Barry Finn: Organ Transplant, March, 2001

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 04:05 AM

Thanks, Peg! Good to hear how he is doing. I will go start a second round thread, for those who have trouble loading after 100. I'll put a link in here.

Please continue on Barry Finn-TWO

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Peg
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 01:40 AM

101!

I stopped by to see Barry at the hospital today. Brought him some milk thistle tea bags, which apparently his doc said "won't hurt him."

He was chipper and in good spirits; if tired and weak. Says he has trouble sleeping and of course is bored out of his skull. He played a bit of Dan's new CD (nice stuff Dan!) and I am sure this is helping alleviate his boredom.

Barry said he lost a lot of weight rapidly ("Now if only I can keep it off!" he says; sheesh what a maroon! Actually most of us would think the same thing, I bet...) but that his condition is now stable. He is numero uno on the liver list so if a compatible one shows up it is his.

Never fear, Mudcat, Barry can still sing!!! He joined me in singing General Taylor, Red is the Rose, and Highland Lament. So there.

He tells me he shall take up gourmet cooking when his new liver is up and running.

I have a whole collection of those old Time-Life "Cooking of the World" books (great photos and recipes, and history of the countries and their food customs), so I guess I know what I will be giving him for a prezzie next time I stop by...

Two doctors stoped by for a brief conversation and to test Barry's alertness they asked him who the president was, then the previous one, then the one before that, etc. By the time they got back to Reagan, Barry said "some other asshole!" Yay, Barry! They also had him subtracting numbers and asking him for answers rather rapidly I thought. He did well (came up with answers faster than I did).

His wife thinks he is a bit low-key these last few days, and indeed Barry seemed rather tired to me. (Then again I am used to seeing him in a roomful of people excited to be sharing songs together).

But compared to how he was doing a few days ago all is going VERY well! So everyone, keep thinking good healthy thoughts about our Mudcat pal! Maybe have some (calves') liver and onions in his honor!

Get that liver and get well, Barry. We miss you.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: John Nolan
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 06:09 PM

Barry,

A man of your caliber deserves a thread with 100 entries.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: David Coffin
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 09:57 PM

Hey Barry, Sorry to hear you're in hospital. I may try to come by if I'm in town. I'd sing you a liver shanty but I think you may have had your fill by the looks of this thread. Wishing you well,

David. (Revels)

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: GUEST,Melani
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 02:02 PM

I'm sure things will work out well for you, and I'm looking forward to meeting you when you're in San Francisco. Meanwhile, I will be teaching the transplant chanties to my husband--he's a biomedical researcher at UCSF. I can just hear the whole lab singing them already.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: GUEST,bedridden Barry
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 12:06 PM

Hi all & thanks for all the espically kind words & wishes & the offers of lamb livers & liver shivers but sadly only a full plate of the real human kind will do. I'm still in a holding patten waiting for the real deal to come in & I'm still at the top of the food chain so things are still looking very good.

Sandy & Dan, thanks so much for Dan's new CD, I got it last night & have been listening to it non stop ever since. I'll give my 2 cents worth in the thread covering this.

Thanks again to all who've posted, my sis will be back for her loan of this laptop later on in the day so I'll post back when I can with any news. Barry

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: SINSULL
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 11:33 AM

Maybe you can write it on your stomach in magic marker just before going into surgery - worked for the kid on "Malcolm In The Middle". Love you, Barry.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 11:26 AM

You're right about that CamiSu.......Many of us are checking in at times and waiting to hear.

Barry, I'm not religious either as you know, but I swear all the prayers, wishes, thoughts, and all from this place DO make a difference! And if nothing else, you'll be going into this laughing (and confusing the Docs) just thinking about Jeri's brilliant piece of work! Best as always,

Spaw

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: CamiSu
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 10:51 AM

So Barry, How ARE you?! Please find that new liver soon! (Would a lamb liver do?)

Thinking of you and checking daily.

