October 2009 was some of the most interesting days of my life.  In hindsight, I can see that this may have been the closest to death that I have been without realizing it.  

I had been dealing with difficulties urinating frequently at night, but chalked it up to old age, even though various symptoms seemed to be increasing in difficulty.  After returning from church one Sunday, I wanted nothing but to go to bed and rest, even though I only had half a grapefruit that morning and threw that up.  My muscles were weak and I just wanted to rest.  Even then, with a catheter in my bladder, I was having difficulties urinating only 1 ounce at a time every 30 minutes.