The Recovery Bucket List: Two contrasting songs to reflect on

The Recovery Bucket List

In June 2012, I spent 2 weeks in hospital with a relatively unusual kidney condition called Minimal Change Disease (a form of Nephrotic Syndrome). It wasn't pleasant to say the least, I had retained 18kg of excess fluid in my body, had very little energy and no interest in food. I spent much of my time in hospital lying in bed doing very little, just being a bloated blob of excess fluid.

One night at about midnight, I was feeling a bit down. I was restless from the steroids I was on to fix my kidneys, there was a crazy lady yelling and screaming on the ward, and I was feeling really homesick - I'd been transferred from my local hospital in country Victoria to one of the largest in Melbourne for more specialist care I just couldn't get at home. Sleep wasn't an option despite my lethargy, and it was wearing me down mentally.

Knowing that I would eventually go into remission and be able to go back to my normal life, I made a list right there and then. A Bucket List, of all the things I would do when I'm well again and back to my "normal self". Somehow I managed to keep my optimism up for about 99% of the time I was sick, and kept looking to the future and thinking of more things I could do.

This blog is my journal of completing my Recovery Bucket List.

Monday, 16 July 2012

Two contrasting songs to reflect on

One a bit more sombre in tone...
Medicine - Birds of Tokyo

I want to dance another day
For all of us I never had what it takes
I want to swim another mile
I've got to know if this will be worth my while
What a liar

What a thief

What a major f**king waste of my time
I'm glad I know you
And I don't know why I'm careful

I want to take another turn
I want to taste a little sweetness in life
And is it major is it minor
I don't know, I'm out of time I can't tell
I'm glad I know you
And I don't know why I'm careful

Hey I was so sick in school
Remember me
Man I was so sick at school
But I've got my medicine
I've got my medicine
I've got my medicine
I've got my medicine

Hey mister man when will we fall
Forget about all
Forget about all

What a liar

What a thief

What a major f**king waste of my time
I'm glad I know you
What a liar

What a thief

What a major f**king waste of my time
I'm glad I know you
And I don't know why I'm careful

And now, one that's more upbeat:

I Feel Better - Gotye

There was a time I was down, down
I didn't know what to do
I was just stumbling around, around
Thinking things could not improve
I couldn't look on the bright side
Of anything at all
That's when you gave me a call

Now I feel better, better, better than before
I feel better, better, better, now I'm not down any more

And there were times I was sure, so sure
I couldn't turn it around
I couldn't care any more
About the good things I found
That's when you gave me a reason
To make me smile again
I only have to see you and then

I feel better, better, better than before
I feel better, better, better, now I'm not down any more
I feel better, better, better than before
I feel better, better, better, now I'm not down any more

Life sometimes seems to get the best of you
Like everything just brings you down
Just when you think there's nothing you can do
A friendly face will bring you around
And you'll feel better

You'll feel better, you'll feel better,
Better than before
You'll feel better, much better
No you won't get down any more

Just something to ponder!

- Kait

The Recovery Bucket List