Saturday, March 28, 2015

The Rights of Wrong

The actress, Angelina Jolie, who previously had made the decision to have a double mastectomy, recently announced she'd had a laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes as part of her ongoing choice to make preemptive strikes for her survival, based on her family's genetic history of cancer. She made a brave and far from easy decision.

Survivors are often faced with uneasy decisions. In times of trauma, crisis, and illness, a person comes face to face with what is wrong within themselves, either physically or emotionally. And, their survival will often be based on the choices they make about how to face that wrong.

You have the rights to these choices. They are very personal and relative to your unique situation.

Seek as much knowledge as you can and create access to additional knowledge if you need to. Listen to opinions and advice, find second opinions and alternate advice. Ask for help. Learn about your situation, your risks, and know your different choices. Knowledge is power.

Know Your Rights.

You have the right to seek treatment. You have the right to refuse treatment.
You have the right to a second opinion. You have the right to your own opinion.
You have the right to go a traditional route. You have the right to take an alternate route.
You have the right to an accepted drug regimen. You have the right to holistic alternatives.
You have the right to aggressive therapies. You have the right to less evasive ones.

You have the right to include other people. You have the right to make your own decisions.
You have the right to surround yourself with people. You have the right to be alone.
You have the right to discuss what is happening to you. You have the right to remain quiet.
You have the right to be positive. You have the right to be angry.

You have the right to ask for a different doctor. You have the right to request a specific medical professional. 
You have the right to enter rehab. You have the right to have counseling. 
You have the right to try different therapies. You have the right to discontinue a treatment not working for you.

You have the right to call for help. You have the right to call the police. 
You have the right to talk to a lawyer. You have the right to talk to your priest. 
You have the right to search and to reach. You have the right to ask any and all questions.

You have the right to be proactive. You have the right to be preemptive. You have the right to wait and see.
You have the right to be swayed. You have the right to dig your heels in.
You have the right to say "Yes". You have the right to say "No". You have the right to say "Stop".
You have the right to ask for more. You have the right to say "Enough".

You have the right to respect. You have the right to your dignity. 
You have the right to fight, to heal, and to survive. You have the right to ask for a DNR and create a living will.

You have the right to your choices.

Do not give in to the fear or be overcome by the weight of your choices. This is what life is about. It is a journey. We all come to forks in the road. Choose the path that is right for you. It is your life, your body, and your soul.

There is no right choice. There are only your choices and making them may be bravest thing you will ever do.



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