By Billy “Kneecap” Braddock

It’s often said that we should never talk about religion, faith, or politics in fear that we may offend someone. The best defense is a good offense. So I offend as many people as possible. Religion is the ritual observance of faith. Faith is the confidence or trust in a person or thing or the belief in God or the doctrine or teachings of religion. Politics is the use of strategy in obtaining a position of power or control.

Now, that we know my definition of religion, faith, and politics I will combine them in my thoughts in this article. I was brought up in a very religious family but as I got older I lost my faith in organized religion because of its politics. However, I never lost my faith in God. You who read my column know that I was diagnosed stage IV oral cancer. Nothing like a bit of reality to arise your faith not only in God but in medical providers.

When I was growing up, all we knew was our local doctor who if you were too sick to come to his office, he would come to your house. Hard to believe in this day and age but doctors were treated like gods, and they deserved it, being called out at all times of the day and night while having an intimate relationship with their patients. Doctors are no longer held in such high esteem as they were decades ago. I never paid much attention to this.

Being a normal male (matter of opinion) I had to be in really bad shape before I went to a doctor, so when I was diagnosed I had second thoughts where to put my faith. Should I put it in God or my medical providers? At my age I had a major decision to make. Should I throw the towel in and let my faith in God direct the way, or should I put my faith in the medical providers? The first thing I did go was to go to the Internet to see what kind of treatment I would need. Secondly, I questioned people I knew who had gone through the same thing.

God has gifted all kinds of people in all kinds of ways with the ability to study medicine in order to heal people. After talking to a few doctors I decided to put my faith in both God and the medical providers. What I found out was that the patient had little to say about the doctors or the treatments. Politics now rule the medical world. The government tells health insurance companies what they have to cover and what to pay. They have universal health care in Cuba. So why do they want to come here?

Even with all the government intervention I got lucky. I was directed to Island Doctors in Flagler Beach for my primary care. They referred me to Florida Hospital Flagler for radiation treatment and Medcare in Ormond Beach for chemotherapy. Both teams in radiation and chemotherapy were five-star. I’m on the road to recovery despite the politics in medicine and government intervention. So I’ll be around to write more offensive articles.

My doctor said I should cut back on my drinking because in my last x-ray my liver was wearing a party hat. So today I celebrate my 10 days sober, not in a row just total. Then again I don’t drink alcohol, I drink distilled spirits. So I’m not an alcoholic, I’m spiritual. After all, Tequila lets me appreciate small things in life, like shot glasses.

Check out my website nobodiesopinion.com
See you on the shiny side of tomorrow