing that Taz did that.  At the same time, I know he’s a smart dog and our bond between each other is strong. 

14. Where is Taz now and where has he been throughout your hospital stay and recovery?  Was he rewarded for his excellent behavior?  Does he know what a hero he is? 
It’s been a month and a half since the accident.  Taz is here with me at home.  We lie on the bed together and cuddle much of the day.  He has learned to understand and accept that I am in a wheelchair.  I play ball with him and we sing together (he’s a good singer.)  He doesn’t know what a hero he is.  He knows I love him though.  He’s responding well to all the attention he’s getting.  He likes to be treated with respect and spoken to softly and kindly.  He’s doing pretty well at the photo shoots and was even allowed to hang out in a restaurant during a benefit dinner.  He did great—he just hangs out mellow and happy. 
            Just before I was put in the helicopter I pet Taz and told him everything would be ok.  He got to say a one of the rescuers homes that night (and slept like a, well, dog!)  Then my parents picked him up and he stayed with them in Evergreen.   Taz loves his grandparents and it’s a nice place for him to stay.  They won’t allow dogs in the hospital, so I was really bummed about that.  My parents said Taz was pretty depressed for several days.  I went on the Today show about a week after the accident.  I was happy to do that because I new that I would get to see Taz for the first time since the accident.  I wanted him to know I was alive and ok.  That was a great moment to see him on the show.  He came right to my bed and made a wimpering noise—like he was crying in joy.  My sister lives a couple blocks from the hospital.  She took him home after the show.  When they went out to shovel snow Taz jumped the fence and took off running.  He ran right back to the hospital and was scratching at the door to be let in.  He’s so sweet.  I was in the hospital another two weeks before I was discharged.  Taz was a big motivation for me to get better so I could get out of the hospital.  It was so great to see him again.
            Taz has been spoiled a bit since his heroic effort.  He’s gotten some extra treats from my parents and I.  Friends have provided lots of treats and even special cookies with the words ‘Taz Hero’ printed on them.  A lady from Michigan sent an entire box of steaks for Taz, along with a stocking with his name embroidered on it.  She wanted to be sure Taz got his steaks for Christmas.  He did!  I’m trying not to spoil him too much with treats.  I want him to be healthy.  I spoil him plenty with love though.  I always will!

15. Now that the surgeries are finished, you’ve have a titanium plate and titanium pins put into your pelvis, blood transfusions and a number of days in the hospital, are you finally officially on your way to recovery?  What is your current prognosis? What is your recovery effort going to be like? 
            Some days are good and some days are pretty tough.  I’m still in a lot of pain and am tired a lot.  I still have to spend a lot of the day laying down.  There has been a lot of nerve damage to my feet and they almost constantly feel ‘annoying’.  Tasks such as sitting and eating or sitting and typing tire me out.  It can be very frustrating since it’s so hard for me to get around and since I don’t have the energy that I used to have.  Everything takes me a long time to do.  Things like getting up to go to the bathroom or letting Taz out the door take a long time.  For a month or more after the surgery I was dependent on others to help me with almost everything.  I’m getting more independent now, but still need a lot of help.  As tough as it is, as much as it hurts, and as frustrating as it can be I always remember how lucky and privileged I am to be alive.  
The even better news is that the prognosis for the future is good.  I will walk again.  I should be able to run again.  I might even be able to compete again.  I am motivated.  I will give it my best effort to do what I need to do to first heal up, then to do rehab and get back in shape again.  I try to be patient with myself.  Sometimes I get depressed, it’s part of the recovery process.  Most of the time I am optimistic.  The support I have had from family, friends, and the community is truly unbelievable.  It’s been overwhealmingly amazing how much support I’ve had and continue to get.  I am so greatful to be a part of the endurance sport community.  I realize how wonderful people are. 
I am not doing physical therapy yet; as now is the time that the doc wants me to rest and allow my bones to heal.  I have started on my own physical therapy, as I don’t want to deteriorate too much.  I move my legs back and forth a lot.  I do some gentle stretching.  I do some basic strengthening exercises—very basic—so as not to strain the muscles attaching to the injured pelvis.  I do some self-massage to increase circulation and have had a couple gentle massages from a friend.   My parents took me to a loop mall not too far from their house three times, where I wheel around on my chair for 30 to 40 min, enough to get the blood flowing.  On Monday I got the ok to start some pool therapy.  Yesterday my friends took me to the pool at the Silverthorne Rec Center to float around and do a bit of movement.  It felt great!  I can pedal on the recumbent bike for 10 min without resistance.  I also do some laps on my chair around the track and can use the arm ergometer for some upper body exercise.  It’s not much, but it’s something and it feels good to move and use my body.  After my ‘workout’ I rest a lot.  Even a little bit of exercise wears me out and the recovery time is just as important.  I’m excited for the day I get the ok to re-learn how to walk again!

16. Do you think that the tip top physical shape you were in prior to the accident will help in your recovery?  Your body, heart, and mind must be thriving in order to endure the kinds of training and races you participate in.  Do you think that will be your saving grace in recovery?
            If it wasn’t for my good physical condition I would be dead right now.  I lost a lot of blood and my body went through a lot of trauma.  If I didn’t have a strong heart, lungs, muscles, etc. it’s very very unlikely that I would have survived.  I’m so greatful that I have devoted the time and energy that I have during my life to stay fit.  It saved my life.  I’ve always been a proponent of fitness as a personal trainer, coach, race director, and athlete myself; but now I’m even a bigger proponent.  My good physical condition has also helped with my recovery, and will continue to help me over the next year or so of rehab.  Without the strength in my upper body I would really have a tough time getting around.   My strength and fitness helped me to get through the long surgery and to have the strength to get me to a functional level sooner than most and allow me to be discharged from the hospital.   I have lost a lot of strength and fitness the last month, but thanks to my fitness before the injury I still have some muscle left and therefore better ability to regain functional mobility.   Even though I feel weak, I know that my strong heart and lungs are allowing me to do the bit that I can do.  I think and hope that my rehab process, once I’m allowed to be weight bearing will be faster than average. 
            Keeping a positive attitude and having the tremendous support that I have had from friends and family is a huge part of the recovery process-- in addition to a good physical condition before accident.  My ultimate goal is to be able to compete again, at the level I used to.  This is a lofty goal, but one that I will work towards.  I am confident that I will be able to run, ride, and kayak again— I’m quite certain that I will be able to enjoy these activities again.  I will be happy with that.  I realize that I’ve had a really bad injury and that it might not be possible to compete at the top level like I used to.  If I can’t, that’s ok with me also.  I’m happy with what I achieved in sport the last 15 years, and if I’m not able to reach that level again that’s ok.  I’m certainly going to try nonetheless!!

17. How are you coping with this mentally?  Do you believe in karma?  Higher powers of any kind?  Are you a spiritual person?  Do you think that there were alternate powers involved in your accident, your survival, your rescue, or your impending recovery?
            I’m doing pretty well mentally.   Having a good prognosis for the future helps.  Having so much support from friends, family, and the community helps also.  Some days are really tough for me—the visions of the fall and visions of shivering helplessly in that canyon often haunt me.  The pain still can be really bad at times.  The frustration sometimes depresses me.  I sometimes get mad at myself for taking that step and not being more alert.  Often I have to lay there in bed and rid myself of those thoughts and remember that I survived, I’m here, and I’m so happy about that.  I have to remind myself that it was just an accident and that everyone has accidents.  I have to be kind to myself and let myself rest and recover.  I believe that good can come of most every experience.  Even though this sucks at times, I have found a lot of good in the experience.  I know that I will continue to find good in this experience with time.  I know that I have learned a lot and I hope that I can teach and/or inspire others through the lessons I’ve learned and through my survival.
            After surviving something like this I think it would be impossible not to believe in something—be it karma, alternate powers, or ‘spirits’.  It is amazing, almost miraculous that I was rescued and survived.  The series of events that led to my rescue and things that I did, almost by instinct, to stay alive out there were truly amazing.  Luck.  Maybe?  But it sure seems like more than just luck.  I don’t know.  I’m just a human being and we, as human beings, will never know a lot of things.  Having belief in something doesn’t hurt.  I’m not really a religious person.  I support concepts of most all religions.  I have become more spiritual after this experience and suspect there could be more out there than luck and coincidence.   My neighbor Dorthy Rossignol, my dog Taz, my parents Peggy and Gary, the Grand County Search and Rescue team, and many of my friends are true hero’s.  I like to call them my angels.  There are a lot of things in this world that I can’t explain and that I will never understand.  I don’t really feel the need to have to understand these things.  I feel that to claim or not claim knowledge and truth in karma, spirits, higher powers, etc. would be jumping to conclusions.  I’m just thankful beyond words that, for whatever reason, it somehow worked out and that I am here today to enjoy life.  I certain have a renewed respect of life.

