Nelson, who is at high risk for developing lung cancer, didn t start to feel sick until about five or six years ago, he said. Nelson s frame is now gaunt and visibly wracked with pain. Unconsciously, he clutches his stomach, which hurts almost constantly. With self-effacing humor, he says he looks like a refugee. Most mornings, after breakfast, Nelson gets into his hot tub for a while, then takes a nap.
Sleep comes hard because of the pain.
He also suffers numbness in his legs. Doctors want to put him on an oxygen tank to improve his blood-oxygen levels, but he is resisting as long as he can. Last year, doctors prescribed the hot tub to ease his pain. These expenditures amounted to almost half of Nelson s income last year. Janice works part time in a convenience store in Arboles.