We all know these familiar sayings:
"Health is Wealth"
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away,"
"Early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."
"Yes, I'll have double vodka martini, a Cowboy Rib-Eye and a cup of melted butter."
OK, the last one was more of my familiar saying because I've said that at Ruth's Chris for decades.
Homer Simpson: "Hmmm ... melted butter."
Sure, I've heard the sayings, I've heard friends warn me about my consumption and I heard various physicians over the years issue their cautionary tales.
I heard it all.
But I didn't listen.
So let me share where I am today.
I am soon to be 65 years of age in a matter of months and I have been instrumental in damaging my health over many years.
The first wake-up call was in 2005. Our family was vacationing in Michigan where our families would get together for the holidays.
This particular year, the kids were so very young and we just toured the local zoo.
I was called by my primary physician informing me that I had full blown Type-2 diabetes. I had had blood work done before the trip and based on, well, everything, that was his conclusion. The news was not breaking news. I assumed I was prone and when it was confirmed I didn't really process what the implications were. This was the beginning.
I have always struggled with weight.
I was in my early 20s and my friend introduced me to Gold's Gym in California. I became a gym rat, often working out seven days a week and for a good period of time we'd do two-a-days. At my peak I had about 8% body fat and weighed in at 198 pounds on my 6'1" frame. I maintained this regimen through my 20s but slowed to a crawl in my 30s. And 40s. And 50s.
Yes, there we pockets of time where the two mantras of good health — diet and exercise — were employed but there was never a return to the focus and dedication to good health.
During my post-20s to now, I loved to consume. To imbibe. To revel in food and drink. And this was the norm and not the exception over all these years.
Let me share about myself what maybe you can relate to.
I eat for comfort and not hunger. I have stated to those who would listen that food and I have a difficult relationship. This is where I find satisfaction. Emotional triggers lead to gorging. Insecurities are quelled with stacking a plate and watching TV. With a life where there is no real sense of control the one thing, I did have was absolute control over what was on my fork. I can say those were times of great contentment.
Until the food was gone.
All the unease and anxiety would return. And so would the fork, and so on and so on and so on.
That call from my PCP while in Michigan came at a time when I was at my heaviest weight ever — 348 pounds.
I actually bought slacks with a 50-inch waist size.
I was a husband and a father of two young children and I was either intentionally or unintentionally killing myself.
Returning home, I chose to change.
I worked with my PCP, was prescribed medication and actually followed a plan.
And for a while it worked. The following year back with my folks and I had dropped about 40 pounds, wore 44-inch pants and received compliments by many.
I finally turned it around.
Well ...
Over the next couple of decades, I was just being myself.
Interestingly, as much as I liked to drink and, yes, smoke cigarettes, I didn't gain all the weight back.
Wow, I'm doing OK. Let's go!
Then the first stroke hit.
It was March of 2020, just when the COVID shutdowns were happening.
How I knew?
I was prepping for my radio show and I just felt light headed, maybe a bit dizzy. That's OK, I'd felt that before.
When I arrived in the studio and and reviewed emails I discovered I could not type. That's right. Nothing. I couldn't control my striking of keys on the keyboard. I passed if off as just being tired.
When the time came I cracked the microphone and I could not talk. I could make sounds but couldn't actually speak.
I knew I was in trouble.
I took a commercial break, called my PCP and he ordered me to go directly to the ER.
Upon arrival, I was given an MRI and the imagery showed blackness on the left mid to bottom of my brain.
I had suffered a stroke affecting my speech and cognition. I was admitted immediately,
I have shared in this space and on my radio show that my belief in God supersedes all other outside agencies. However, I believe the Lord empowers others to help others and that's why I thank the Lord for our entire health care community. I recovered from the stroke amazingly. The doctors and nurses were so supportive and I was released in relatively good condition. Over time, I did feel some of the impacts, such as short term memory loss and an ever so slight slur in my speech. Listeners, friends, family and even doctors remarked that I sounded just fine. It was here when I decided to optimize my health via physicians and prescriptions. I even embraced, yes, diet and exercise.
And then I didn't.
December 26, 2024.
A second stroke.
This time it was termed a hypertensive stroke directly due to my high blood pressure. Two bulging veins in my brain were the main culprits. If they had ruptured we may not be together today. I was treated, admitted and was released after two days in hospital. I returned to being more responsible but my struggles continued.
Despite siren calls for essential lifestyle changes, I would peak and valley with good and not so good activity. Whether it was food choices, beverage selections, maintaining stress, a remarkable minimum time of quality sleep, maintaining ideal blood pressure and blood sugar levels, a profound lack of physical exercise or other related issues there were more health changes on their way.
May 9, 2026.
I attended a nonprofit fundraising event in Waikīkī and while walking to the valet, I tripped and fell. This caused severe pain in my left rib cage and I went to the ER. The on-duty doctor assigned X-rays and blood work and when all were completed he shared the results. Yes, my ribs were injured, but not broken. But...
The blood work revealed I have Stage 3 kidney disease.
I was surprised because through all my time of health care, I wasn't apprised of such a dramatic development. Thank goodness for the fall because I may still be oblivious to such a severe condition. Incidentally, Stage 3 leads to Stage 4 which leads to Stage 5 and dialysis. I was informed that within two years of my last record of blood work, my kidneys had deteriorated by more than 40%. Ask anybody who has been subjected to the cost, the time and limitations demanded by kidney dialysis treatments. It's truly a life sentence.
I know that I'm in the 4th quarter and perhaps even approaching the two-minute warning. I know that the onus is on me for not acting responsibly, consistently and proactively regarding my health. I am reaping the consequences and regretfully, I'm jeopardizing my time with the most important people in my life, Zachary and Zoe, my children.
However, I am renewed and taking steps to reverse the damages I've inflicted via regenerative stem cell therapies and, coupled with a new found commitment to living longer, I'm hopeful for a longer future.
It's important to me to share my story in the hope that you will be compelled to take stock of your health. Listen to your body, reach out to your health professionals, take advice seriously and change your lifestyle to optimize the quality of life you're living.
If you are doing this now, then I respect and commend you. If you're not, then start. You don't want what I have after years of being self-centered and dismissive. I can only pray for the opportunity to repair and maintain my health to thereby improve my time remaining, and I wholeheartedly share my prayers with you.
Rick Hamada can be reached at rickhamada@aol.com.
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