18. Prior to your accident you were described as a tireless athlete with a great attitude.  You had an eagerness to always be out there, being active and always getting outside and doing as much as you could.  I am sure there are many people out there hoping that you will maintain that same great outlook on life.  Are you able to keep your positive attitude?  What do you think it is going to take to return to your old self both physically and mentally?
            Thank you.  And yes, I will maintain that same great outlook on life.  Even moreso now.  Maintaining a positive attitude is the key.  I will continue to try to keep a positive attitude.  Sometimes the negative thoughts will cross my mind—that’s human.  But I will strive to keep a good attitude and to be happy with doing as much as I can at the moment.   Even if I couldn’t ever walk again, I know there are a lot of positives to make life worth living.  Being so close to death makes me realize this.  Most important are my family and friends—people.  The earth is a beautiful place and to be able to experience the earth-- that too, makes life worth living.  I will continue to strive towards returning to my old self both physically and mentally.  I have always felt that if I give it my best shot, that’s something to be proud of and happy with.  I will continue to give it my best shot, that’s for sure!

19. What will you take away from this experience? Have you learned any real life lessons?  Do you have any message for our readers?
            I’ve learned so much through this experience, and I continue to learn something everyday.  A lot of the values that I’ve already known were reinforced.
            Some of the things that stick in my head at the moment include: 1. The value of friends and family.  I thought so much about them when I was out there and it really made me realize how important they are.  My friends and family have really supported me through this recovery process.  I am so happy to have met so many great people—through the communities where I live/lived and through the sports I’ve done and the various other things I’ve done during my life.  I’m met some incredible people and feel fortunate to have these people part of my life.  I’m also greatful to have a wonderful family and extended family as well.    I don’t see most of these people everyday, some only a few times a year.  Nonetheless I know they are here to support me and I will be there to support them. 
            I am also happy that I have lived my life being as honest, kind, and sincere.   When I was so close to dying I though about these things and would never want to die knowing I hadn’t lived my live with these values.  These values go along with friendships.  I will always try to live my life with integrity and honesty so that I when I do die I know I at least tried to be the best person I could be.
            2.  The importance of staying optimistic and keeping a positive attitude.  There’s really something to it.  It helped keep me alive out there in the canyon— by staying hopeful.  It has also helped me during the recovery process.  Accidents happen to everyone, and really it was just an accident that I had.  I try not to be too hard on myself knowing this.  I try to find the good out of everything.  Even things that seem like a negative can be a positive.  Lessons are learned in every experience, and good can come of them with the right mindset.
            3. The importance of being fit and in shape.  If I wasn’t in good shape I wouldn’t have survived.  A strong heart, lungs, and muscles kept my body alive.  Because of my good condition I was able to stay awake and keep moving the whole time.  I’ve always been a proponent of fitness, but now even moreso!
            4. And on a more practical level: get to know your neighbor!  Love your dog! Support search and rescue teams—they do great stuff!  Modern medicine is amazing, as is the human body and its ability to return to health after trauma.  It is frail, yet resilient.
            5.  To survive: keep moving to stay warm.  Find a water source for hydration.  And keep awake so that the brain and body stay alive.
            6.  I have include this one: have insurance!!!  You never know when something is going to happen when you need medical care.  I can’t believe how much is costs to have medical care.  It’s outrageous.  But, it’s worth it…life is worth any cost!  I am self- employed and so I have some coverage, but it’s not very good.  I wish I would’ve purchased better coverage now that I realize the costs involved.  I’m happy I have the little bit I have, and I encourage anyone who doesn’t have health insurance to get it!  Hopefully we’ll get some politicians in office that will help to make the whole health care thing a little more reasonable for all of us as well!
            7. Finally: Enjoy life.  Whether we life 1 year or 100 years it’s important that we enjoy our time here on earth.  Not every moment is going to be perfect and enjoyable, but at least make an effort to enjoy as much as possible—if that means slowing down to smell the flowers or speeding up to check out the top of every peak and bottom of every canyon—whatever your fancy—make sure you enjoy life!  Also, appreciate the little things.  When you can’t do things like sit at the side of your bed or go pee or walk; it makes you realize how great all the little things are.  Appreciate every conversation, every picture, our ability to move, and everything that makes us smile.  All those things are really amazing.