I Almost Died - September 2023 Was A Challenge
Hey Wealthy Affiliate! Remember me? For every new member of WA that I have not interacted with in my year-long absence, PLEASE take the training here seriously. You never know when your day job, if you still have one, will be suddenly taken from you. Having an affiliate marketing business either with a website or without, will be that safety net you need for the unexpected. Here’s what happened to me.
A year ago on September 3rd, 2023, I almost died from the West Nile Virus I got from a mosquito bite. It quickly progressed to Encephalitis. This is rare. It mainly happens to people who are 55 and older with health problems. I was 60 years old, more than 70 pounds overweight, at around 290. My brain swelled, I lost my vision, I blacked out and fell out of my chair. I don’t know how long I was on the floor. All this from a mosquito bite.
MY LEGS WERE DEAD WEIGHT
When I came to and realized what had happened, I tried to get up but found myself partially paralyzed from the waist down. I couldn’t move my legs at all. I couldn’t call anyone for help being that I was alone and my iPhone was on the couch across the room. Naturally I prayed, over and over again. First I asked God to give me strength in my arms to drag myself across the floor to my couch. God gave me strength.
It seemed like forever dragging myself only six feet to my couch. It was extremely painful and tiresome. When I got there I remained on the floor for several minutes, leaning up against the couch and trying to gain more strength. I still couldn’t move my legs. I continued praying. I knew I had to roll over and find a way to get on my knees. It was the only way I could get up on the couch to my phone.
I WAS SCARED I WOULDN’T GET THERE
There was another problem that presented itself. I had no room to roll over because my really heavy solid wood living room coffee table was blocking me. I prayed for arm strength again and though it was hard, I managed to push the table out of the way. I went back to leaning against the couch as I tried to relax and hopefully gain strength in my legs. Once again God came through with just a little leg strength.
I didn’t stop praying because this prayer was more of an ongoing conversation with the Lord, asking Him for forgiveness, asking Him for His mercy. I don’t remember how long it took but I eventually had enough strength in my legs and arms to roll over onto my knees, resting my arms and torso on the couch. I soon realized that I was still on my knees, even though my torso was on the couch.
ALMOST TO MY PHONE
In this position and still partially supported by my knees, I was able to finally pull myself on to the couch. Did I reach my phone? No. I was so so so exhausted from the whole ordeal, I just fell asleep. When I woke up a couple of hours later, I was able to move my feet and a little bit of my legs. I still could not stand. I tried but it was too painful. I found myself thanking God, praying endlessly and strength coming back.
I later found out from the doctors that there was nothing they could do for me other than to keep me hydrated and ease the pain. There is no cure or vaccine for West Nile Virus. It needs to run its course. Most people who get it show no symptoms whereas many others only get a mild fever after a 2 - 14 day incubation period after the mosquito bite. What happened to me is rare, unless you are in a high risk group like I was.
NO WORK, NO HOURLY INCOME
I was out of work for 6 weeks! I started getting stir crazy laying on my couch or bed, not being able to walk without the assistance of a cane or walker. I still had not enough strength to stand and sit without them. Just to stand up took a few minutes and it was painful! Sitting down wasn’t a problem because I basically just flopped down. However, as I got strength back in my legs, my feet and hands became swollen.
Being that I was not actively moving like I did before the West Nile Virus, I developed Edema in my hands and feet. It was like when my legs got better and I was able to start walking, the edema in my feet and wrists made the recovery even slower. God does use tribulation to build us stronger. Every time there is tribulation in the Bible, God never saves you from it but rather saves you through it, building your endurance.
I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER
I was like, Why God? Why have you brought me this far back to now get edema and have yet another illness that prevents me from getting back to normal? Scripture gave me an answer in Romans 12:12 which says, “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;” One must have JOY in hope, PATIENCE in tribulation and CONTINUING in prayer. As hard as that is, it's the only way to survive and thrive.
Now I walk without assistance, I have no pain, no edema and my Christian life with the Lord is stronger. One of the best outcomes from all this was that I have lost about 55 pounds, currently at 235. I am getting back to better eating and far less craft beer. I can now fit into the clothes I had before gaining so much weight. It’s like a new wardrobe. Then I noticed another surprise to my long painful recovery.
MY SAFETY NET REALLY SAVED ME
With all of the fear and pain I went through for the first 3 weeks, I didn’t even care that many of my bills were not being paid. I was focused on getting better and not having a relapse. Stress is not good to have when you are fighting to stay the course to better health after almost dying. Then my brain fog cleared and I remembered (I can’t believe I forgot), to check email and PayPal for affiliate commissions from my PPE niche.
All of the financial worries melted away instantly. I had close to $2,500.00 in my PayPal. THIS is why it is important to get at least the basic Premium membership here at WA. Then find a niche that people or a specific group of people need, do not waste time socializing and get it done! If it weren’t for the training I received here at WA more than 10 years ago and my hard work to get my affiliate business going, I wouldn’t have had that safety net.
