Major Changes

Hello all. I’ve written a couple of posts over the past three months about some serious changes to my health status (https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/overloaded-please-bear-me-scott-holstad), and I’ve indicated I’d have to put things largely on hold for awhile. Well, as things have generally gotten worse and not better, or there’s not really been much in the way of any recovery, I’m writing again to let you know that until further notice – far into the future – I won’t be able to take on ANY projects, work, favors, anything at all. My health problems are quite severe, and as stated, recovery hasn’t even gotten up to slow yet! And things keep happening to set me back. I guess I’m going through “one of those times” in life where you have to face adversity and overcome it.

My already rough health status started to seriously deteriorate in May, resulting in two near-death experiences in June and July. On June 25, apparently I technically did die, and was resuscitated some time later. I was in the hospital for days, where after numerous tests, they couldn’t determine the cause, although they did render a diagnosis which can be interpreted in a number of ways. Since then, I’ve seen more doctors and specialists than I care to remember, and have undergone more tests than I care to think about. And then a short time later, in early July, I apparently suffered a minor heart attack. From mid-June to late-August, I’ve been in the hospital five times, and am about to start months of rehab at a specialist rehab hospital in the next week or two.

There now are some theories and some actual diagnoses that seem to have played a role. Among them are Anoxic Encephalopathy and, most likely, Pulmonary Hypertension, among others. Meanwhile, it seems highly likely that this past weekend, I suffered a partial meniscus tear to my left knee, which has severely impacted me. As I’m sick to death of hospitals and hate them with a passion, I refused to go to the hospital, although my wife seriously urged me. I’m just going to “walk it off,” so to speak, unless or until things get progressively worse. I have a very high pain tolerance level, and have a number of high pain-related conditions, so I’m used to it and can generally largely function facing substantial physical adversity.

However, my mobility is beyond limited now, and I’ve had to cancel speaking engagements at conferences, conventions, and universities, as well as attendance at numerous conferences, symposiums, conventions, and the like, and I’ve had to turn down offers for same over the next two months and for the foreseeable future. I’m hoping to be in a better position to evaluate my abilities and future by Christmas. With that in mind, I know I tell my connections that I like to try to help people out however I can when circumstances permit it. Well, circumstances no longer permit it for the present and near future. I’m truly sorry, and I feel I’m letting some people down, because I was either working with some people or was hoping or attempting to work with some people on various projects, career changes and transitions, and more, and I simply am going to have to put a stop to my efforts now, with many apologies. I wish it were otherwise. I’ll still be checking my account here, and accepting select connection requests, although I haven’t been and won’t be sending many of my own out. And I’ll try to post interesting content when possible, but I won’t be very active in any other tangible way, and I hope you will be kind enough to be understanding of my position and show patience with my recovery. I enjoy interacting with you, and will miss feeling useful, but I’ll just have to hope and believe I’ll be able to resume such activities by the end of the year. Thanks for reading this post and for your support. Have a good fall. Cheers! – Scott