CamiSu

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 04:00 AM

Ow! LOL! What can of worms have I opened with this?

These are great. Jeri, you are a flipping genius. If laughter is really the best medicine then Barry should be well on his way to a full recovery.

Hmmm, I just spent a few minutes working on a chanty but cannot achieve an acceptable level of humor. Gonna have to work on it for a while.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 03:31 AM

Oh, the surgeon is here with a knife sharp and keen.

Bold Barry-0, bold Barry.

He worked all day and..oops, took out your spleen.

Bold Barry-0's surgeon's gone awry.

C'mon deliver, where the hell's my new liver. Bold Barry-0, bold Barry.

Oy. That's enough.

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Dani
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 04:12 PM

Oh, Jeri. That hurt...

Hey Barry, can you use any ol' liver? Haven't I heard of them taking a piece of someone else's and both getting along? I'd share, but you can't have the whole thing 'til I'm done with it... and I do like my whiskey. But I would share!

Dani

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 02:28 PM

BRAVO JERI!!!!!! LMAO................well sorta'................perhaps a shade too much reality........

Spaw

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Bert
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 02:28 PM

AARRH, Shiver me timbers and swap me liver!

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Jeri
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 02:26 PM

I hope not!

Seriously, I don't know whether I want to be irreverent. However, I can see Barry one day explaining all this to someone..."There I was, flipping trapped and miserable in the gosh darned hospital, waiting for a major operation, and these flipping idiots were writing flipping moronic songs about my gosh darned situation." ...or words to that effect.

We love you and want you through this quickly and as painlessly as possible so you can yell at us for writing dumb songs.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: SINSULL
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 02:13 PM

Great! Poor Barry will have surgery, be warned not to sneeze for fear of tearing his stitches, and instead laugh himself into a new dose of painkillers! Actually, good work, Jeri. Is that one going to "Sing Out!" too?

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Jeri
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 01:57 PM

I started, but taste told me to shut up. This is serious...now you've gone and encouraged me...your fault!

O the times are hard for Barry Finn,
Liver, Barry's liver
Take the old one out, put the new one in
And it's time for Barry's liver

Liver, Barry's liver
Oh, liver, Barry's liver!
...oy..maybe not.

Maybe this one:
I dreamed a dream the other night
Bedpans, bedpans away my John
I saw a nurse, all dressed all in white
Bedpans, away.

She came to me at my bedside
Dressed all in white like some fair bride.

And in one hand, a shining bowl
And in the other, a Charmin roll

She made no sign, no word she said
I knew that I must dump in bed.

She took the pan, she said goodnight
And carried off the pan of...

And then awoke to hear the cry,
"No more onions for the Barry boy"

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 01:47 PM

I like it Naes....turning a nice healthy pink as they tune up his new filtering system....yeah...

Heel yo ho, boys; stitch it in, boys;
Bring the new liver round, into our Barry,
Hill you ho, boys, stitch it in, boys
Send Barry homeward, all shiny and pink!

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Bert
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 01:42 PM

...and getting delivered, and relivered maybe?

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Naemanson
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 01:34 PM

I wonder if we could write some transplant chanties in honor of Barry's current adventure. Maybe something about getting lucky in the liver pool...

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Max
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 11:05 AM

Had a dream last night that I went to visit Barry. He looked good and he was just pointing at his midsection. I guess that means I'm thinking about you Barry. Stay tough, get well.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 05:33 AM

...and there's the world famous TIPLE BYPASS that 'Spaw has been eager to try...
RtS

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 03:57 AM

There's that stuff in those boxes in the boiler room we were about to burn, 'Spaw, might be something there. I thing there's enough bits of Cher and Michael Jackson there to build something.
Add my good wishes to the rest, Barry.
RtS (late as usual)

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 11:48 PM

Well kat, Skiff and I wish you'd mentioned this earlier as our Spare Parts Repository is a bit low at the moment. We do however have a fine assortment of artificial parts that require no anti-rejection meds by the user, although in some cases the meds may be needed by those around the recipient.