DON’T QUIT! BUILD YOUR SAFETY NET!
Recent Comments
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Hey Boomer, I read your story and it is indeed sobering to know how vulnerable we all are as human beings. Having gone through a near death experience myself, I have come to cherish every minute I get to be alive and healthy. Your story is inspiring, I am looking forward to reading your book. Blessings
Thank You! This whole ordeal has made me realize just how precious and fragile life is. My friend jokes with me that it was a tiny little mosquito that took down a large 6'3" man for 6 weeks. Size doesn't matter when it comes to being strong.
I just happened to read your post. That was quite a trying time for you. I am happy that you have recovered. I am a catholic and I always pray to God and God always hear my prayer. I thank God all the time for his blessings and guidance. I remember having communicated with you before for something I needed help on. You did help me. I hope you continue to recover and avoid mosquitoes! Get well!
Evelyn
Thanks Evelyn. I've learned that mosquitoes do not come out during the daylight hours but rather during the hours from around dusk to just after dawn. When I go out around those times, I now always wear long pants, long sleeve t-shirts and no open shoes. Mosquitoes don't bite through clothing. When I see a mosquito now, it will die shortly afterwards. lol
Oh my God Rob,
I was reading your blogs here in WA a year ago, and I wondered where you went.
What a testimony you speak in the name of Jesus our Lord Amen,
I agree 💯
We never know when the JOB so to speak is going to disappear completely and that is one major reason I stay on with Wealthy Affiliate because it is the BEST in the market place for website building because of this WA Community :)
Thank God your Alive my friend :)
Wishing you another major breakthrough 🙏
Kind regards
Erica
From Australia 🦘🐬💚🐢
Thank you Erica. Not only did the Lord save me and bring me back, I am more at peace with my life. Hardly anything bothers me or makes me angry anymore.
Way back when I joined WA in 2013, I was looking for a way to scale up my eBay business with a drop shipping website. However, Kyle's affiliate marketing training changed my mind. Passive income is better.
This is such good news Rob,
Yes when we live in Peace nothing can really get rid of us because we move through so much and when we do not allow people or things rush us we can always focus on our goals.
Yes passive ongoing income is the way to go :)
Have a wonderful end to the week.
Erica
Wow, Robert, the NJ guy that beat cancer now even beat this. Wow! Damn right, health comes first! Power of prayer does help to get through it. I have MS been living with it for ten years now. Im 60 now, will be 61. Im glad you got passive income fromur PPE niche. I thought you were just working too hard at your job. Thanks for sharing what happened now you can stay on track with your health. Im glad youre on the mend. I am glad you are getting better. Please stay healthy. Prevention is the key. Avoid being bit by a mosquitoes. West nile no fun its everywhere protection is that spray its chemical but it works to ward them off. I avoid being anywhere near them.
Thanks Brenda. Frankly, this was scarier than cancer because when I had cancer I knew there was a natural cure. Plus I didn't lose strength nor was I handicapped in any way. West Nile Virus on the other hand has no cure and it totally knocked me out, almost for good. It was an extremely slow and painful journey back.
Now when I am outside during the dusk hours when mosquitoes are more active, I wear long pants and long sleeve t-shirts. They don't bite through clothing. When I do see them, like if they should fly into my car when I open the door, I immediately hunt them down and kill them. I'm not taking any chances this time.
Robert, good for you. Im glad to see that you are more proactive with your health now. I grew up in Minnesota it known for being the mosquitoes capital of the USA due to it many water sheds, rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes.
Not during the summertime. LOL, Fall or Spring—but not winter! Below-zero temps. I was born and raised in Minneapolis. My Dad worked for the Minneapolis downtown post office for many years until he died in 2004. My siblings still live in the Twin Cities Metro area. I left Minnesota in 2015 for Oregon. I never looked back. I do not miss Minnesota winters, but I miss the lakes. I grew up surrounded by the lakes. We always had to spray ourselves with those horrible repellent DEET chemicals, but they worked. Especially when camping and canoeing on the lakes
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Hi Robert, your story of vigilance and tenacity are more than a litle inspiring. I'm glad you're okay and seemingly thriving.
I can't say I almost died but 2023 was a challenging year for me too. I was diagnosed with and defeated cancer. I'm cancer-free today and was medically cleared as such in February of this year. All things considered, my treatment, although it had its challenges, for the most part it was pretty easy.
I didn't have to endure anything like what you went through.
On a different note, you may or may not remember me. You and I corresponded here on WA several years ago. I began at WA in 2015, although I've left and returned a few times. I've been here this time since 2021. I also had to go through what I needed to go through to get where I am today.
I don't remember the exact interactions but I remember you as being very thorough and helpful.
You made a positive impact on my life.
As I read your story then visited your profile, I recognized one or more of your pictures.
I wondered if you were still a WA member.
I'm glad to re-make your acquaintance.
I don't know if I can be any help to you, but I hope to keep in contact.
Oh, by the way, I'm also Robert, but I'm more commonly known as Bob.