BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept

Subject: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Sep 14 - 11:27 PM

Yesterday my wife Pat left a session of deep-tissue massage and was bashed by a bicyclist barreling along at (another cyclist estimated) ten to fifteen mph -- on the sidewalk. The therapist's husband was called -- he's an EMT -- and eventually seven deputy sheriffs and six EMTs were gathered round. The question was asked, "Do you want to be transported to the hospital?" was answered with my very firm "YES!"

I beat the ambulance there.

Contusions, bruises, minor skin scratches, a badly sprained left wrist...and a left-side subdural hematoma (spelled differently in the UK). Headaches, vomiting, and the last of the Big Three she does NOT want: seizures.

Cranial surgery is tomorrow. Prayers would be nice and if you don't pray waft healing thoughts her way if you get a chance. 5 to 14 days postop in the horsespittle and a could of months layed up laying about.

This blows our plans to attend a family reunion and our nephew's wedding.

Gracias a ustedes.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 04 Sep 14 - 11:46 PM

very sorry to hear all this. i hope she makes a full recovery. best wishes to you both.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 14 - 11:52 PM

The sooner the surgery, the better. Excellent call to take her to the hospital. I've seen this up close and personal with my friend Susan - who I am happy to say - is just about 100%. At least her friends and family think so. It can take a while, a lot depending on the injuries, but you keep healing, it's not like after X amount of time that's all you'll get.

My best to both you and Pat.

Maggie

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Janie
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 12:17 AM

Got a message when I tried to post a little earlier, Rap, that Max had taken Mudcat off-line so posted a pm to facebook, Mike. Won't repeat it all here other than to say holding Pat and you in my thoughts.

You two have not had an easy ride these past few years. May the road ahead get much smoother.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Don Firth
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 01:16 AM

You got it, Rap. My best thoughts go out to you and your wife.

Don Firth

P. S. I have some thoughts on irresponsible twerps on bicycles, having encountered a few, but more of that later.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: vectis
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 01:47 AM

Sorry to hear this Rap. All the best to Pat and a candle lit for a full and swift recovery. XX

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: olddude
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 01:58 AM

I am with you my brother. Let me know if I can help in any way. Praying for her.. Dan

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 02:29 AM

Mike, I'm sending everything I can with all the energy I can muster. The best to you and Pat.

Elva B.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Megan L
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 02:53 AM

Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: fat B****rd
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 03:16 AM

I'm sending all my very best thoughts to you, Rap. All the very best from Charlie.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: gnu
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 03:45 AM

Ditto all of the above. Thoughts and prayers continue from here, Rap.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: maeve
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 04:51 AM

My Truelove and I are holding you both in prayer, Mike. Thanks for your kindness to us.
Wafting, turbo-charging,

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 04:54 AM

good wishes heading to Pat from me

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: JennieG
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 08:18 AM

Sending all the good thoughts I can muster to you both.

Jennie

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 08:27 AM

all the best... thankfully medicine has gotten much better with dealing with these kinds of traumas

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 09:50 AM

I'm praying for you both, Rap.

My great-nephew suffered a subdural hematoma (s.h.) during a difficult birth. His surgery went smoothly. I'm hoping Pat's does too. Knowing that doctors have dealt with many s.h's gives me hope.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Amos
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 10:45 AM

A damned nuisance the shitheel didn't leave home a few minutes earlier. Sending my best glow Pat's way, Rapp!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: ranger1
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 10:50 AM

Good thoughts being sent your way.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Leadbelly
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 11:09 AM

Rapparee, best wishes to your wife and soon recovery...

Manfred

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Lighter
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 11:44 AM

Just noticed. Shocking. Please accept my sincere best wishes for her speedy recovery.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 11:54 AM

Oh cripes, Rap! That is scary... you KNOW you have good wishes from me and everyone who knows you.. and many who have only met you online.

I/we will be watching for news... and wishing fervently for good news.
♥♥♥

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Mrrzy
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 12:09 PM

How awful, I will think of you both! And from a massage session makes it worse, somehow. Horrible.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: GUEST,MikeL2
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 12:13 PM

Hi Rap

All my love and best wishes for a full and early recovery for Pat.

Meanwhile Prayers and healing thoughts are wafting towards you and Pat.

Regards

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 12:14 PM

with a prayer for a smooth operation and steady recovery. blessings   pete.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 12:34 PM

Keep us posted, Rap. Meantime, prayers for a simple and complete recovery.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 02:19 PM

Prayers for your wife Pat and for you, too, Rap.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: jacqui.c
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 05:07 PM

Just seen this thread. All good thoughts coming from Maine for both of you my friend.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 05:36 PM

Surgery went well, but I've been sitting in the ICU waiting room for a couple of hours because herbblood pressure is way too high. They're IVing some BP medicine that will bring it down.

Well I wasn't going to be able to make Getaway anyway....

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 05:49 PM

hmmmppff! We will have use an inanimate music stand, I suppose! Not the same!

take care...

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: GUEST,Rahere
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 05:49 PM

It'll be a day or two before she's out of there, get some sleep if you can.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 06:12 PM

Best wishes to both of you, Mike. I hope you can get some sleep and have a good book to read.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: frogprince
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 07:11 PM

Just found this; you now have a couple of us in Michigan pulling for Pat big time.

          Dean

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Don Firth
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 10:35 PM

I have sympathy with the idea of bicyclists who want a cheap form of transportation that's non-polluting, but—!!

A few years ago when I was still driving, I damn near got one when the light turned green and I started to move. He shot the red light and I just about clipped his rear wheel.

In front of a convenience store near where I live (I roam the nearby neighborhood in an electric wheelchair and I am a very careful driver, especially when I have to travel on the sidewalk with regular pedestrians), I have seen little old ladies with shopping bags, children with popsicles in their hands, suited businessmen opening a fresh pack of cigarettes while emerging from the store knocked flat by cretins on bicycles. And the cyclist beats a hasty retreat. He knows his ass is grass if he stays around long enough to see if the person is injured.

Seattle is an excellent city for curb-ramps, intended for wheelchair users and mothers pushing strollers, but I have been roundly sworn at by cretins on bicycles—and teenaged dimwits on skateboards—for being on a curb-ramp and interrupting their careen down a sidewalk among normal humans. They seem to be under the impression that the city put them there for their exclusive use.

Almost as bad are people wandering briskly down the sidewalk engrossed in a cell-phone conversation—or texting.

Sorry! But I get steamed sometimes.

Rap, my best wished to you and yours and I'm praying for a speedy recovery.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: maeve
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 11:09 PM

We'll be here as long as you need us, Mike and Pat.
Thank you for keeping us posted- rest and sleep when you can. We can catch up with your journey when you have the time and inclination to tell us how it's going...but take care of both of you first.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 11:24 PM

She's in the ICU and with the bandages on her head looks like a human Q-tip. She was sleeping (under the influence of morphine) when I left...not for long, as they have to "check her neurals" ever hour or two.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: maeve
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 11:59 PM

One step, deep breaths...a long day and night.

May your hope grow bright and your humor poke you every once in a while- "...human Q-tip" indeed! ;)

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: LadyJean
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 12:06 AM

I saw my mother through 3 hip replacements. (The second one didn't work.) A mastectomy and the removal of a malignancy on her lungs. I've been through that particular kind of hell more than once, and so I said a prayer for you too. I hope everything is good. I hope you have a lot of friends to back you up. I hope your wife recovers, though it usually takes a while to get over major surgery, and the brain is kind of a biggy, unless you're a politician.

I will add that I think it should be illegal to feed hospital food to sick people. One should also be able to stick that woman who keeps taking blood samples with something sharp.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Bert
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 02:30 AM

Healing thoughts wafting her way. Love to you both.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery Tommorow
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 05:15 AM

may the human Q-tip soon lose her turban & continue her healing

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 05:25 AM

I hope it has all worked out well. Bless you both.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 05:36 AM

Continued thoughts and prayers.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 05:59 AM

Boggles the mind that, there were so many paraprofessionals standing around asking a person with those injuries and a head injury to boot if she want to go to hospital?

Hope the sheriff's department investigates and throws the book at that cyclist. They'd do it in the UK. No cycling permitted on pavements (sidewalks) per the highway code.

Hope she heals quickly with no lasting bad effects. Take care of yourself too, Rap.    No good to her, if you make yourself ill with exhaustion and worry.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: jacqui.c
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 07:41 AM

I'll go along with that - make sure you look after yourself Rap. Good thoughts still coming from Maine.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 07:57 AM

Morning Rap and Pat,

Thinking of you.

J

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 09:46 AM

Lots of whiskey and Ambien!

Well, no. I'm not that dumb, although I have awakened much later than I had hoped...I'd wanted to be at the horsespittle by now.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 09:52 AM

maybe your body needed a bit more rest than you thought it did?

sandra (awaiting your next report)

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 09:55 AM

I'm glad you slept. Thinking of you both at the horsespittle and finding cause for smiles.
Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 10:35 AM

Hoping for the best!

Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: sciencegeek
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 10:37 AM

here in the states, going to a hospital is strictly voluntary if you are not unconscious or in some form of custody. And why you can check yourself out against medical advice.   

so when Reagan threw out patients from mental hospitals, they couldn't generally be compelled to return later... they got to live in the streets and "upset" their "neighbors". street people don't usually have long lifespans... at least not here in the north where winters are fatal.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Mrrzy
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 11:16 AM

The human q-tip is a great visual.

Still thinking healing thoughts! Thanks for the updates,

-Mrr

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 11:38 AM

Sleep is good for both of you! More prayers from Rhode Island are on the way.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 11:52 AM

+++

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 10:55 PM

Moved to a regular room for post-surgery patients this afternoon. She had dinner of a half a piece of toast and some iced tea. BP is down into the upper normal range and her temp has remained at about 100F, or about where the surgeon expected it to be.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 01:56 AM

Good news! Thanks for taking time to let us know.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Ebbie
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 03:17 AM

Good for her! Sounds like she must be almost as tough as her significant other.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 04:19 AM

Glad to hear it, Rap.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 04:50 AM

what Eddie said.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 08:01 AM

Thanks for your update- progress! I salute you both- and Pat's medical team.
Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: fat B****rd
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 09:18 AM

Thank you,Rap. Still sending best thoughts from Dunfermline.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: skarpi
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 10:47 AM

all the best to you both ..

from Skarpi .