For instance, we have 27 Nancy Reagan Vacuous Smiles which are always in demand by those who have spent time in the James Taylor Rehab Wing for the Chronically Bland at the NYCFTTS. Modeled after James himself, we have 48 Pre-Conditioned Electronic Voice Boxes programmed to make everything you sing sound like "Fire and Rain." Of course there are always a large supply of the special model (built for Neil himself) of the Neil Young "Fart of Gold" Rubber Assholes.

I'll check on the other parts we have from Mudcat donations by members and get back to you. Barry can pick and choose as he wishes.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 11:09 PM

Hey Kat. Are those good for weight loss, plastic surgery, and excess hair removal??? May want to auction one or two off.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 02:45 PM

WW, good to see you in here!

Barry, I am putting Catspaw and Roger the Skiffler on alert, as a Mudcat Healing Certificate good for various body parts from the NYCFTTS is on its way to you, today. And, it is good forever, no expiration date...so look around, pick up a few other spare parts while you're at it!*bg*

Seriously...know that you are in our hearts and minds and all good wishes are coming your way,

kat

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: GUEST,Winters Wages
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 12:30 PM

My prayers and thoughts are with you Barry..and with your family as well. We know you will get through this. these are set backs that take placve in life for reasons (whish the hell I knew why) but for some reason they tend to help us along lifes path. Hang in there! Do not be discouraged...You are going to be just fine. Regads..Lloyd Jones, San Francisco Ca.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: annamill
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 12:16 PM

I come back to work today and what do I find? One of my favorite Honey's is in trouble! I love Barry and his kindness and especially his voice. I hope, beyond belief, that this man is well. We need him here. Hell, we need him everywhere!

All love, annamill

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Jacob B
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 11:38 AM

Just in case the card I mailed this morning doesn't get there - Get Well! And see you at NEFFA.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: dwditty
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 11:30 AM

Hey Barry,

Remember a few years ago when Max set up a chat room at the Mudcat? You and I spent some time in there and somehow you knew I was from New Haven. I still don't know how you did that. Maybe it was MYSTICal!!

Anyway get back in shape so you can amaze us some more with your talents and kind manner. God Bless.

dw

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 11:18 AM

My gawd, Barry! We go offline for a coupla days (thanks to the phone company who was screwing up, I mean "fixing", the phone cable) and look what happens!

Curmudgeon and I have known Barry for nigh on to 10 years, thanks to John Nolan who threw us all together (like neeps and tatties) at his traditional Burns Night celebrations.

I hope this replacement of body parts is under warranty! Get a good one, Barry! We're all pulling for you -- hope to see you at NEFFA. (I'm off to San Francisco in a week.)

I let Bob Frost know (while our phone line was out of commission) to pass the word amongst the Friday night Press Room types.
Bat Goddess

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Ferrara
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 11:18 PM

I wonder how many of the cards sent to the wrong address will reach him? I sent one out today, too. I suspect they'll get to him anyway.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Sorcha
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 10:32 PM

Gods, I hope the transplant works........I can't recall ever hearing Barry sing, but from what the rest of you say, it's worth waiting for..........celery stalk and all. No matter where he puts it. Please get well, Barry, we obviously need you badly!

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Tinker
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 10:24 PM

I started to send a card, and light a candle, then I remembered the man at Getaway, the guy this was going out too... I think I'll send out the prayers and best wishes on the dragon gong again ... It's the only instrument in the house with the resonance to keep up with Barry...

Tinker

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 10:11 PM

Barry will need the sign I saw once:

"If things don't get any better, I may have to ask you to stop helping me"

sounds like he's in good spirits,,,what else would we expect? He's a positive kind of guy.....

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 10:11 PM

Naw, I was gonna just send it and let him figure that out hisseff Sinsull.

