The best words I can hear from a doctor are these: “I don’t need to see you for a year.” I listened to this again for the fifth time in the past week.

I decided to take a chance this summer and tackle a range of health issues, from diet to my collapsed food to my troubled big toe to a growing kidney stone and, to my surprise, a frightening collapse and concussion due to complications in medicine.

I was in and out of hospitals and doctor’s offices all Spring and summer for the first time in my life, and it seems my decision to confront many things at once has paid off.

Today, my urologist met with me to discuss the air-pounding procedure that had hopefully shattered my kidney stone and allowed it to disintegrate. He said the X-rays were terrific, and I don’t need to see him until next November.

Last week, my surgical podiatrist told me my collapsed left foot, which has caused me so much trouble for decades, had completely healed. The toe amputation had healed completely, and the two minor operations on my smaller toes had straightened them out.

The brace we got is working perfectly. This took three years of visits, surgeries, meetings, and near infections.

“Everything looks great,” said Dr. Daly, “I won’t need to see you until next year.” Sweet words from a great doctor.

We had seen Dr. Daly every few weeks for over two years. This was great news. My food has been rebuilt.

I spoke with my cardiologist, who examined the medical records from my hospitalization, concussion, and collapse. My heart looked great, she said; it was solid and healthy. My heart had nothing to do with the collapse, she said. “I don’t need to see you until next summer,” she said; your heart looks fine.

I met with a pulmonologist two days ago, and he said my sleep apnea mask was transformative. I went from 80 heart events in each hour to 0.1 and hour three times this week. “This is wonderful,” he said, “I won’t need to see you for another year.”

I just added four or five years to my life, he said.

A specialist working on diabetic patients said my blood sugar numbers were excellent, she was happy I had lost about 12 pounds, and also that the changes in diet I initiated were working exceptionally well.

In the next week, I’ll go see a dental surgeon who put an implant into the place where I lost a tooth last year. It feels great, and he will be asked to improve the second part of the procedure, a crown. I doubt I will see him again for many months.

My schedule and focus will change this coming year—far fewer trips to Saratoga Springs and more time to take photos, work, and write. I was delighted to hear all of this good news. Over the past few months, I was examined – cardiograms, blood tests, X-rays, and ultra-sounds- from head to foot. All revealed good news, a valuable capacity to heal, and the resolutions of health issues I have been struggling with for a long time.

I love these words: “I don’t need to see you for a year.”

I took some risks, and they paid off, and now I am free to move forward with my life.

P.S. My concussion continues to heal; I only feel dizziness every other day, and my back injuries are also recovering from the fall. I am thrilled to have my life off. Maria and I celebrated this morning by stopping on the way home from the doctor to drink some hot chocolate. Boy, did it feel good. Thanks for all your good words of encouragement this summer. It helped.

My life, which I love, is coming back to me. One of the doctors said I looked great and was healthier than ever.