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 10:49 AM

Yup... good news! Tea & toast sounds like a fine start to full recovery.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 11:24 AM

Hope she'll be eating steak or whatever she likes soon!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 11:31 AM

Very glad for both of you! May each day be better than the last until she is home and feeling completely whole and healthy again - well, as whole and healthy as any of us feel at our ages:>)

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bert
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 12:44 PM

More love on its way. and it is Horse Piddle, not Horse Spittle.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Don Firth
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 01:01 PM

Excellent, Rap!

(And I always thought it was "horse pistol....")

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 02:51 PM

Me too, Don. That's what Mom always said. Accents & pronunciations keep us hopping.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: jacqui.c
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 03:28 PM

So glad to hear this. Still sending the good stuff your way.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Crowhugger
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 03:43 PM

All best healing thoughts for her, Rap.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Little Robyn
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 05:03 PM

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Healing thought coming Pat's way.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: JennieG
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 05:34 PM

That's good to hear! Hopefully Pat will be soon up, about, and quilting.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 07:30 PM

I'm a couple days late to this, but white light, healing thoughts, prayers and anything else I can muster heading your way.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Mrrzy
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 07:42 PM

Glad to hear, and it's hostable, with the O not pronounced like host but like hospital. Keep on improving overall!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 07:49 PM

I too am glad to hear she's recovering.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 08:51 PM

May the moonlight allow you both to sleep and to heal. I'll look in again in the morning.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: olddude
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 09:34 PM

Wonderful news my brother awesome

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 07:41 AM

Good morning, Mike and Pat.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 09:18 AM

It's whorespittle.

If she'd just dye her remaining hair bright blue or flaming mauve she'd be fine. Twenty staples in her head provide the body piercings.

Now it's waiting time. Time to recover her strength. Time to start recovering her stamina. Time to let the wind blow free...oops, that's a folk song. Time to sow and a time to...no, that's the bible and Pete Seeger.

Anyway, they had her walking in the hall yesterday, using a walker and someone hanging onto a belt. Her left eye is swollen shut, but cold wash cloths and ice packs are helping. Bruising and injuries all over her body, quite literally from her right big toe to the top of the left side of her head.

Neurosurgeon: BA, Yale; MD, Loyola of Chicago; Internship, Mayo Clinic; Residentcy, Cleveland Clinic; Fellowship, Royal Melbourne Hospital in Oz (he's friends with Glinda the Good); appropriate diplomate and fellow. If you don't know US medical schools, this is all very good...the Saud family's clinic of choice is that place in Cleveland (right down the street from my graduate school!). How he and some other doctors ended up in Pocatello, Idaho is a long, sordid story of money, sex, power, broken promises, and international wheeling and dealing.

Yes, international -- the Raheem brothers run one of the finest kidney centers in the Pacific Northwest. They are from Pakistan, Muslim, and couldn't be more highly regarded in the community (by all but the maniacal very few who can't be pleased by anything).

True story: I was sitting in Sam's Gun Shop, waiting to talk with Sam (ex-Special Forces, Thai-American, PhD in civil engineering -- the gun shop is his retirement "hobby") when a Hispanic-looking man and three young men came out of the indoor-shooting-range part. The man started talking with Sam, then turned to me and said, "Where do I know you from?" I'd caught on and replied, "Your office." He said, "You should be wearing support stockings, your legs are slightly swollen" (I was wearing shorts). Yup, Ol' Doc Faheem -- in pointy-toed cowboy boots, slim cut jeans, "Western" shirt, with his two oldest sons and a nephew from NYC. Ever eeen a Pakistani-American nephrologist hitch up his gunbelt (prior to locking the pistol, etc. up)? It really, truly, looked like a scene from "High Noon," except that he was totin' an Olympic-grade shootin' iron and not the traditional "Peacemaker."

Pat laughed when I told her and wondered with others in the store might have thought.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: jacqui.c
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 10:14 AM

LOL Rap. Thanks for the update on Mrs Rap.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 11:30 AM

Wonderful that you have good health care out there!

From our experience of a subdural hematoma, it takes longer than we think for the brain to heal after an episode like this. Robin and I had to chuckle when they gave him "tests" to see if it was getting better. The tests were fine for someone with an IQ of 100 or thereabouts. But they certainly do not tell us anything about how the poor brain that had been functioning at about 150 IQ is doing. Four years down the path, we figure it took over 2 years before he was functioning at his previous level of brain power and energy. Now, he is more like the energizer bunny and forgets to remember that he needs to rest - before his body and brain just quit for a day or two.

So do not feel discouraged if it takes longer than you think it "should". Pat is also suffering from PTSD, and will for quite a while. Keep that in mind. For yourself as well.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 11:44 AM

One step at a time, with or without a walker!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 11:49 AM

good to read of the steady progress    blessings   pete.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 12:56 PM

Thanks, Mike!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 06:24 PM

Ditto SRS big time!

"Pat laughed when I told her and wondered with others in the store might have thought." Man, you owe me a facial tissue.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 08:24 PM

I'm still learning how to use a smartphone and adjust to a small screen, much less a touch screen, so not able to offer useful comments regarding the lay-out/buttons, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 08:27 PM

errr....wrong thread. Sorry. What I meant to post here, and thought I did just a minute or two prior, was to say hurray for continued good news.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 10:28 PM

She may -- MAY -- go to a rehab facility tomorrow. A good one, because I've not only checked the published inspections statistics on the joint but I've asked friends in medicine here who know.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: olddude
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 10:35 PM

All my prayers

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Amos
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 11:24 PM

Us'n's is rootin' for yore gal, Bookman.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 03:53 AM

Ya kin count me in on that there too.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,Sapper still sans cookie
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 09:53 AM

Ayeup! I'm not on here as often as I ought, so just caught up with this.

You've both had a horrendous experience and I hope your other half is still on the mend.

You're probably still at the state your bum is still twitching every time the phone rings when you're at home, but all the best to both of you.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 10:53 AM

You'll see a lot of progress there, I'm sure. Those places are amazing.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 11:29 AM

Glad things are going as smoothly as possible.

YO SAPPER! Long time no see. Hope yer doin well, buddy.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,Rapparee
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 01:47 PM

Lime jello. Force fed. LIME jello...blobs of it all over....

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 03:39 PM

Call in a Seal incursion! They HATE lime jello. And, they are armed and DANgerous.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Mrrzy
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 05:25 PM

Mom's rehab place was called Woodbine but she called it Hellbane... humor is valuable! Thanks for the updates!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 06:56 PM

It was our experience that personal items of any value were liable to go walkabout. Especially at the larger more open facility that my friend spent time in after the insurance stopped paying for the first one.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 07:31 PM

Lime jello, lime jello
I know you of old,
You've robbed me of good taste
And an aftertaste of mold..

Rehab tomorrow, if we can get the insurance straightened out

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 05:08 AM

Oh dear! I hope the insurance company is not giving you grief.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 09:17 AM

The insurance people "misread" the hospital notes by ignoring the part about "recommend skilled post-hospital care." My care would not be very skilled, but it would be caring.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 09:24 AM

good luck in sorting that out

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: jacqui.c
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 10:54 AM

Hope that insurance is sorted now.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 11:24 AM

if any good can come of your problem... my job currently involves approvals for a series of public multi-use trails that connect to our statewide system of trails along the Erie Canal. Since this means that the users will be pedestrians and cyclists as well as disabled folks, I previously raised the issue to controling the speed of the bikers.

I just used your misfortune as a cautionary tale with some suggestions for ways to perhaps help prevent future mishaps on these new trails. Different circumstances, but a common issue... and sometimes isolated areas that would not get the quick attention your wife got.

good luck with Pat's recovery...

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 11:35 AM

The trouble with insurance companies is that they practice medicine without a license.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 11:48 AM

"Misreading" saves $. Standard practice. Insurance on the car and truck went up $66 today from the time I hung up the phone to when pulled out my credit card at their office... about a half hour. Because of all the applied discounts that went along with adding a new vehicle, the collision premium had gone down on both vehicles so... blah blah blahshit.

Just glad it's been sorted, Rap.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Mrrzy
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 11:50 AM

Thanks for the update, we will continue to worry on your behalves!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 12:08 PM

Two months in a rehab hospital did wonders for me after nearly a month in a coma and some organs shutting down. Of course I still needed help when I got home and needed to push myself to continue the exercises and increase them, but without the rehab hospital I might have landed in a nursing home for 6 months or more.

Good luck with her treatment and continuing improvement.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 03:41 PM

Nope, not today. Her blood pressure is still too high; she'd boomerang right back. But I went to the rehab facility and told them that even if the insurance kept denying that I wanted her there and if need be I'd pay for it. Cash money. I mean, what's another mortgage or other debt when it's for her? (I'm serious.)

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: jacqui.c
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 05:09 PM

Pat's a very lucky woman, Mike. Hope it doesn't come to that though.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: kendall
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 08:03 PM

I don't do prayer as such, but I do send positive energy to both of you.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 09:53 PM

Goody! At about 4:30 the afternoon (MDT) I got a call that the insurance had approved the rehab! Now if her blood pressure stays down with oral medicines instead of IV ones, she moves tomorrow!

A) It will be closer for me.
B) She WANTS OUT of the hospital -- a nice place and all, but you wouldn't want to live there.
C) She WANTS rehab so she can get on with life.

(Not necessarily in that order.)

Oh, yeah -- her hair is growing back and the staples come out next week. A CAT scan will be done before the staples come out. When I left her she'd eaten some bites of dinner (let's face it, it's hospital food) and was going to try to get some sleep. If all goes well it'll be a Big Day tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 10:13 PM

YAH!!!! (& boo to the general/normal behaviour of the insurance company - practicing medicine without a license - well put, Stilly)

One of my friends is in a rehab hospital at the moment with a new hip & is working diligently to get back to her normal life. A visiting friend was very surprised to be greeted in the front yard when he arrived, I forgot to ask if he got a pic of her in her zimmer frame 5 days after her op!

