b322da wrote:JALLEN wrote:Congratulations on reaching 80! I will be 70 in a few months myself.
I have returned to Texas, about 2 years ago, after 45 years in San Diego, where I was sent as a brand new Navy officer right out of UT, in the middle of the VN war. I retired here after being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis about 4.5 years ago, to get close to a lung transplant center, and into a single story house with all electric, no pilot lights or open flame to accommodate my supplemental O2.
I'm glad you chimed in here. It certainly had me thinking, never a bad thing. I wondered if, like Aunt Gracie sometimes said, maybe I had misunderstood what you read. We were closer to the same page than I imagined.
Not everyone can be a judge. It takes a certain type of person to do it full time, enjoy it and look forward to getting down to the courtroom every morning. I served as a pro tem judge for some time, a couple of days a month, and as an arbitrator, and decided it wasn't for me. The best judges I appeared before were happy, enthusiastic and eager to get it right. When I think of what they had to endure, the often absurd and idiotic antics, I marvel at how they did it.
Bless you sir, and may you have many long years. You have come to the right place if you are not too far from Houston.
I must assume that you, given your demonstrated knowledge and background, have consulted an attorney both experienced and competent in handling asbestosis/mesothelioma/pulmonary fibrosis lawsuits from the plaintiffs' side. Your ailment encourages me to stop complaining about my diabetic neuropathy and the possibility of the onset of dementia, as I am quite familiar with your ill. For many years I practiced the defense of toxic tort litigation, this being a good area for contracting ailments like yours, as well as for seeking treatment after they are contracted, given the harm many have suffered or have been alleged to have suffered, due, primarily, to the presence of our petroleum industry and others. Similarly, steel mills and such have dragged me off to elsewhere in Texas and to many other states.
Thank you for challenging the old man here. I retired more than 15 years ago, after deciding that I was tired of the lawyer's word games, but, to my surprise, I have enjoyed being challenged again. My doctor says that serious thinking is one of the best ways to control or avoid dementia.
Best regards,
Jim
Pulmonary fibrosis is idiopathic, or at least mine is said to be. That's doctor speak for "we have no idea what causes it."
It would be fascinating to know the actual cause. I do have some involvement with petrochemical substances. I was born in Houston. That right there was dangerous, surrounded by the stench of refineries back then. My dad was a dry cleaner, and I worked in the plant, up to my elbows in dry cleaning fluids, and surrounded by steam pipes insulated with asbestos, and my dad's "chemistry set." Later, my wife and I set about building a Rutan design airplane, and after a few years became allergic to the resins used in the fiberglassing process.
They suspect it may be hereditary. An aunt died of it, as did my youngest sister. My other siblings have no symptoms. As you know, there is no cure, and no treatment, although there is a newly approved drug which shows some promise to slow development. You get worse, either quickly, or slowly, until you die. I'm not worrying about what tie to wear to my granddaughters' weddings. While at U.T., I came to know a little, and admire greatly, Governor John Connally. We corresponded sporadically for years, and I had a very pleasant visit with the Connallys when he briefly ran for
President in 1980 and was in La Jolla for a fund raiser. I had often thought what a fine thing it would be to grow up to be like John Connally, and now at least in this small respect I am. He died of IPF, and do will I.
I practiced real estate law, and managed investments, and have never been involved or interested in medical malpractice, or toxic torts, or any torts really except arising out of real estate ownership and transactions, boundary disputes, easements, usual and customary swindling, etc.
Luckily, I have enough willpower to control the driving ambition that rages within me.
The only excuse I can offer is "another senior moment." I just celebrated (??) my 80th birthday.
