Vol. 34, No. 6, 22. MIy Perspective.

• Author: by Greg Weisz

Wyoming Bar Journal

2011.

Vol. 34, No. 6, 22.

MIy Perspective

Wyoming LawyerIssue: December, 2011My Perspectiveby Greg WeiszA New Perspective on "Proud to be a Wyoming Lawyer"

That Monday in July 2010 started like any other day. By the end of the day, however, I felt terrible. "Must be the flu," I thought. I did not want to admit that something more serious was wrong. Eventually, my wife took me to the hospital. A CT scan showed an abdominal tumor. As I was put in the ambulance headed to a Colorado hospital, I thought I might be out of commission for a week or two.

Little did I know that I was just beginning a life-changing ordeal. After four major surgeries, a coma, chronic weight loss, pneumonia, lengthy hospitalizations and many more problems, I was finally able to return to work regularly in the spring of 2011. But while my health struggle likely will continue for the rest of my life, I am a very lucky man. Yes, the most challenging and difficult experience of my life turned out to be a very rewarding event. Why? Because my near-death experiences grabbed my attention, forced me to evaluate my life and gave me a new perspective.

So, by now you may be asking yourself why I am writing a piece for a bar journal. Well, I believe my career as a Wyoming attorney played a huge role in my recovery. While my wife, family and friends were by my side throughout my ordeal, two groups of people offered unique and additional inspiration for my recovery.

First: clients. I was swamped with get-well wishes from numerous clients. As I read supportive cards, e-mails and letters from clients who had hired me to help them with difficult problems in their own lives, I could not help but be moved. Particularly inspiring were the hand-made cards from a number of students from the children's home I...