May Pat be soon walking to exercise sessions in her zimmer frame (or whatever)

sandras

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: LadyJean
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 12:27 AM

As I said, it ought to be illegal to feed hospital food to sick people. I owe a deep debt of gratitude to a friend who brought me a post surgical box of Godivas and gave my taste buds a reason to go on living.

I likewise offer sympaties on the insurance. I hope those bozoes straigten it out, and have to eat hospital food for a month afterwards.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 04:50 AM

Good to hear the insurance has been sorted. Hope things move along smoothly, swiftly and successfully.

Re hospital food, if her BP is high, part of the therapy is diet. "Regular" hospital meals are prepared with a number of factors taken into account, just one of which is the lack of mobility and level of physical activity of most inmates. Ya don't feed a sedentary person baked beans and pancakes with maple slurpup due to calories/sugar and sheer bulk. If ya did, it would be a slow and possibly quite uncomfortable trip down the alimentary canal. Likewise, ya don't feed a person with high BP anything with a "normal" amount of salt so, right there, taste suffers. Hospital meals, prepared on an assembly line, are meant to be nutritious. Taste? Well, most inmates don't have a big appetite anyway.

I am sure Mike would forego sleep to prepare Pat's favourite culinary delight IF he was allowed but I doubt those in charge of her recovery would allow any deviation from the dietary regimen prescribed by the dietician.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: fat B****rd
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 05:08 AM

Good news,Rap. More positive thoughts from Dunfermline. Charlie

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 07:14 AM

Wonderful update, Mike. Please tell Pat we're cheering her on.

gnu- well said.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 08:08 AM

All the best to Pat, Rap. Hoping that her BP stays down so she can start on the path to going home well and able to get around on her own again.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 08:44 AM

The hospital food isn't TOO awful. She gets to chose from a menu that includes turkey, sirloin of beef, mashed, ice cream, pastas, sourdough bread, and even a "make your own" sandwich.

But let's face it: it's still hospital food. They don't include, say, Chateaubriand with Bernaise sauce or deep-fat-fried calamari or boudins, and Black Pudding is definitely out.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 09:28 AM

you didn't mention jello ...

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 10:42 AM

If you find the hospital that has all those 'good' foods, I'm gonna get a bicycle and a blindfold..... ;>)

Anyway, so glad to hear the progress and some really upbeat news.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 10:48 AM

The neurosurgeon was just in and the transfer is ON!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: fat B****rd
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 12:14 PM

Whoopeeee!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 12:44 PM

Excellent news!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,Janie
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 12:53 PM

Terrific!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: jacqui.c
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 02:45 PM

Wonderful! Give Pat our love and best wishes for a fast recovery. You take care of yourself too.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Ebbie
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 03:34 PM

What gnu and Rap said about hospital food... my experience with it was the same. As was noted, my appetite was depressed but that was not the fault of the food.It may well be very different in very large hospitals but when I was in with pneumonia this spring my food was HOT, palatable and plentiful. At home I may have added some spices, especially hot sauce, but given the logistics within which they work I think the dieticians and kitchens do remarkably well. I tend to think that 'hospital food', 'lawyers' and 'politicians' are knee jerk words that save people from having to think. :)

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 04:03 PM

Not everyone is in the hospital for illness and injury. I had my first child at about 2pm. The nurses and doctor had had breaks during my four hours of labor in order to go eat their lunches. I was starving when it was all over, and asked for something to eat. "You missed lunch, dear, but here is some milk and crackers until dinner." Arrrgghhhh!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: JennieG
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 06:30 PM

Great news!

Last November when I had shoulder surgery I was allowed a glass of wine with my hospital dinner - the food wasn't too bad, wine was nice, but my throat was so sore from being intubated that I could barely sip.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 06:31 PM

Rap, keep us informed about Pat's BP. I hope she is able to do that move tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 06:49 PM

encouraging update.   blessings   pete.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 07:38 PM

Dont know how I missed this Mike ! You didnt say if the Pratt on the bike was apprehended - Hope he was , and that all goes well with Pat

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 11:25 PM

She's in rehab, and I'm pissed off by the attitude of the staff. I mean, she wanted a shower and was told she couldn't have one until "therapy" had determined how it was to be done? That after 2+ hours her pain meds hadn't appeared?

I've emailed the Executive Director of the facility. That's no way to run a medical place, especially when the prescription for the meds had been delivered and she'd been showering the hospital.

She got her shower -- I helped her.

If this is an example of one of the best of the facilities, what are the mediocre or bad like? Or perhaps I don't want to know.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: LadyJean
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 12:15 AM

I broke my arm badly enough to require surgery. Afterward, I had to see an occupational therapist. He showed me how to get on and off a toilet, which I'd already figured out how to do. He showed me how to cook something in a frying pan, which didn't work in practice. (I lived on canned beans, frozen dinners and take out until the cast came off.)

What he didn't show me was how to put on and take of a bra, which, being a D cup, I kind of needed to know, or look after my long hair. I managed. I even managed to medicate my cat with one arm in a cast. (You need both legs and a blanket, also a very good natured cat.) But he wasn't what you'd call helpful.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 04:46 AM

I can understand the shower business regarding safety policy and procedure but surely the staff could have made the simple effort of arranging to have "therapy" fit her in their schedule for that specific purpose. Glad you got the job done.

Meds? No. Unacceptable.

I hope today is a good day for you both.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: jacqui.c
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 09:46 AM

What gnu said.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 10:37 AM

Gee golly whiz, I've just had a nice phone talk with the Executive Director and funny, Pat and I will be meeting with him and the Director of Nursing immediately after he finishes his daily meeting with the nursing staff....

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 03:20 PM

Good! let us know how that meeting goes.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 03:26 PM

at least it,s better than having your email ignored. hope the meeting achieves the desired helpfulness.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 09:32 PM

yes!

what do single people/people without family or friends nearby do in a similar situation?

suffer?

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 06:15 AM

Sandra... yes.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 10:46 AM

Well, you do have "Rights"....

The meeting went well and she's coming home Monday afternoon to home health care and a (somewhat) cleaned and straightened house. Or at least clean sheets in her own bed. I've thrown the floozies out and hope to have the cigar smoke and empty likker bottles gone before she gets home.

Actually, I do have to get some food in. Two of those foods will be a surprise -- spanakopita and baklava. The local Greek Orthodox basilica is have a "Greek festival" today and I think I can grab a pan of each and freeze them. That will provide her a change in diet when she's ready! Good thing all those Greeks moved here to work on the railroad after the coal mines in Utah failed, back about a hunnert years ago.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 11:34 AM

Nothing like one's own bed with clean sheets! (Ya shoulda made the floozies help clean up first. )

Sounds like she will be well provided for... I'd expect nothing less...

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 11:36 AM

Good to read that she'll be home soon!

About freezing those foods--make sure that if the church froze them, they were frozen before cooking. If they were frozen after cooking and then defrosted, they probably should not be refrozen.

I know around here that some churches prepare their festival foods several weeks in advance and freeze them until the festival dates. I
ve never asked if they are cooked before or after being frozen.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 12:05 PM

The point of a rehabilitation hospital is to help you recover, not hinder your progress.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 01:52 PM

Coming home!!!

Don't need to type another word... except... GREAT!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 02:08 PM

That is the best news I've had all day, thanks! You and Pat will be tired for some time to come, so home health care is a good idea...and I do hope physical therapy will enter into the picture. Wonderful news for you both.
************
I'm guessing both spanakopita and baklava would only be sold cooked. I can't imagine why they would have been frozen before cooking, but even if they were for convenience in preparing for the holiday, there would be no reason they couldn't be refrozen unless exposed to unsafe temperatures at some point. re: Refreezing cooked foods "...After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods. If previously cooked foods are thawed in the refrigerator, you may refreeze the unused portion... "

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 03:25 PM

sounds like a good result. hope the being back home goes well, without too much stress. blessings         pete.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: fat B****rd
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 04:11 PM

That's great news, Rap. My best as always to you both. Charlie.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 05:02 PM

The main prize goes to the one who perseveres! Congratulations! Pat is a very fortunate woman to have you on her side. Spanokipita and baklava!!! Food for the gods! or a healing woman. One day at a time, .....

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 05:48 PM

Close, Dorothy - how about "food for a goddess." :)

I love spanikopita. Baklava also, but it is very rich. Be sure to visit the grilled cheese thread for some great comfort food ideas.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ragdall
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 06:53 PM

Well done, Rap! Pat's lucky to have a champion fighting on her behalf.
Best wishes for continued good physical therapy results and getting needed assistance from the home care.

Make sure that you allow yourself to get some rest now, too. Partying with floozies can wear down a man your age.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: LadyJean
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 08:13 PM

Great news. Good luck with the home health care. I hope all the ladies you get are great. (We had one who liked to hide things.)

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Shimbo Darktree
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 08:23 PM

Leave him alone Ragdall ... floozies are fun!

I was called home from a folk club in April 2001 because my wife had flaked out on the sofa with foam coming out of her mouth. (I live in Oz, so this is not that remarkable.) Turned out she had a brain tumour. Various dramas getting treatment advice (and rejecting some of it). After some weeks of tests and surgery, and pressuring the neurosurgeon, we were told life expectancy statistically averages 7 to 12 years. It is now over 13 years later, she is fit, healthy, saner than me (OK - she always was), and her seizures have decreased from three a day to none. She still has the tumour (inoperable) and a mild issue with numbers and communication. Otherwise, all good.

What all this boils down to, Rap, is that the onward road has been pretty much consistently better and more positive, when once I thought it would be all downhill. So all the best to Pat, Rap, and keep the sense of humour that I see sneaking through.

Hope I never need brain surgery ... can't afford the search fees.

Shimbo

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: jacqui.c
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 07:10 AM

Good news Rap - I'm sure that you will both be much happier and that Pat will recover faster at home. for you, all the travelling to and from the hospital/rehab can be very tiring. Just make sure that you both take it a little easy for a while.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 08:04 AM

Just an echo here - others have already said it. Good news!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 12:56 PM

Well, so far I'm missing or missed my nephew's wedding a family reunion, a target shooting match, and Pat.

