DANGERS OF STATISTICS

Originally posted April 24, 2012

I read a blog today by a heart failure patient who had just crossed their two-year mark of being diagnosed, and according to them, the statistics state that with their particular condition, they had a 50% chance of living for two years.

This person apparently is convinced that their condition has worsened since crossing that time mark, and now they are on the fast track to death’s door.

I am not discounting how they feel, but I can’t help but wonder how much of that is mind over matter. Statistics say they should now be dying, and so they act on it.

As I always say, statistics don’t mean anything. No matter what, with anything, you only have a 50/50 chance in life. Either you live or die, so why harbor over statistics? Statistics say that with my combination of conditions, crossing the five-year mark should not happen. Statistically I should be dead. And I am not. So screw statistics. Just live the best life you have and forget about the possibility of checking out. None of us has an expiration date stamped on our butt.