Gambling

Pete Lawson28 Comments on Gambling

 

I bombed my first exam at Notre Dame with a 56 in a course called Finite Mathematics; I literally had no earthly idea what was going on in the class.  It was really a course on predicting odds, not math.  I also think the professor was a closet gambler since he got all hot and bothered lecturing about winning at craps.  Nevertheless, I turned the corner and passed the class.    What I learned, whether we like it or not, is our lives are impacted more by data predictions today than human judgement, including medical care.  The important thing to remember, though, is it’s only data and not destiny; the end result is for you to decide.

Life is a gamble where your odds improve by reducing random risk.  An MMA fighter was asked by a reporter once, “how do you reduce the chance of getting mugged?”  He said, “stay out of bad neighborhoods.”  Likewise, how do you avoid wrecking your Mom’s Gran Torino station wagon?   My father lowered the odds of me wrecking the car by not letting me drive it as often.  Likewise, in gambling I lose less by avoiding casinos.  Diane, on the other hand, wins more by playing more.  She claims to win on slots by using sense and judgement.  I always thought machine language was about a machine’s programming and not its feelings?

Betting on your health path is difficult since each disease is different for each person.  The biggest gamble I’ve had to take recently is deciding whether to have my esophagus cut out.  Even though surgery is the traditional treatment, I don’t like the low odds to cure.  If the surgery doesn’t fix things, then I can’t grow it back like a salamander’s tail.  I have chatted with many physicians without getting a clear answer on the best path.  I did get sound advice from my GI doctor, Mazen Albeldawi, who recommended medical treatment, since new immunotherapy drugs are producing better odds every day.   He reminded me that true medical care is not about stats or artificial intelligence; it’s about individual patients being treated by individual doctors using sense and judgement.  I’m gambling that upcoming new drugs are more powerful than the surgical sword; I just need to stay in the mix long enough to see that light.  Sense and judgement;  I’ll take it.  Now if I could just get Diane to focus on some numbers for this week’s Powerball lottery.   Slainte.

 

28 Comments

  3. Seems to me that your reputation 🪳is based on not only your decisions, but with mind, body, and spirit backing it up. My money is on you 🍀

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  5. Sending prayers and positive vibes your way with the bet payoff big time. Amazing strength abound. Take Care and God Bless.

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  6. I wouldn’t call it gambling Mr. Pete…I believe you are trusting your instinct…which I am certain is spot on. ❤️However… it appears my Mom and Diane have the same gambling philosophy…and I’ve gotta say…she wins a lot more than I do. Slainte! 🍀🪳❤️

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    1. Elisa, after hanging around gamblers for a long time, I think people who win a lot never mention losing a lot; kinda like stock market pickers. Just sayin’. Pete

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  10. The will of a Irishman cannot be beat, matched or duplicated .
    Your only in the 2nd round of 12 round fight my money is on Pete Lawson

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  13. The lesson here is to never bet against Pete Lawson. What the medical oddsmakers have never been able to quantify is faith, heart and determination, three qualities that Pete has in limitless abundance.

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