September 2023

It’s been a while since my last blog update. I had plans to share the latest statistics and the results of my sports bets before heading off for a well-deserved vacation. However, due to a lack of time and preparations for the holiday, I decided to postpone it until after my break.

The plan was to return from my vacation at the end of July, but a series of unfortunate events forced me to extend my stay in a foreign land until the end of August. What was meant to be a dream vacation and an opportunity to show my kids a different part of the world didn’t start off as smoothly as I’d hoped.

I found myself in Indonesia, on the beautiful island of Bali, when my son had a terrible accident, resulting in a head injury that required surgery to remove blood from his brain. During this time, all my professional matters seemed insignificant. The three-hour surgery was successful, and my son quickly began to recover, leaving the hospital just a week after the operation. However, due to the injury, we couldn’t take long-distance flights, so our return was postponed.

This unexpected situation led to longer unplanned vacations and, consequently, unforeseen expenses. I had to take unpaid leave, but none of that mattered. My son’s health was the top priority. Currently, his condition prevents him from playing his favorite sport, soccer, or engaging in other physical activities. This is because it will take up to six months for his skull bone to fully heal, and he needs to be extremely cautious to prevent any shifting. However, he feels great and looks perfectly normal, except for the scars on his head. Still, we have to be vigilant to ensure he doesn’t accidentally hurt himself.

Despite the uncertainty ahead, I am much more at ease now. The doctors in Bali did everything in their power to heal my son, and for that, I am immensely grateful. It seems that my prayers were answered, although I must admit that while waiting for the surgery results, I aged a bit prematurely. It was a challenging time for my family, and we had to change our plans, cancel flights (including a visit to Komodo Island, which the kids were eager to explore), and postpone activities like snorkeling with turtles on the Gili Islands.

On the other hand, my daughter missed European cuisine after an extended stay in Asia. She longed for her favorite dishes, which she couldn’t experience in Asia. She yearned for a return to our home country and reunions with friends, family, and our beloved dog.

Despite it all, we supported each other and navigated through this challenging time together. I believe it strengthened our bonds. We were fortunate to have friends with us on the journey who provided help and support whenever needed.

As I mentioned at the beginning, my blog post was originally meant to be about something entirely different. However, in betting as in life, unexpected situations arise, and we must adapt. Financial losses are not the worst thing that can happen to us. We must approach everything in life with humility and gratitude.

Life threw us a curveball, and we faced it head-on, emerging stronger as a family. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most important bets we make in life have nothing to do with money.