Dear Friends,
Sometimes I have the honor of writing to you about achievements that fill me with pride. There are a lot of celebrities, noted figures, or just everyday people in the midst of their 15 minutes of fame who save their reports to just those events that warrant bragging rights. I don't know what category I fall under: celebrity, public figure, or just a media curiosity. What I do know is that whatever modest notoriety I have achieved needs to be not self-serving, but serving of those who have allowed me to achieve the career I have today. Sometimes that means addressing unpleasant subjects.
I recently underwent surgery on my jaw and abdomen. Without getting specific as to what necessitated the surgery, I will admit that in my childhood I suffered from physical abuse and in my adolescence my daredevil love of sports, martial arts, and motorcycles contributed to significant wear and tear on my body. One aspect of the surgery involved cutting a part of my jaw bone completely off, realigning it to a proper configuration, and affixing it with metal plates. Thanks to the skilled work of Dr. Teneja and Dr. Gross the surgery was done without external scarring.
With my recovery proceeding well ahead of schedule, my doctors agreed with my request to gradually eliminate the use of the pain killers I had been prescribed. Although I had been under 24 hour care of a Registered Nurse who administered my medication and controlled the tapered reduction in use, I still went into opiate narcotic withdrawal from the discontinuation of the pain medication. I was fortunate enough to be found before serious damage from shock or seizure could take place. And, I am in recovery now in a private detoxification program.
My hope is that through prayer, hard work, and perseverence I will conquer these hurdles and return to performing and charity work shortly. But I also know it won't be an easy road. I wouldn't wish the physical pain, emotional depression, fogged thinking, memory lapses, or overall helplessness of drug withdrawl on anyone.
I'm not here to preach, judge, or be judged - just to share from my life. At the least, perhaps I can provide an interesting anecdote or trivia answer. At best, maybe I can save you from repeating my mistakes.
My message to you, my friends, is that while drugs can heal they can also be dangerous - even when prescribed by doctors. That doesn't mean they're wrong. I'm not angry at my doctors. I was a rare case. I praise God I am here to learn and pass on that lesson. I just ask that whether it's medication from a pharmacy or from an alternative source, you be careful. Frankly I just can't think of any chemical "high" that's worth the risk of it being your last.
As always, I am your fan. Make me proud. Love life and live it without regret.
PEACE, LOVE, TRUST
rikki lee travolta
Review other RLT commentary
It's All Relative
Stand Against Racism
Writing About Life
Crazy Pants Travolta
Gregory Hines
Everwood
Book Excerpt: Bus Fare
Learning to Stand
A Time of War
Country Charm
Talking Frankly About Family (& Christmas)
My Fractured Life
Forever Love
Good and Evil
Man Behind the Wheel
The Little Engine that Could: A Memorial
Perceptions of Perfection
Personal Decisions
Responsibility in Communication
You Done Good
Duality of Man
Evolution of a Hero
Reason to Quit - Stop Smoking
Beware of Stalkers
Dare to Dream
Do The Right Thing
Dealing with Abuse
Mother's Day
Right to Choose
Support the Cause
Just Try
Virtue of One
Martin Luther King Jr
Free Form Jazz
Creating the News
Great Expectations
Story of a Life
Acting 101
Why I Cried
Personal Values vs. Monetary Value
Broken Hearts
Dignity over Jealousy
Community Responsibility
Life, Honesty, and Integrity
Drug Withdrawal
Christmas Spirit
Rikki Lee Travolta's debut album!
Return to:
| TravoltaNet Home | RLT Biography |
