Joseph Tait

I am a forced retired man in his mid 60's, currently legally disabled. I worked my entire life in the construction industry, from learning carpentry in my vocational high school, through college, then onto management of various types of construction in the New York City and tri-sate area. The incredible stress associated with my work for roughly 4 dozen years, building projects on time and within budget took it's toll on my health, for I did not have or use the tools to manage it well. I have been positively blessed with three grown beautiful and balanced daughters. For without them, I would not be breathing. My narrative is based upon my personal journey that began at the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Being unemployed after my first bout with the virus I made a conscious decision to get a full medical exam and workup, which I avoided for many years. I describe within the book a detailed timeline account during the following four years of horrific various bodily medical trauma and the strength and courage I needed to manifest to come out the other side. From a near death experience to regaining my health and changing my lifestyle, which in essence, was the sole reason for my ailments. Trauma is a main theme, how it transpired from a young age to the insanity of fighting 2 cancers, open heart surgery, hernia surgery that was a disaster to major bowel resection all within 1 1/2 years. How I learned the hard way, over time, to accept the trauma for the learning experiences they were. How I changed my perspective and used those events to strengthen me both mentally and emotionally. I discuss the very positive and sometimes negative aspects of our healthcare system, from remarkably gifted doctors to the true caregivers, Nurses, for without them healing would not exist. I endeavored to share my story of pain killers, their need in healing and their inevitable curse and the struggle to exist without them.