~S~

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 09:54 PM

Barry,
It appears that Susan is about to approach you with a sound system mounted on something resembling a celery stalk. She claims it is for "internal" use. Make damn sure you know where she plans to stick it before accepting the favor. Don't need any additional medical problems.
Be well, love.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 09:47 PM

Barry:

Good luck, and glad to hear that things look more promising than when you checked in. We look forward to seeing you up and at 'em at the next Getaway. I hope you are getting more sleep where you are now than we did then. Do they allow sing arounds in the hospital? If anyone is snoring loudly in your vicinity we can send some emergency ear plugs up by Fed Ex.

JAB (the sonorous snorer).

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Wotcha
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 05:57 PM

Barry,
We met briefly at the Mystic Sea Music Festival in 99: you have a great voice that we all know will continue to echo down the Eastern seaboard. Your scholarship is also one of the treasures of the Mudcat Cafe.
Wishing you all the best.
Cheers,
Brian

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 05:36 PM

I hope the post office can manage to find Mass General, even if it isn't on 3rd Street. If you don't get the "Irish in America" CD in a couple of days, Barry, send up a signal flag and we'll mail another one! The first one went out today. Now get on with the "getting well" part of your assignment. We will expect to see you at NEFFA!

Sandy

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 05:34 PM

Barry, please get well soon. I'll be performing at the Stonehill Festival in June. Any chance of taking the new liver out for a trial run.....?

Seamus

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 05:20 PM

Well, I sent a card to the address John posted, but I'll send another one to the right address! Great to hear from you, Barry!

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Peg
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 05:13 PM

I think I will stop in and see Barry tomorrow or Wedneday...and bring him some milk thistle tea bags!

Good to hear from you Barry' stay strong.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: radriano
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 04:34 PM

When I was looking for the lyrics to a certain song that Barry knew he called long distance and sang the song into my answering machine. He didn't know who I was at the time although it turned out that I had met him when he and Riggy came to San Francisco many years ago.

That's just the kind of guy Barry is. I wish him well and hope that the transplant is successful.

Richard

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Bert
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 04:28 PM

...two tiny Sony speakers mounted for internal use... I don't like the sound of that.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 04:08 PM

Maybe I should send Barry the Ma-Sooz-a-Phone we just made. (JenEllen came up with the name.) Oh, it's for music therapy. It has two tiny Sony speakers mounted for internal use. Patient picks the CD. As soon as I get a Y-splitter from radio Shack, the patient can listen through their ears too. Barry can be our test subject. I had been saving it for Spaw's upcoming procedure; it looks a little like a celery stalk.

After all, prayer is not everything.

~S~

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 03:50 PM

Jeri, evidently they got Barry's meds mixed up with Art's...........

Spaw

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: CarolC
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 03:45 PM

Barry, my best thoughts and wishes go to you and your loved ones. Good luck with everything.

Carol

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: Jeri
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 03:43 PM

"Here today and gone to Maui" - ?!?!?! What sort of medication do they have you on!? Great to hear from you, even if you make puns like that one!

I can't tell you how shocked I was to learn of your predicament - that post up there was so short because I just couldn't put what I was feeling into words. I still can't. Anyhow, I hope the liver comes soon. In the meantime, maybe you can teach your fellow patients some shanties.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 03:42 PM

Barry, what a clearshining mirror of love and concern there is here. Sometimes the best way to get to know someone is through the kind words said by those who love us. Your situation will be put before the prayer partners in the prayer chain later this afternoon, and they will have a link to this thread too, to get updates and express their concern and caring personally.

One of the people in the chain who has long been praying for others (Lauri, my best girl pal), is on the prayer list herself now as she is completing some tests for her own liver. I know she will pray for you especially sensitively and I would just ask that you keep her in your thoughts as well. She seems to attract much the same kind of feeling you do.

Rest well. Remember this is hard work your body is and will be doing-- please be sure to make lots and lots of room to recover.

~Susan