I bought tyripotakia, dolmades, spanikopita, a slice of roast lamb,and some of those round Greek donuts that are drizzled with a honey sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

I also bought a suction grab bar, a shower stool (with back), and a ton of other odds and ends.

Then I overslept.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 01:05 PM

There are some quite attractively designed shower grab bars - a friend in Arizona has one around her tub and shower stall. I've been looking for the manufacturer. The ones at Home Depot are clunky.

Sounds like Pat won't starve!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 03:33 PM

Rest is good for the blood. Ya musta needed it. Good vibes at youse both!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Anne Lister
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 04:36 PM

I'm sorry - I missed this too. Haven't been on the 'Cat for a while (my mother died last week). Glad to see progress is being made and that you're taking good care of her. Hope all continues to go well.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: olddude
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 05:55 PM

Any thing any time you need help you call

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 06:05 PM

Anne... my condolences.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 06:28 PM

Anne, I'm sorry about your mum.

The next time I open this thread, I hope I'll read that Pat is home!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,Sapper on TIC2 between Edingurgh and Glasgo
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 08:24 AM

Heyup!
Glad to see progress being made, a big relief all round I should imagine.

Ann, my sympathy to you.

Gnu; Yes, still breathing and travelling about the country with Notwork Fail and getting more cynical and cantankerous as I get older!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 10:13 AM

Good to hear from you, Sapper.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,Dharmabum
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 11:47 AM

Hope you both have a full & speedy recovery.
Best of luck & positive energy.

DB.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 02:54 PM

It's just the paperwork now. I've done what I can here at the house.

Anne, I'm sorry about your mother. Please accept my sympathy and know that others are thinking of her too.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Anne Lister
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 04:43 PM

Thank you for the sympathy, all of you - I hadn't meant to hijack Rap's thread. I'm finding bereavement a bit like jetlag in the way it interferes with concentration and selecting the right words.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 05:30 PM

How is Pat today?

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: billybob
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 06:28 PM

Only just seen this thread, sending love to you both, hope Pat is home when you read this.

Wendy xxxxxx

condolences Anne , sending love xxx

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 10:01 PM

Pat is home. She got here around 4:45 p.m. today and had a dinner of one dolmade and a small piece of spanakopita -- and a couple blueberry cookies and a bit of mango sorbet. She said, as I brought out the dinner, "Even the smell is terrific!"

Tomorrow morning the home health care nurse comes and does an evaluation, sets up schedules, etc.

There was a real snag getting the authorizations needed to get her out of the rehab place, and finally with all of the orders cut and signed it was found that the insurance company had a contract for oxygen with a different company than the one I selected. Then...a doctor decided that since her blood oxygen levels were excellent she could go home without oxygen (I asked her what she was breathing and she said, "Nitrogen").

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 10:12 PM

Navigating the healthcare and insurance systems these days is more and more akin to the capacity to be ok jumping down the rabbit hole. Hope your blood pressure is more stable than has been Pat's.

Pat, recover and thrive!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 09:22 AM

The bills haven't started yet....

We suspect that the nursing/rehab place was happy to see her back because as a staff member there said, "She's a strong woman." She also knows her own mind, what meds she takes or should take, and gets annoyed with the "Well, how are we feeling?" chirp.

The correct answer to that question is, "I'M feeling like the bottom of a shit pile. And you?"

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 04:48 PM

I'm now an appointments secretary. Doctor, occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech therapist (for head and neck muscles), case manager, and today the bill for the ambulance: USD 420.00, of which we will end up paying USD 50.00 (and yes, if you can't pay they'll transport you for free).

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 05:18 PM

Hooray for home!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: JennieG
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 05:25 PM

So glad to hear Pat is home - as I bet both of you are, too.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 07:07 PM

You will handle the logistics, Rap. Better than most. You are a librarytarian!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bugsy
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 05:26 AM

I've been offline since 2nd Sept. Man! have you had a fortnight from hell!!?!

Glad to hear that your missus is home at last and on the mend.

Send the bills to the cyclist!

CHeers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 09:48 AM

I can think of lots better ways to spend a couple of weeks than what I just did and will continue to do.

At least tomorrow the staples come out of her head.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 10:31 AM

Can you get a two-for-one or a reduction?... get your staples out at the same time?

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 11:56 AM

Rap, you are a marvel - married to another marvel.

I look forward to further reports of Pat's progress, & your progress with insurance companies & other problems.

Did the cyclist stay after the accident? Were the police involved?

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 09:56 PM

I have the fella's name, address, and phone number -- and I gave them to the cops.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: LadyJean
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 10:32 PM

I'm glad things are going well for you. It's not the best time of year to be incapacitated. (I recommend February and March, when you want to stay in bed, but that's not always convenient.) I hope it's not too much of a problem for you. I also hope you enjoy the baklava and spanikopita. Greek food is a wonderful thing!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 12:05 AM

Ditto Sandra's post. Dang, retirement ain't easy, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 07:49 AM

I've worked long hours before, but I was a helluva lot younger then.

The staples come out this morning. I'm told they do NOT use a claw hammer.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 04:54 PM

How did the staple removal go?
Your advocacy for Pat makes all the difference in the world as to what care she gets and when. It IS hard work, but so necessary and rewarding.

Here's to good sleep, and continuing improvements.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 06:01 PM

Do you get to keep the staples? So's yas can mount them in some kinda art work er what ever?

No matter what they tell ya, wash the staple wounds gently with peroxide (I used isopropyl alcohol after infection set in because I listened to them stunnedasmearses) twice a day for a week. I can supply pics of what can happen if ya don't. Short of pics, here is a hint... it's green.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 06:08 PM

They're out. 36 staples! They disinfected the area afterwards and she has a CAT scan tomorrow. The surgeon said that residual problems like tingling in her right fingers should eventually go away.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 06:45 PM

Sounds good. I hope Pat recovers fully and swiftly.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 06:53 PM

I'll second that

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 10:03 PM

I'll third it. I'd like to get some sleep; I've already stopped eating lunch and dinner at McDonald's.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: fat B****rd
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 06:45 AM

What everybody else says, Rap. Thinking of you and Pat always. Charlie.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 08:41 AM

Rap, staples can hurt when they're removed. Pat probably mentioned that. Give her a hug for all of us!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 09:24 AM

Her pain threshold is so high that what she would rate a 4 on a 1-10 scale would cripple you and me. She only flinched once during the removal. It's a result of a left and right radical dissection of the neck to cure thyroid cancer back in 1960, when she was 17. They don't do that anymore, but the radioactive seeds and chemotherapy now used wasn't around back then, and so the knife. Her last two cancers -- a lumpectomy and basal skin carcinoma -- were done with minimally invasive procedures and thank goodness cancer treatments have come as far as they have!

CAT scan this morning.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 09:34 PM

CT scan this morning, PT this afternoon, two walks in the back yard, and the occupational therapist comes tomorrow.

She's tired!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 05:20 AM

Sounds like the care is going well... just a matter of time.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 02:44 PM

Of course she's tired!

36 staples? She was a metalhead!

Glad to read that the OT will be there tomorrow, hopefully with some good ideas.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,Rahere
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 02:59 PM

Dang, Rapparee, a claw hammer? I thought I had a one-off having a pin in me arm removed with a pipe wrench...I'd had to have a kludge job on a broken arm in Crete redone, so six weeks later, one pin comes out, the other is kindof fixed and won't shift. Kindly wait outside, Sir. An hour later, a nurse passes by with a big perspex box containing something big wrapped in surgical green cloths. Gives me a kind of strained look - apparently the entire hospital was peeing itself at the solution, the poor old maintenance team had had their favourite toilet tool cleaned to within an inch of its life - and to cap the lot, my surname in the local lingo means "Hand", so Mr Hand's hand was about to be operated on with the toilet wrench! We can rebuild him...

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 03:03 PM

Sorry. That was me at 2:44 PM.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 03:59 PM

No need to be sorry, CL. We all toss our cookies once in a while. I may do so in the next hour or so. 3.5 year old frozen cheddar cheese is in the oven with macaroni. I dare to go where no cheese has gone before.

If this is my last post, don't freeze cheese in the back of the freezer and forget about it.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 10:18 PM

Two quilting f(r)iends came by with lunch. She's eaten more today than she has in a week! And only two hydrocodone in the last 24 hours. So far so good.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 11:08 PM

Reddy Kilowatt says: "Progress is our most important product!"

Keep on keeping on...

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 12:58 AM

I have had occasions when hydrocodone was prescribed, and usually took it for only a day or two. Stepping down to Rx strength motrin, then OTC strength motrin, means you are more alert during the day. Good luck with that. I hope she can take the OTC stuff. It is a heckuva lot more affordable.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 09:51 PM

Today she decided to use ibuprofen instead of hydrocodone. She also balanced the checkbook, sorted and did the laundry, and put dishes in the dishwasher. Not big things, but more steps forward.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 11:29 PM

Goodness, Rap- those are very big steps! Well done, Pat.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: fat B****rd
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 04:10 AM

What an amazing lady!. A touch of Sinusitis and I'm a pathetic wreck. More of the very best to you.
Charlie

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 05:22 AM

Ditto maeve!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 06:09 AM

keep those good reports coming!

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 09:36 AM

Back to the hydrocodone -- she thinks she "may have overdone" yesterday.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 09:39 AM

Easy to overdo. Two steps forward, one step back...or take it a bit slow without backing up! You will both find your dance steps with time.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: jacqui.c
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 10:39 AM

What Maeve said. Glad she's getting better, but it is too easy to overdo it. there is a fine line there and sometimes there is a need for the caregiver to draw that line, if they can.

After my hysterectomy I was staying with my daughter, who went a little too far in making me rest, even to the extent of banning me from making a cup of tea! However, I do think that it helped me recover faster.

Still sending good thoughts for you both.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 11:08 AM

I agree with taking it easy but I also know it's hard to do when you "feel a bit better". As said, she'll find her pace.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 23 Sep 14 - 03:44 PM

That's what recovery is--trying to find out what is "just enough" and stopping before "too much." Rap, tell Pat to keep healing.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 24 Sep 14 - 11:22 AM

Good luck with the recovery, as I type my wife is having a knee replacement.............ouch! Luckily hospital has free wifi and I'm logged into my home PC.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 24 Sep 14 - 12:34 PM

Bonzo... I wish her well. I hear the procedure and recovery have come a long way as far as pain and recuperation with strict adherence to the physio. I believe Rap can attest to this.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 24 Sep 14 - 07:15 PM

Well, I only had a partial replacement waaaaaay back this past March.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Donuel
Date: 25 Sep 14 - 07:29 AM

Good luck to you. I too have had knee surgery and brain replacement last year. I've never felt better now that I can bend my mind and walk pain free.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Donuel
Date: 25 Sep 14 - 08:30 AM

Sorry Rap,
Still dyslexic... after all these years.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 25 Sep 14 - 09:06 AM

A visitor last night and she brought her dog...or the other way around, maybe. Pat sat up talking until AFTER 8:30! Exhausted, of course...the physical therapist was here earlier. Today she gets her hair styled and her eyes checked (by an ophthalmologist).

It's gonna be a long (and fairly expensive) road. But then no house should be without a mortgage, I guess. Thank God we have pretty good insurance! I don't know what those without it would do (well, I do, actually, having been there).

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Sep 14 - 05:02 PM

It sounds like Pat is coming along. And I hope the dog was a good part of the visit. The really good ones can tell when someone needs special attention or to be leaned on in order to offer therapeutic dog good karma.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 25 Sep 14 - 10:42 PM

Jilly, the dog, made friends with Jax, the puppy next door. The size difference (Jilly is a blue heeler/herder mix) was fun to see, as was the romping up and down the fence line. Pat also got a "fur fix".

No problems with her vision!! Sing hallelujah!

She also had the remaining side of her hair cut to match the surgical 'do. I looked like that in Basic Training.

But it was a plateau day, because the headaches were worse than yesterday.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 26 Sep 14 - 04:34 AM

Sorry to hear about the headaches and the financial aspect but glad Pat is doing okay, especially regarding eyesight.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 26 Sep 14 - 08:30 AM

wot gnu said

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 26 Sep 14 - 09:13 AM

Send money and I'll send Shame McBride, the quintessential Canadian, back. US dollars, nothing larger than a fifty and unmarked, random serial numbers. You will be instructed on the delivery.

In August we had to replace the air conditioning, the furnace (better then than in January!), a water heater, and the garbage disposer. Yesterday the new washer was delivered and around October 5 the mattress set will arrive. Everything, including Pat, has been broken this Fall (well, I'm waiting for the fridge to die and for people who rarely watch TV we have four sets so I'm not worried about THAT).

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Sep 14 - 12:02 PM

I'll bet you're looking forward to getting out of 2014. Rough year.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 30 Sep 14 - 06:53 PM

Any news?

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Sep 14 - 07:01 PM

Useless but relevant old saw:

"Whatever hits the fan is not distributed equally."

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Sep 14 - 08:42 PM

She's doing okay, and the physical and occupational therapists are very happy that she's able to bend over and pick something up off the floor. Her hair is growing back; it's probably a quarter inch long now. She's still on pain pills (opiates) and is very careful about THAT. Last weekend was pretty miserable as a strong weather front came through and she was in considerable pain -- apparently a recent craniotomy can be affected by strong changes in barometric pressure.

She's still having problems reading and listening to NPR, but reading time is slooooooooowly getting longer and longer.

I have the OT's permission to massage her ears. Really.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 30 Sep 14 - 09:03 PM

That all sounds very promising to me, Rap. I'm glad for you both...though my condolences to Pat regarding barometric pressure...me too, with migraines.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 30 Sep 14 - 09:57 PM

I can't remember, Rap. Did you catch up with the guy who hit her? If so, does he have any financial liability? I ain't one to advocate for suing folks, but when it comes to medical bills when some one else is at fault, sometimes it has to be done. (But I bet Pat already knows the ends and outs of that one.)

May she continue to recover. May the headaches go away. May you not bust your other knee shoveling snow this winter.

Things could be worse. AT least the Yellowstone Caldera hasn't blown.

Yet.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Sep 14 - 10:06 PM

Actually, I injured the inside of my right knee in the early days of this and I see the orthopod the day after tomorrow. It's pretty painful at times. I think I slammed it against the steering column of my car when I got in a hurry out one time.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 30 Sep 14 - 10:46 PM

Yikes! Rap's going to see an Arthropod! At least he/she will have had multiple experiences with legs and such.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 01 Oct 14 - 04:08 AM

Appreciate the update, Rap. Hope the doc can help with the knee.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Oct 14 - 08:56 AM

Yeah, well, I'm still the sole driver. I hope that if something drastic is required it will can be a couple months away, at least.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Oct 14 - 02:20 PM

Please note - re barometric pressure!

For over 20 years now I have avoided the severe headaches caused by that horrible "it should be raining, why doesn't it just get on with it..." feeling. Green tea! I drink it almost daily since a friend noted, acerbically, "SOME people drink green tea for their weather headaches.

It is good for other things as well but the wonderful miracle of being free of those debilitating headaches makes me love it.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Oct 14 - 09:20 PM

I'll tell her. Now they've confirmed at UTI; we're waiting to see which type. Not surprising after a catheter.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 02 Oct 14 - 08:50 AM

Ahhh, gee whiz. No fair!

I hope the knee news is good or as you wish.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 02 Oct 14 - 06:52 PM

Thank you for the updates. Sorry about Pat's headaches, UTI, and your right knee. I hope they can all be fixed quickly and easily.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 02 Oct 14 - 08:46 PM

Almost certainly a torn meniscus, sayeth the Doctor. And he sayeth further, you can let it go, take NSAIDs, have a cortisone shot, or have surgery.

I chose the shot and will revisit the problem later, if I survive until then.

Yes, a UTI. E. Coli. She's on cefalexin and cranberry extract, and she's stashed on the new mattress that arrived today instead of tomorrow when it was expected.

Yes, a new mattress. I ordered it about a week ago when I found that wires from the springs of the old one were stabbing me in the back of the leg when I got up.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 02 Oct 14 - 10:35 PM

You're doing an impressive job taking care of Pat- do please take care of you as well.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 02 Oct 14 - 10:45 PM

What maeve said.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: LadyJean
Date: 03 Oct 14 - 12:58 AM

I'm glad your wife is doing so well. I hope you're looking after yourself. Being caregiver takes it out of you, I know this from experience. Anyway, you're making me feel better aboug my PCI. (Permanent Car Issues).

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Oct 14 - 06:53 PM

She's down today with a temperature of 101 (F). If it goes up .4 more degrees she goes to the Emergency Room -- this from the home care nurse. Since she's on antibiotics this doesn't seem to be related to the UTI.

(If she has seizures she gets another ride in the ambulance...also says the nurse.)

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 03 Oct 14 - 07:30 PM

Praying for the best--no ambulance ride needed.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 04 Oct 14 - 05:35 AM

I agree with CL. For one thing, I am not awake enough to be cohereatall.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 04 Oct 14 - 08:31 AM

Hope that fever dropped overnight, Rap.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: jacqui.c
Date: 04 Oct 14 - 10:54 AM

More good thoughts coming to both of you from Maine.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bill D
Date: 04 Oct 14 - 12:11 PM

Watching and sending good thoughts

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Oct 14 - 12:45 PM

How is she feeling this morning, Rap?

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Oct 14 - 03:15 PM

Very weak and quite cold. Her temperature has gone down to normal levels, but she's been taking acetaminophen as a febrifuge. Don't know what will happen if she stops. Not much food intake, either.

Next week her home health care benefits run out. We'll pay for them to continue.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Anne Lister
Date: 04 Oct 14 - 06:06 PM

Sending love and warm wishes to you both, Rap ...

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Mrrzy
Date: 04 Oct 14 - 08:52 PM

Keep your pecker up, as they say! Thinking of you all,

-Mrr

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 05 Oct 14 - 05:23 AM

Glad to hear the fever is under control. How often does the nurse visit?

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 05 Oct 14 - 01:53 PM

"Next week her home health care benefits run out. We'll pay for them to continue." Uh-oh!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Oct 14 - 05:14 PM

As I said before, no home should be without a mortgage. But it's not going to come to that if I can help it. Worked too hard to pay the damned thing off.

She's going to get the help she needs if I have to sell gnu's house.

The nurse comes as needed, and I can afford that, I think. I mean, what else can I give for her birthday tomorrow? She sure ain't goin' out for a big party!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 05:12 AM

I hope she has as happy a Bday as possible. Perhaps my loss of words is due to still being half asleep... I'll just say again, youse are in my thoughts and prayers.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 05:46 AM

Happy Birthday, Pat. We are glad you are here to celebrate with Mike!
Dream of your next quilt.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 06:22 AM

Rapparee, I have been conspicuous by my absence...far too self-absorbed with my own probs. I apologise & send healing, comforting thoughts to you & your wife. It grieves me that you have to consider the financial implications of your wife's care in the way that you do...that is so unjust & unfair.
                           Much Love to You Both,
                                                               Nigel.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,Rapparee on an iPod
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 07:51 AM

My mistake. Her bday is the 11th. Today is our 41st anniversary. Wednesday my brother turns 68. Friday he has shoulder surgery. It's a busy week.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 07:54 AM

Save my birthday greeting for the 11th then, and please accept congratulations for your anniversary!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 09:12 AM

Our health insurance is, thank goodness, quite good and we have some resources we haven't tapped yet and it doesn't look like we'll have to. I don't mean the County Poor Farm or the Workhouse, either. I won't be forced to sell my body on the streets or, worse, become a Walmart greeter*. I do wonder, though, what people without what I have do (actually I know -- I grew up that way and it ain't at all pretty).




*Me: "Hi! Welcome to Walmart, the slave wage store! Can I help you find something made by a political prisoner in an impoverished country? No? Perhaps you'd like some chocolate harvested by child slaves in Afica?"

Nah, I wouldn't last long.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 02:24 PM

Happy anniversary to youse! I hope you got her something nice like a Weatherby or a Browning or some IMR powder.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: JennieG
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 05:42 PM

Happy anniversary to you both! Maeve, that is a gorgeous quilt to dream of........all I have to do is dream........it's now a musical thread.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 09:02 PM

anniversary greetings & early birthday greetings!

& another wow! to that quilt

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 09:53 PM

Quilt was found here: Click and scroll down.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 10:05 PM

Happy anniversary from me, too! You got married on my birthday--well, probably not the same year!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 07 Oct 14 - 05:24 AM

Happy Yesterbirthday, CL!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 07 Oct 14 - 08:12 AM

You THAT much younger?

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Oct 14 - 09:23 AM

thanks for the link, maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Severn
Date: 07 Oct 14 - 04:31 PM

I have been away from the cat for awhile, for the most part. My best thoughts are going out to you and Pat for whatever you will be facing from here. Hang in there. I will be following this thread closely from now on.......

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Oct 14 - 09:49 AM

Today to the clinic to hopefully find out why she isn't sleeping well and why the fluctuations in body temperature. The insurance nurse/case manager comes the afternoon (no, we're nowhere near the insurance or any other limit -- I checked).

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 Oct 14 - 09:45 PM

insurance nurse/case manager?

wazzat?

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 08 Oct 14 - 11:52 PM

I'm wondering also, Rap. I know for some of my clients with complex health needs some insurance companies will assign case managers. When I first encountered them I was suspicious, but my experience with them in my capacity as one of the treating professionals is that they are very helpful and work to support the patient to take advantage of the best care and recommendations available. Have not experienced these case managers, from the provider end, as trying to limit care, but trying to enhance and promote good utilization of care. Hope Pat's experience, on the receiving end, is as positive as my experience has been from the provider end.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: LadyJean
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 01:22 AM

Happy Anniversary. I have a friend who's trying to crowd fund cataract surgery, if that's helpful.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 08:46 AM

Our insurance assigned a registered nurse to sort of "oversee" the case. She cannot do anything unless in her opinion (subject to appeal) those providing services aren't doing their job. For example, if the physical therapist isn't showing up or is incompetent the Case Manager will contact the people providing the service and either get them to shape up or lose the job to another provider.

The Occupational Therapist made her last visit yesterday; Pat's received all that the OT can do for her at the moment. I said that if to Pat that since occupational therapy has finished she could go to work and support me; she said something that sounds painful and anatomically difficult or impossible.

She did over 4,400 steps yesterday, the most since the surgery.

There's another doctor's appointment scheduled for tomorrow but she can cancel it if she feels as if it isn't necessary. We'll probably know by early tomorrow morning or late tonight.

My brother -- whose birthday was yesterday and who's having rotator cuff surgery tomorrow -- made a nice analogy. He said that recovery is like the tide: it flings you up on the beach and then drags you away and you hope that each time flings you up a bit higher until you no longer wash back out.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 11:50 AM

Wise your bro is.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 12:28 PM

Good analogy for surgery and other traumatic events.

Hopefully the insurance company isn't able to cap benefits - that is part of the Affordable Care Act legislation. Or are you seeing something different?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 10 Oct 14 - 10:31 PM

Let us know if that appointment was kept and, if so, how it went, please.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 11 Oct 14 - 07:00 AM

Happy Birthday, Pat! http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1474211/thumbs/o-CRAZY-900.jpg?6
(Found here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/23/workt-by-hand_n_4312371.html )

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 13 Oct 14 - 10:04 PM

Whenever you can, Rapparee, please let us know how your wife and brother and you are all doing.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Oct 14 - 10:25 PM

We kept the appointment and she was feeling pretty good. The UTI seems to be completely cleared up.

She slept for EIGHT UNBROKEN HOURS last night!!

And, yesterday, when everybody else was going to church, she DROVE around the neighborhood for forty-five minutes. I was with her, so I can verify that she did. (She's not about to go driving in traffic yet.)

Today she walked, with the physical therapist, perhaps a quarter of a mile on the golf course -- uneven ground. Then she was made to stand on a foam block, close her eyes, and touch her nose. Heck, I would have a hard time with that!

There will be more bumps, of course. She's fighting inside with wanting to "do something" to the bicyclist and she frightened herself with the morbidity/mortality rates for a craniotomy...and even more by discovering what the rate is for an untreated subdural hematoma.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 02:56 AM

my physio runs a class of Tai Chi & Gentle exercise for seniors & I'm not telling her about the stand-on-a-foam-block-close-eyes-and-touch-nose. Standing on foam blocks is enough for us oldies practicing balance!

congratulations to Pat.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 06:07 AM

Rapparee, I enjoyed reading your post of 13th...full of positivity, optimism & progress. That damned cyclist's 'moment of madness'...does s/he fully appreciate just how much pain & distress they've caused? I wish your wife a complete & pain-free recovery & send you my sincere thoughts as you support her through the coming days & weeks,
                                     With Love,
                                                    Nigel.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 07:12 AM

Where is the Like button?!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: jacqui.c
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 07:57 AM

Great news!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,Rahere
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 08:58 AM

Rap, she's entitled to go after the bastard, it is likely to be rather therapeutic for her and speaks pages for her recovery. The biggest question may be one of cost, but his lack of consideration put her life at assessible risk and unless she does the best you both can to bring him to real account, putting his liberty at risk, then firstly all other cyclists will be tarred with the same brush and secondly he'll only have his own self-reproach to bear - if any. You've seen your medical insurance take a heavy hit, and all the other costs not associated with it: you should force him to undo the damage as far as possible.
Try taking out some form of attempted murder against him, for starters. Someone rides on the sidewalk, of course he's putting pedestrians at risk, so if the risk crystallised - and that is the nature of risk, sometimes it does - then he takes the lumps, not his victim.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 09:34 AM

I've been thinking of a charge of reckless endangerment. That's a felony. I think conviction should carry a penalty of at least 350 hours of community service emptying bedpans at the hospital or better, at the veterans' home.

Of course, every bicyclist in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest will be angry with me, but I don't care. But it's up to Pat; she's the lawyer. I'm jist a poor broken-down retired ol' liberrian (not a Liberian liberrian, although I do know one) who kin barely look it up any more.

Craniotomy surgeon's fee: USD 5,700.00, near enough. My part: $14.10. But I have no idea what the other bills will be.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 11:55 AM

I'm of two minds here: the bicyclist is responsible for seriously injuring someone because of his/her irresponsible behavior. Riding a bicycle on a pedestrian area is foolhardy - too many people do it often and don't think about the consequences. If that individual has auto or homeowner's insurance, there may be a way to sue to at least recoup some of the insurance costs. Another option is to sue the owner of the sidewalk - and that is also fraught with difficulties. Municipalities are often self-insured, and have ways of simply saying "no, you can't sue us. End of story."

However, anger is a caustic emotion. It's self-destructive. To sue someone (if a law enforcement entity isn't taking matters into their hands and arresting and charging the individual) is usually prolonged and expensive. Insurance companies push back with puny settlement offers or foot-dragging for years if you choose to fight them. All of this is counter-productive to the healing process. My friend who was injured on Jan. 12, 2012 (in this case, a pedestrian struck by a car in a parking lot) was in the hospital ICU for 2 weeks, then the next 3 1/2 months in a couple of rehab hospitals. She has had surgeries to correct several problems resulting from her head and hip injury. The only way to cover those vast hospital co-payments was to sue. It has been hard on her, she'd like to get on with life but has to keep focusing not only on that day, but on the deficits in her life because of the brain injury. She'd like to look forward and continue to improve, not continue to look back. It involves attorneys looking for the deep pockets to cover the bills - in this case, the owner of the property where she was struck had business insurance that included their parking lot. But insurance companies, as I said, to not play nicely when they are sued.

Good luck, whatever the decision. If you can shame the bike rider into a settlement to cover the insurance co-pays, that might be the best outcome.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Mrrzy
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 01:52 PM

No responsible biker would mind you calling one of the people giving them a a bad name on the carpet.

Good to hear of the progress!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 08:12 PM

Thank you for the update on Pat. It sounds like she is continuing to make good progress.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 08:26 PM

She said to tell everyone she walked 7/10s of a mile on uneven ground today!!!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: LadyJean
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 08:54 PM

Hallelujah! I got miserable news yesterday that a friend of mine had died. I needed to hear something good. Thank YOU and I hope things continue to go well.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,Rahere
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 09:12 PM

Never injure a lawyer not least because your Counsel is her professional consort...and if Pat can take her own stand against him, it makes it memorably direct.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 10:04 PM

She's still deciding on that. First, he's almost certainly judgement proof (nothing there). Secondly, she's opposed from a professional and personal standpoint to suing anyone -- she says that nothing good ever comes of a lawsuit unless it breaks new ground (e.g., class action) because the law is pretty well established. Thirdly, she's concerned that she might be doing something out of a desire for revenge, and that's not ever good. So she's deciding whether or not to proceed against him. Besides, she has too much else to do right now

That 7/10s of a mile was done in 22 minutes. Not a new land speed record, but she's REALLY happy about it.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 11:08 PM

I see that Pat is not only moving well, she is thinking clearly and deeply. My respect for the way you both are continuing to live well.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 01:07 AM

I'll second that, maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: JennieG
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 01:34 AM

Good to hear that Pat is progressing so well!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 06:12 AM

I'll heartily ditto maeve.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,Janie
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 06:31 AM

Glad to hear she is progressing so well

. My mom and sis had to sue the estate of the young drunk driver who killed himself in the process of nearly killing them due to medical expenses but hated having to do so. Essentially came down to suing his insurance company. Had to have been hard for his parents, having to manage that while grieving.

It has always been clear from you posts that Pat and you are thoughtful people. No question that whatever she decides will be a well reasoned and ethical choice.

Keep.getting better Pat!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 09:18 AM

I've told my friends that I was going to contact Vinnie and Guido to "take care of" the young man. Dey're from Chicago, see, an' dey know what to do. See, dey even bring der own concrete.

I actually know very few people in or around Chicago and nobody named "Vinnie" and/or "Guido".... To paraphrase what a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce said to me in Killarney many years ago, "I wouldn't know how to get in touch with the mob* if I had to."


*IRA.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 10:48 AM

Sue to make him use training wheels on his bicycle for the next 5 years...

and I'm so glad to read of Pat's progress

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 09:12 PM

I'm taking her to a class and then to lunch tomorrow. We'll see how that goes.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: LadyJean
Date: 16 Oct 14 - 12:35 AM

Ok, I was desperate for a car two years ago. Some jerk put his Volvo up for sale on Craigs List and didn't mean it. He played games with me. I deeply regret not placing ads around town with his name and phone number advertising a Porsche for sale and an improbably low price.

If your wife wanted to try that......

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Oct 14 - 11:31 AM

Clever, LadyJean! However, it is one of those tricks that can come back to bite you in the ass.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 16 Oct 14 - 03:47 PM

the thirst for revenge is best left unquenched... however, it is not good to let the culprit learn that "actions" have no consequences...

community service in a rehab center might impress upon him the horrid situation he created and must never repeat...

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 17 Oct 14 - 11:23 AM

And certainly a writeup in the paper about the "accident" results along with calls by city council directing it's constables to strictly enforce fines for cyclists endangering others. That's my 1.5 cents.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 17 Oct 14 - 03:11 PM

just down the road from my work office is a "ghost" and small memorial for a cyclist that was killed by an automobile. And almost every road has small crosses at sites of deadly accidents. It keeps up a level of awareness.

Is there a window location that could "host" a small display regarding how a bike/pedestrian collison can be almost as dangerous. Actually, if your wife was a more frail person it could have gone much worse.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Oct 14 - 07:10 PM

Got the hospital bill yesterday. Just shy of USD 72K. Thank the Lord that our insurance has either disallowed stuff (75%) or paid all but 1% of that. I can handle that amount, but I wonder what people without insurance do. Wait, I know! Out here in Idyho the State picks up the tab if you don't have no insurance! But we ain't got none of that there dag-slab Socialized Medysin!! Jist you ask our Govner! Ol' Butch, he'll tell ya!*

Took Pat to a continuing education class, to lunch, and to the store today. She's napping right now.



*A lot of us are hoping Ol' Butch goes down in flames in November, but it ain't likely in this, the most scarlet of the States.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Oct 14 - 07:40 PM

" I wonder what people without insurance do." If it had been me in Pat's place, either I would have gotten no care, or we would have lost our home and land and would be out living on the street.

I am grateful you and Pat will be in a much better position than that.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 17 Oct 14 - 08:24 PM

So glad to here this don't break the bank.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 17 Oct 14 - 09:27 PM

I am glad to read of Pat's continued progress and glad that the hospital bill did not break the bank.

Too many people think that the Affordable Healthcare Act means that everyone in the US can get insurance. As GUEST points out, that is not true. Guest, I hope you and your family members avoid serious health problems and that the AHA is improved so that you are able to get insurance.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Oct 14 - 09:35 PM

When I retired I grabbed the insurance the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System was offering. So far it's been very, very good to us. However, we have to do something else for 2016 -- what I'm not yet sure, but I want at least what we have now.

I wish everyone could have something like it. It would then force hospitals to reduce the garbage (I nearly said "crap") they seem to pad the bills with.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: LadyJean
Date: 18 Oct 14 - 12:45 AM

As I mentioned, I have a friend who's trying to crowd fund his cataract surgery. He has a job, but no insurance.

I have, over the years, thought of some beautifully rotten things to do to people. As a rule I don't do them. Okay, I gave that neo Nazi's email address to a bunch of Nigerian spammers and I don't regret it. I figured they kind of deserved each other.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Oct 14 - 09:58 AM

Which is what I said: decent medical care should be readily available to those who need it. We've been blessed so far, but everyone is a crack in the sidewalk away from where we have been, or worse. And we could lose it all at any time. Then I'd have to go back to robbing stagecoaches, and there are very few running these days.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 18 Oct 14 - 10:59 AM

You should have salted away some of the plunder instead of wasting it on cheap whiskey and wild women in some den of licentious iniquity. But we had fun, didn't we?

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 19 Oct 14 - 09:58 AM

Re: 17 Oct 14 - 07:40 PM
It is I...
Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Oct 14 - 12:10 PM

Some of the new policies are pretty remarkable, depending on the age of the purchaser. My 22-year-old son has a medical savings account with his high-deductible policy that will act like a ROTH IRA as far as being saved for medical situations. My sister is the benefits officer at the university where she works and has said she loves it - high praise from someone who negotiates insurance contracts every year.

What makes sense for him wouldn't work for someone past retirement, I'm pretty certain. But having this when he gets to retirement age will be a good thing, assuming the GOP doesn't try to undo all of the good parts of the Affordable Care Act.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 19 Oct 14 - 09:19 PM

Headache and gone to bed with something "more than ibuprofen." She probably overdid yesterday -- she even went out to dinner with a friend!
Japanese 'fusion' restaurant. A bicyclist came tearing down the sidewalk (she saw him from inside the restaurant) and the fear came back.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 19 Oct 14 - 10:00 PM

That will take awhile to abate, or at least subside some, Rap. As you well know.

Y'all aren't huggy folks, I think, but they are what I have to offer. So.....{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 20 Oct 14 - 11:48 AM

Glad to hear felt good enough to go out but it's too bad she overdid it... as said, time will help.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Oct 14 - 08:30 PM

She signed the discharge order for PT today, even if her last day is really Thursday.

And the bills keep coming in! We're at (pre-insurance) $89,000 USD and counting! Emergency Room (Life Threatening) was one of the entries on the forms....

We shan't have any trouble making our medical deductions for income tax this year!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 20 Oct 14 - 09:37 PM

Medical deductions? That's really looking for a silver lining.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 21 Oct 14 - 05:40 AM

$89k! THAT needs to be in a write-up in the newspaper too.

Glad to hear she feels good enough to forego the PT.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Oct 14 - 08:01 AM

I'll second gnu

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Oct 14 - 09:55 AM

So far we've been able to pay the post-insurance bills. As I said, we have pretty good insurance.

One of my workers, back when I was doing that sort of thing, had a useless husband (prison, drug use, now finally divorced) and a daughter who had had to have a liver transplant. Fortunately, if I need such I can go to the VA hospital in Salt Lake City and pay very little if anything.

Now she's going to get counseling for the mental hangover.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 21 Oct 14 - 10:19 AM

Now she's going to get counseling for the mental hangover.

good to hear... flashbacks are going to go on for awhile and incredible what will trigger one...

she has plenty of company in that respect and the medical community is getting better at acknowledging and dealing with it. Support groups in the area might offer some aid as well. Trick is finding one close by.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Oct 14 - 04:59 PM

Less than a mile...pretty close.

I don't think there is a "I Got Badly Injured By A Bicyclist" support groups around here. There may be head injury support groups at the hospital, though.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Oct 14 - 05:02 PM

PTSD, Rap.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Oct 14 - 05:26 PM

Looks like there is one stop shopping available for groups and personal injury lawyers.

More of a pure play is the Brian Injury Alliance - Idaho.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bill D
Date: 21 Oct 14 - 05:32 PM

Poor Brian... I hope HE gets help. ☺

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Oct 14 - 09:41 PM

Pat went into counseling today for anger, PTSD, and other things. "Pick me up at 3:30," said she at 2:30. At 4 she came out of the office. "I thought you'd come in and meet Pico, a certified therapy dog," she said. "Take me home,change clothes, and get to your beer tasting in Blackfoot" (20 miles north).

I do what women tell me because it's easier that way....

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: olddude
Date: 22 Oct 14 - 02:44 AM

If I can help in anyway you just give me a shoutmy bbrother. Lots of prayers for pat. We both know a lot about pstd for sure.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: olddude
Date: 22 Oct 14 - 02:46 AM

Ptsd I am dyslexic every thing I type is bassackwords

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: olddude
Date: 22 Oct 14 - 02:49 AM

I wonder how the bike guy would ride if we shoved the bike he hit her with up his ass. Do you have an address

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 22 Oct 14 - 09:25 AM

Yup, I have a name, address and phone number. I gave them to the sheriff's deputies. They saw the last name and muttered, "I wonder which one this is. I'll check back at the office." All six or seven who responded seemed quite interested.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 23 Oct 14 - 07:41 PM

This is a particularly good time to keep doing what one woman, your wife, tells you, Rap!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Oct 14 - 09:50 PM

I always do, mostly.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Oct 14 - 09:55 PM

She's talking about driving by herself to a walk tomorrow. The physical therapist gave her a clean bill of health for in-house therapy today; she is looking for outhouse therapy when the case worker nurse comes next week.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 24 Oct 14 - 08:55 PM

Outhouse therapy? Don't you have indoor plumbing? Oh. Never mind.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 24 Oct 14 - 09:14 PM

Usually we do have indoor plumbing. When Pat was lawyering she called attorneys which were not from...well, she was at a university in the General Counsel's office...as "outhouse lawyers" and it kind of stuck. She was in house and they weren't so....

She drove herself to a walk today! Mind you, nobody else showed up so she drove herself to the post office, got the mail, and drove home. It was pretty early in day and traffic was very light, but still!!!!

She still can't concentrate enough to read more than short articles.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 25 Oct 14 - 06:25 AM

Progress! Great to hear it, Rap.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 25 Oct 14 - 07:11 AM

That is progress indeed. Your relief must be palpable.
                                                                                  Nigel.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Oct 14 - 09:30 AM

I'll second that

Is Pat quilting yet?

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 25 Oct 14 - 10:07 PM

She has concentration problems, so no, she hasn't yet started sewing again. I've got a whole pile of mending for her too! (Well, no. My mommy made sure her sons could cook enough to heat canned soup and sew on buttons.)

BUT!! She drove in traffic today!! First time in normal traffic since she went in the hospital!!!!

All sorts of nurses come next week: case managers and therapy managers and I don't know who all. She also sees the neurosurgeon on the 30th, so we'll know after that if she can fly (in an airplane) then.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Oct 14 - 11:06 PM

That is good news! My friend who was injured decided to go through the driving test with the state to prove she could pass the test. We had to practice parallel parking a few times - but then, there are lots of people without brain injuries who have trouble with parking.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 12:14 PM

I might as well tell this: we found out yesterday that her jaw is slightly dislocated, which has caused the jaw pain she's had. A specialist dentist is working to reset it and it feels much better today.

But as the neurosurgeon said this morning, "We deal with the big stuff first." And then he said, "I don't see any problems ahead. If you want to travel or fly, go ahead and do it. The attention deficits and reading deficits will resolve themselves over the next six months or a year."

I told her later that medicine can deal with Attention Deficit Disorder and she said it was a good thing she was driving or she'd have whomped me one.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 12:29 PM

Good news is just getting better. Thanks for the laugh, too.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 01:28 PM

A good 'whomp' now & then helps keep things straight... so I am told.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: fat B****rd
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 03:12 PM

I've been away for a while but glad to read good positive news. ATB from Charlie.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 08:35 PM

The two of you are not a well-matched pair. Nope. Unhuh. No way. *big smile*

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 04:25 AM

Too bad it's taken so long to learn about the jaw but the overall prognoses are encouraging. Thanks for the update.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 06:08 AM

Good news, plus a good laugh too (the ADD reference).
All the very best from London UK,
                                                    Nigel.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rumncoke
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 06:52 AM

In the UK we do sometimes moan about the Health Service, or we hear about it going wrong - but it is a different world to the situation in the US.

A cyclist who rides on the pavement and causes an accident here might be prosecuted for doing wrong and causing injury, but it is not down to them to pay for the treatment for their victim, nor to the family to organise payments.

I have never understood the rationale behind the system in the US, even though we have been bombarded with TV programs about US hospitals for decades.

I am glad to read of the good progress your wife is making Rapparee, but I would have the financial worries removed from you too.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 08:48 AM

Financial: Medicare is the front line and then the insurance kicks in. SO FAR we are responsible for about 1% of the billed costs and we can afford that (less than USD 1,000). More bills will come in, of course, but they shouldn't be excessive. I might have to give up a bottle or two of single malt, but I can probably do that. We won't be out in the street. But I do wonder about people who don't have such insurance as we have...no I don't; I grew up without such and it was very, very rough for a widowed mother with four kids. I'm glad that we have it, very glad.

Pat will call the sheriff's office when she feels able and see what, if anything, was done. In the meantime I just want her to get completely well.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: maeve
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 09:24 AM

Rap, I have such respect for the way your and Pat have conducted yourselves through this long and challenging process.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 06:13 PM

And I still respect you. (Just had to do it.)

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 07:28 PM

No bonafide relationship among billed costs, actual costs and actual payments from insurers. Medicare, i.e. CMS has better data than anywhere else, but their data is not good either. All the numbers are pulled out of a hat. In the USA, no one knows what it actually costs to provide a medical service. Mostly because of the crazy cost-shifting necessary.

Keep mending, Pat. And I second Maeve's comment, like it or not, Music Stand.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 09:01 PM

75% of the surgeons bill was disallowed by the insurance. About 67% of the hospital bill was disallowed. Then both of them were subjected to what the insurance calls "reasonable and allowable" fees, which I think are also subject to regional variations (i.e., it would cost me more in New York than here in rural Idaho).

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 10:04 PM

So? You have to enjoin them and prove why they..... ohhhh... never mind. No way I can be more pissed off than you.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 10:22 PM

All I will say is I no longer take insurance of any ilk, including Medicare and Medicaid, in my private practice, nor will I provide a receipt that has the information needed for some one to submit an out-of-network claim to their insurance. I have been able to drop my standard fee by 40% as a result of that decision because of the lower administrative cost of doing business. I can also now choose to charge people lower fees based on their ability to pay without having to bill them for a larger fee that hangs over their heads to satisfy regulators and insurance contract agreements. This has relieved people of the fear my estate might come after them for unpaid bills carried on the books when I die.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 07 Nov 14 - 07:53 PM

Anything new Rap? If not, no news is good news.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 07 Nov 14 - 08:27 PM

She's going to a counselor for her anger/fear/etc. and to a TMJ specialist for her jaw. She told the latter that she wanted the damage from the bicycle bashing fix and nothing more as that would return her to her previous condition (he wanted to do a full year of treatment!). And that's all the insurance will cover -- she was fine before that.

We're discussing a visit with our attorney.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Mrrzy
Date: 08 Nov 14 - 12:11 AM

Good luck with everything... y'all could use some of that.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: LadyJean
Date: 08 Nov 14 - 02:24 AM

Yes, indeed good luck with everything. I share the road with cyclists, because I don't like to share the sidewalk with them.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 08 Nov 14 - 04:23 AM

I echo those thoughts. TMJ

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 08 Nov 14 - 11:53 AM

Thank you for the update. I wish her well as she follows through.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Nov 14 - 12:46 PM

Has Pat shown any interest in quilting yet? Or some other soothing and fulfilling hobby?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Nov 14 - 10:25 PM

Quilting...weeeeellll, she's found a LOT of unfinished projects (mostly quilt tops that were never matched to quilt bottoms) and is finishing them off. Binding and sandwiching and getting ready to give to the woman who does the long-arm quilting for her. She keeps finding backing material in her "stash" and tonight we got four yards of quilt batting. That's a LOT of quilt batting!

But the reading of books is still on hold. And she hasn't made any new tops, but at least she's sewing.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Nov 14 - 10:26 PM

Oh, yeah. We were at dinner and she said, "When I hold my head it's because of the swelling."

I replied, "So you've got a swelled head?"

Ever been stuck repeatedly with a fork??

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 09 Nov 14 - 06:01 AM

no, but I don't say provocative things to people who are armed ...

I spent the weekend with a quilter friend who has 5 unfinished tops + lots of other unfinished stuff!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: JennieG
Date: 09 Nov 14 - 06:25 AM

Noooo......four yards of batting might seem a lot, but it's not really......

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Nov 14 - 04:06 PM

Three quilts, I think.

No, it's not a lot of batting. It's not even a lot of fabric. Trust me on this, I know!

Fortunately, we have not (thus far) had to reinforce the floor under her sewing room. Someday we ARE going to have to replace the carpet. I don't want to think about that....

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 09 Nov 14 - 07:09 PM

Shag that!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Nov 14 - 01:04 AM

the friend I was visiting referred to someone who has so much fabric that her kitchen stuff (plates, pans, etc) are stored in her defunct dishwasher - every other cupboard in that room & her home is filled with fabric etc.

'Doesn't everyone?' was her reply when asked about the situation

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Nov 14 - 10:21 AM

Some years back a lady in Illinois died -- she had to have a separate HOUSE to store THE REST of her fabric, and that house was full from attic to basement.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: GUEST,Rahere
Date: 10 Nov 14 - 10:48 AM

Forking hell - mind you, I used to know the chief costumier for the Monnaie in Brussels, you couldn't even get into her house - a four-foot hallway less three feet of fabric shelves...and the rest of the house was the same. Now Nessa wot does the mediaeval costumes...the only person I know who keeps a pole-axe by the front door, but she did live in Burkenhaire...

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Dec 14 - 05:46 PM

Well, I thought I update this a bit.

We went to Indiana (Chicago orbit) on the 17th and returned on the 29th. Pat had no real problems (besides headaches) except for a Little Hitler TSA agent when we left and she inadvertently started to lose her balance and the TSA people went nuts thinking that they'd now harmed someone with a handicap AND was a senior citizen AND was lawyer.

But while she was at a meeting in a very small Indiana town (Shipsewana for those In The Quilting Know) her nephrologist's office called her cell phone. Based on a urinanalyis she'd had just before we'd left her UTI was back, or rather, still around. She got five days of cephalexine and saw her nephrologist today. He ordered another urine test and told her that it was his professional opinion (and he's very, very good) that the UTI is systemtic.

She'll need IM shots of (6R,7R)-7-{[(2Z)-2-(2-amino-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)->2-(methoxyimino)acetyl]amino}-3-{[(2-methyl-5,6-dioxo-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)thio]methyl}-8-oxo-5-thia-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid or, a bit more simply, rocephin.

We are both getting horribly sick of this whole thing!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Dec 14 - 06:05 PM

& appropriately so. It would have been lovely to be a fly on the wall when the little Hitler realised who he has upset.

that was an excellent piece of typing - all those numbers & brackets & strange words!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Dec 14 - 06:25 PM

Copy 'n' paste from Wikipedia. Whoever did the original deserves the credit.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Janie
Date: 03 Dec 14 - 07:12 PM

Well, I hope the dang shots take care of the UTI once and for all, Rap.

All my best to both of you, and thanks for the update!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Dec 14 - 12:42 AM

Rocephin isn't one she'll want as a shot. I got that as an out patient over several days after a particularly bad cat bite. They put one of those IV vein things on the back of my hand and plugged me into it each evening for an hour or so. They said the volume of the rocephin in a dose would be a very painful shot.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: gnu
Date: 04 Dec 14 - 06:45 AM

Good news with the bad news, really. The good news is that she was ABLE to fly without too much discomfort. Thank goodness for that!

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: fat B****rd
Date: 04 Dec 14 - 08:13 AM

And best thoughts from here in Dunfermline.
Charlie

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Dec 14 - 08:54 AM

At lunch yesterday I told her that this, like time in Folsom Prison, keep's draggin' on but considering the alternatives it's GREAT!

It's the little stuff, like the UTI and the slightly dislocated left jaw, the stuff that's popping up now that the BIG problem is solved, that's wearing.

She and her counselor decided that no more scheduled sessions were needed but she is to call if it's needed. Pat's pleased with the counseling.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Dec 14 - 04:41 PM

more good news

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 04 Dec 14 - 08:06 PM

Sometimes it must seem like the "little stuff" will never end. When one problem is solved, another crops up. I hope the treatment is effective and nothing further is needed.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Dec 14 - 09:11 PM

This has been worse, far worse, than her gall bladder surgery or any of the two cancers she's had while we've been married (breast and basal cell on one of the scars on her neck).

But we put the wreath on the front of the house this afternoon and set it to light up -- we actually have a lot to celebrate although it may not seem like it at times.

Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 05 Dec 14 - 08:09 PM

That's the spirit!