Twists of Fate

Sometimes blessings can really surprise us. Consider this:
John Brandrick, 62, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two years ago and told that he would probably die within a year.

He quit his job, sold or gave away nearly all his possessions, stopped paying his mortgage and spent his savings dining out and going on holiday.

Brandrick was left with little more than the black suit, white shirt and red tie that he had planned to be buried in when it emerged a year later that his suspected "tumor" was no more than a non-life threatening inflammation of the pancreas.
John wants to recoup his losses from the medical community and says:
"I'm really pleased that I've got a second chance in life... but if you haven't got no money after all this, which is my fault -- I spent it all -- they should pay something back."
What do you think? Does anyone owe anything to John? And what would you have done if you were in John's place?

6 comments:

  1. Hmmmm...he gave up kinda quick..don't know what I'd have done.

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  2. I agree with Karen. I would have probably gotten a second, third, and fourth opinion before spending everything. I have to lean towards the medical community NOT being responsible -- they didn't take him out to spend it.

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  3. Egads! That was a little bit overboard, I think. Of course, HE'S not responsible - his doctors are. Yikes.

    By the way, I am passing along a tag - thought your responses would be interesting.

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  4. Certainly the second and third opinions are the first things I would have done. But if 3 or 4 docs agree that I am a gonner, I might have quit the job, too. However, I would only have done so if I could afford to keep paying my bills while spending time with family and friends. I could not justify sticking my past payments on my descendants.

    This man is owed nothing. He has received a second chance at life and a second chance to start saving again.

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  5. I agree about getting a second opinion, (and third, etc). I don't think I would get rid of all my possessions, since (a) I would want to leave something to my family, and (b) It's always possible that a cancer could go into remission.

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  6. Why is it some people never want to take responsibility for their own decisions? He made up his mind to do the things he did. I think it would be terribly wrong to quit paying an obligation you owed (the mortgage) just because you thought they couldn't come get you.

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