Revenge of the Pig

Prior to my Dramatic Experience in Brazil (three years ago), I lived life unaware that I had a pancreas.

Honestly. I didn’t know what it was, and therefore had no idea I had one. The word ‘pancreas’ sounded vaguely familiar - isn’t that the name of a station on the London underground? St. Pancreas? No? Oh well.

I realise I sound horribly ignorant but people, the internal bits that are top of mind are the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and the spleen. How many medical series on TV feature episodes starring a pancreas, eh?

My Dramatic Experience wasn’t one big incident; it was actually a series of eleven smaller events:
(1) I wrote an essay and got picked to attend an Earthwatch expedition

(2) Flew a total of about 25 hours to get to a ranch in Campo Grande (remember, I'd rather walk...)

(3) Met some truly wonderful people at the ranch

(4) Castrated a wild pig

(5) Developed severe abdominal pain and had to be airlifted to the nearest hospital

(6) Was informed that I had a pancreas that required immediate surgical attention

(7) Remembered the castrated pig - was this karma?

(8) Seven hours in surgery, a week in Intensive Care

(9) Met more wonderful people at the hospital and discovered they spoke no English

(10) Learnt pidgin Portuguese

(11) Developed a new outlook on life…

Unfortunately I can't write about this right now; it’s Friday night and I’m tired so tomorrow I’ll start chronicling the series of events.