Man, I was feeling pretty bad myself, then I read this thread and feel a whole lot better! Nothing like some real hardship to compare to my piddly little issues. Thanks for that, actually.

But really, poor, poor you! I think finding out your instument is sick must be, for a musician, a LOT like finding out a relative isn't long for this world - Wes, I still think of you often, this is not what you need right now, not like it's what you needed some other time or anything, it just would have been nicer for the Powers that Be to wait a while - and having it pointed out to you by the person who made the instrument must add insult to injury. Wish I could think of a helpful song...