TCC & COPD

My COPD is not at a horrible stage; it was caught early, a few years ago, because of a heart condition. My cardiologist, unhappy with my heavy breathing, wanted to eliminate the possibility of lung issues. But lo and behold, I had lung disease as well. My experience at the TCC retreat in Prescott, Arizona, last year had a definite, but not unexpected, affect on my heart and lungs mostly due to the altitude change from Florida. Two stents were inserted within a week of returning home. That said, what has TCC done for COPD and me?

I am (still) here to testify that TCC brings the calmness to let the medicine do its work without panic reactions to minor changes. TCC gives me the peace of mind to live without expectations of miracles as proper therapies are applied. TCC allows what remains of my original parts (no matter their condition) to become balanced with the rest of me and visa versa. Every body part takes the energy it needs and perhaps gives up some to help the others operate at an optimum level.

I do not approach this at a spiritual level, but I do have a calmer attitude that I attribute to TCC. It seems to work in concert with the medical interventions. TCC has allowed me to feel copacetic about my condition and, so far, has arrested any further feeling of physical erosion from my lungs.

I am not a fool; I know that quitting my occupation as a stained glass fabricator, with its minuscule glass shards, chemical fumes, airborne acids and particles of abrasives gets much of the credit for my disease. But that only takes care of the hands. My mind receives far greater benefits from the TCC. It grants me the serenity to accept my condition and, in turn, work through it to the point that, unless I am engaged in something strenuous, I am unaware of the condition. That is a good thing.

I do not carry an inhaler anymore. I have never used supplemental oxygen. If there is ever a day when I have to, that too, will be accepted. After all, as a cartoonist (my other occupation) my nature forces me to carry sketchpads, pens and watercolors. How much more effort can I expend, carrying an inhaler and mini oxygen bottle in my ever present man-purse?

I do not believe that TCC alone will cure me. It will, if I let it, make it easier to live with myself so that I can live, rather than face the possibility of mourning myself long before necessary. Take a message from the fictional character, Auntie Mame, “Live. Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.” Think of TCC as a condiment and smear it on your day.