A Life's Purpose Curtailed; Sad.

[DawnCt1]

If you have heard the Public Service Announcement; "Let's Not Meet By Accident", then you have heard something about Dr. Anthony Mackay Morgan.
He was a renowned trauma surgeon at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center. Raised by his mother in Philadelphia, at the age of 14 he took to the streets, was stabbed, shot at and then decided he wanted something better. He worked hard, graduated from college and medical school and he has spent the last quarter century saving others from street violence, brain trauma, gun shot wounds, car accidents. He was at the top of his game when at 56 he began to have memory lapses. He left the OR and focused on teaching and research. At 58 he received the painful diagnoses; Alzheimer's Disease. Last October he was laid off for "cost cutting measures"; no farewell party, no formal goodbye for a man who had given so much. His willingness to have his story on the front page of this morning's Hartford Courant is a testimony to his character. I wanted to share it. It is long but take the time to read it if you can.

http://www.courant.com/community/news/fv/hc-simpson-morgan-alzheimers.artjun14,0,2603457.column

 

[Inigo]

I think I read about him in Reader's Digest years ago.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It is very sad, absolutely.

But I'd say, from a spiritual standpoint, that he absolutely fulfilled his life's purpose, probably more than many times over.

 

[Stitchfans]

That is so sad. Not to mention so wrong.

Off Topic somewhat: I didn't know it was possible to get Alzheimer's so young?

 

[DawnCt1]

That is so sad. Not to mention so wrong.

Off Topic somewhat: I didn't know it was possible to get Alzheimer's so young?

We know a couple, she was a teacher. She started having memory lapses at the same age, 56. It came on suddenly and before the end of the school year she had to retire. She passed away last fall. She occasionally recognized her husband who kept her at home until it was physically impossible to do so. She was ill for 8 years.

 

[DawnCt1]

It is very sad, absolutely.

But I'd say, from a spiritual standpoint, that he absolutely fulfilled his life's purpose, probably more than many times over.

He did, but it is clear from the article that he felt he had much more to do. What is disturbing to me, and I guess its a "little thing" when compared to the big picture, it that the hospital or his department even, didn't honor him with a farewell party. Maybe it wasn't comfortable for them but it sounded like it was important to him. I hope someone sees that and says, "you know, its never to late to show appreciation" and organizes something.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I remember that Reader's Digest article too. The scary thing about Early onset AZ is that is the kind that is strongly correlated to a genetic cause/link.