A gradual change of thought

I found myself in some stress this morning after letting my Great Dane out, back in, feeding her, making coffee, and returning to the computer room. A lot to accomplish while still fighting off the flu and managing stage 3 COPD. And that is what prompted this message. I hope it can help another in similar shoes.
I had to pause once, to manage my breathing in between the tasks I mentioned, and it occurred to me that my whole acceptance of this change to my life was both permanent and manageable. After a period of time, without real thought, go into a conservation mode, influencing those things that I can, the best that I can. It has become automatic. I find this both satisfying, yet depressing, knowing that I can fend for myself pretty well, even under duress, but I also lament the fact that what was will never be again in my life. Everything has changed.
It begins with making the right choices, learning the best techniques, contributing to a treatment plan with my doctors and embracing that plan. It yields dividends for my condition, but, again, I reflect on the loss of a different way of life.
I know I can never go back, there is no cure and progression will happen. It can bring one to near tears when there seems little hope to 'get better'. But, in my lifetime, I can remember the first successful heart transplant. The eradication of centuries-old causes of epidemics. Preventions of some cancers. Gene editing and therapy. And curiously, this is where hope renews. So much is being done, and I wait with baited breath, hoping that the wonderful world of medicine opens a new door for us folks with this disease. So yes Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus.