Sally's a bit better II

Subject: Sally's a bit better II
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 01:17 AM

After not hearing anything for a couple of days and being too busy with school to go see her myself, I went to see Sally today: She was awake--still not talking, still weak, but definitely alert, seeing what is going on. She smiled when her daughter Bebe came in and enjoyed listening to a tape of us playing at her house Monday night. I'll visit her again tomorrow and Monday, and I hope that at last she is beginning to come out of it.

--seed

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 01:28 AM

Charles, that is wonderful news. Keep up the good work and friendship. I continue to hold Sally, Bebe and the rest of you in my thoughts and prayers.

luvyaKat

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 09:50 AM

Great news! Keep healing, Sally- we're all with you!
Allison

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 10:09 AM

Seed, I've been going through one of my own anger with life and God phases (selfish I know) but having "exploded" in one thread, I seem to have come out of it now.

I just wanted to say that Sally is in my prayers and I am pleased to hear that there are signs of recovery.

Jon

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: jeffp
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 10:25 AM

Charles, that is indeed great news! I hope she will continue to recover and improve. Good thoughts and prayers from here to you all.

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Áine
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 10:39 AM

Dear 'Seed,

That great news about Sally. We're still in there with you all with all good prayers and thoughts.

Take care, Áine

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Neil Lowe
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 10:56 AM

...slowly but surely...is encouraging.

Hoping it keeps going that way.

Neil

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: lloyd61
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 11:29 AM

Lets claim victory for this level of recovery and pray for continue healing.

lloyd

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 12:24 PM

Sounds like definite improvement. Hope to hear more good news soon. This will take time as you're well aware, but she can make a complete recovery. You know that Karen and I continue to send our best.

In the great cycle of things, Karen's grandmother passed last night with Karen at her side. She was long past truly having much awareness of her surroundings or people, but interestingly enough, she waited somehow for Karen to arrive at the ER...died about 10 minutes later. Just kind of assures me that some awareness is there, even in her physical and mental condition. Karen is doing fine and she too was prepared. Grandma raised her and was very much the mother to her for many years. But the past few years have been hard on them both and now n both can rest. Hope that doesn't seem hard and uncaring...but we all have a time, and occasionally some live past it. Grandma has been "ready" for several years, but her body was that of the tough old prairie woman she was and wouldn't give up.

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 01:27 PM

Thanks, all my dear friends--and 'Spaw, give my love to Karen: I know what it's like (in the last five years I lost my mother, her sister--my favorite aunt, and my older brother). And Jon, I read your heart-wrenching story and I'm glad you've come to this place where people are so willing to help each other with their burdens--and I appreciate your sharing mine.

Love to you all, --seed

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 04:00 PM

Thank you seed and I to have passed on the same thing to Jon....It is a great place!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: bobby's girl
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 06:31 PM

Holding Sally in my thoughts, hope she continues to progress well, but also thinking about Karen, hope she can go forward from this difficult time love Bobbys girl.

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Banjer
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 07:17 PM

Seed and 'Spaw and Karen, you all are in my thoughts and prayers. Seed, I hope Sally's recovery is swift and 'Spaw and Karen, rest assured I understand the 'living beyond one's time' thought. My Dad also 'lived beyond his time' and it was with mixed feelings that we finally said goodbye to him. We hated to see him go, but knew deep down inside that he must have felt better not going thru the suffering anymore. He too was ready but his body was strong.

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 10:32 PM

Thanks Banj...And we keep awaiting the news of Sally's progress. You need to bring her around when she's better Seed. Right now, subjecting her to TWO banjo players might be a bit much.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Winters Wages
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 10:52 PM

Seed, 'Spaw and Karen...I will say the same...My prayers and thoughts are with you alll. This is a vert tough time of the year for some. I know it is for myself as well. I went through a lot with my Father 8 years ago....Right now though...I just finished viewing 'Saving Pvt. Ryan" for the first time....coupled with "Bridges of Madison County" It's more that 'I can bare...plus I was driving back from Nevda city and a station wqs playing "Christmas In The Trenches" Don't know why I get so emotional these days...Im supposed to be the big tough cop! Seed know what I mean...Anyway...We will pray that Sally recovers and that everyone has a nice Thanksgiving...73's and 88's Winters Wages

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 11:20 PM

Winter's Wages, you can't be a tough cop without the ability to feel such depths of emotions and be able to understand the people you deal with. I'd say that makes you one of the best, since you are honest about your emotions and don't keep them bottled up.

Spaw and Karen, I am sorry, more in an email. I shall miss you all in the next few days. Take care, you will all be in my heart and thoughts.

luvyaKat

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 02:11 AM

Thanks, Lloyd. Sorry I haven't been to see you guys at Quinn's lately: Thursday is a long day for me during the school year, but I'm in serious need of a chantey fix so I'll try to make it next week.

--seed

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Winters Wages
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 10:19 AM

Well, you hang in there Seed...Don't worry about Quinn's I have missed a few nights as well...And of course..we will not be there on turkey day. Thanks Kat..I don't know though...I get to wound up on stuff lately...Regards and Happy Thanksgiving to All Winters Wages

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Micca
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 08:01 PM

Seed Forgive me for bringing a note of levity into this serious threadbut the spelling you used for shanty (chantey) is Glaswegian slang for a "gezunder" called because it used to "goes under the bed" in other words a p**s pot!! so what kind of fix is this that you go for?. My wife just came in to see why I was laughing so hard!!
You, and Sally and all the others (on Kats Mudcat Healing Circle list) who need healing are in my thoughts and are the focus of the love and healing of many here,

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 08:53 PM

Thanks, Micca: I toke Lasix so I often am in urgent need of a piss pot, but I'll have to admit that wasn't what I had in mind. Shanty. Shanty. S-H-A-N-T-Y. All right, now, class: visualize it...Seed, you can't visualize with your eyes open...there that's better. Now, Seed, how do you spell shanty? S-H-A-N-T-Y. Once again? SHANTY. I think he's got it...by George, he's got it: A SHANTY is a song, a CHANTEY is a piss pot.

--seed

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 08:54 PM

Thanks, Micca: I toke Lasix so I often am in urgent need of a piss pot, but I'll have to admit that wasn't what I had in mind. Shanty. Shanty. S-H-A-N-T-Y. All right, now, class: visualize it...Seed, you can't visualize with your eyes open...there that's better. Now, Seed, how do you spell shanty? S-H-A-N-T-Y. Once again? SHANTY. I think he's got it...by George, he's got it: A SHANTY is a song, a CHANTEY is a piss pot.

--seed

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 09:07 PM

There. I did it twice. No more listening to piss pots. I can still think of some songs to piss on ("The Battle Hymn of Lt. Calley," for one. It's right there in the DT, believe it or not.)

I saw Sally a couple of hours ago, and she's definitely much better: very alert, responsive to doctor's and my questions, with feeling in her extremities. I think she's bored silly now, staring at the ceiling--and she hasn't the strength to move her hands. She still has a food tube through her left nostril and an assisted breathing tube through her right, and I'm sure she's as uncomfortable as she is bored. I don't know how long she'll need to put up with that: I would think that she must be close to ready to start breathing on her own--and tasting food, as well. I'll get a medical report from Charlie tonight and post an update.

--seed

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 09:23 PM

Seed, if you go back in there with the banjos, I'm sure she'll get better even faster - just to get away from you.

I'm glad to hear she's doing better. They leave those tubes in until they're absolutely sure the person can get along without them. They need to make sure she regains enough strength to be able to chew, swallow, cough, and do other stuff most of us take for granted.

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 09:37 PM

Jeri, I played and sang for her today, and while she didn't get up and dance, I hope she enjoyed it. But I might read to her when I go in on Wednesday. She ought to enjoy Thurber's story about the poodle on the way to a show when the car (a convertible) breaks down, it starts to rain, and when the mechanic arrives he sees Thurber sitting there holding an umpbrella over the dog, freshly trimmed and beribboned...

--seed

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 09:47 PM

Just kidding Seed. If I were stuck in a hospital, I'd be mighty grateful for some friend-made music. And I do believe that your playing is helping her recover. Sally's lucky to have you as a friend.

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 04:23 AM

Anyone got a lap top with remote facility? Or print out a hard copy. She might appreciate knowing just how many people have been rooting for her, and I'm sure she'd love the story about the jerry. (sorry, lapsed into Dorset there, my dad always called them jerries - probably a hangover from his days in the army, when jerries were there, literally, to be p**sed on.... Oh no, I feel another thread on the lines of b****x coming on!!!! How many names for potties?!!

Love to Sally, and keep going.

LTS

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Áine
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 09:05 AM

Yea! Another step back up the ladder for Sally!! Great news, 'Seed -- if you're going to be giving your banjo a rest and reading instead (no comments, 'Spaw), may I suggest one of my favorite stories that my mom used to read to me when I was sick in bed, 'The Ransom of Red Chief' by O. Henry. Between Thurber and O. Henry, Sally will be and about in no time!

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Micca
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 09:14 AM

For sheer joy read aloud is "The coming of the armadillos" from the Just So Stories by R. Kipling. Its hard to beat.

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: --seed
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 05:09 PM

The Once-Born met at Sally's house last night as usual, and several of the others had been to see her, and their impressions were the same as mine: Sally is back. She still can't move, but she does have sensation and reflex in her hands and feet, her breathing is almost back to normal. The tubes might be coming out of her nose today, making it possible for her to start talking again. The others also agree with my assessment that her real needs now are company and entertainment. We're hoping she'll be back in a room soon, so more of us can visit her at a time and we can play together for her. I'm going to see her tomorrow afternoon and bring both my banjo and my Thurber's Dogs (I've also got to see if I can run down my copy of My Life and Hard Times for" The Day the Dam Broke" and "The Night the Ghost Got In").

By the way, Sally's doctors are amazed at how quickly she is coming back from her near-coma state: I'd like to believe that the Mudcat Healing Circle had a lot to do with that.

Love to all, --seed

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Áine
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 05:36 PM

GO SALLY, GO SALLY, GO SALLY GO!!!!!

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Nov 99 - 01:02 AM

Just take a hard copy of the Limerick thread and read her that!! If that doesn't have her falling out of bed, ROTFALherAO, nothing will!!

(you might leave a copy for the nurses, they like that sort of thing - well the one I used to go out with did - he was the only bloke in an all female nursing home.....retired with exhaustion in the end I think...)

LTS

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Pete Peterson
Date: 24 Nov 99 - 08:06 AM

YEA SALLY YEA SEED YEA all of us. There's a way to go yet, but back from the valley of the shadow is good news! Happy Thanksgiving!

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 25 Nov 99 - 02:15 AM

I was at Sally's hospital from about 5:15 to 7:00 this evening; I started reading to Sally (Thurber's dog stories), but kept being interrupted by her nurse, Brett, who was working with a nursing student, so taking twice as long to start a new IV, etc.; finally, after six, I had finished the first story, a two-parter about Christobel, a black standard he had, part one written when she was about 7, part two when she was a still-healthy 14. Then I read her "The Scottie Who Knew All the Answers," one of Thurber's "Fables for Our Times," and just after I started "The Dog Who Bit People" Bibi (Sylvia's spelling, and I guess she should know) came in, and enjoyed the story with Sally, who was clearly enjoying it. Several others were there, and soon after I finished the last story I went home. Sally's breathing is good and we're hoping she'll soon be off the ventilator. Physically, I don't see much change since Monday--she still can't move her arms or hands, let alone feet--but look forward to more rapid improvement after she gets the plumbing removed from her nose, so she can talk again--and taste food again.

After I saw Sally, I went home where my wife was waiting and we went immediately out to dinner at our favorite Indian restaurant where as soon as we walked in I saw a familiar handlebar moustache: Dave Swan sitting with another woman. He introduced his mother-in-law, I introduced my wife, then Pam appeared with her father-in-law from the back of the restaurant and the introductions were extended. It was a very pleasant surprise. Dave said he and his singing partners (and, of course, Pam) were going to be at the Starry Plough Sunday night to do a few songs. I hadn't seen Pam in a couple of weeks, and Dave since before he picked up the amublance in Ahia and drove it to Piedmont via Dublin and Brisbane.

--seed

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: sophocleese
Date: 25 Nov 99 - 09:39 AM

Bseed. Good to hear the news about Sally. Any body that's been through a severe illness is going to need time to rest and re-explore her abilities. She will be more comfortable when she gets the tubes out. You're both still in my thoughts and I'm glad to hear of any improvement.

Subject: RE: Sally's a bit better II
From: Áine
Date: 26 Nov 99 - 06:16 AM

Dear 'Seed,

It sounds like the nurses just want to hang out in Sally's room and soak up all the positive energy going on in there! Don't worry -- every day can't be a big step forward for her; but, baby steps are still movement forward. Just remember the tortoise and the hare!

Still keeping Sally in our thoughts and prayers. And thank you so much for your message about Mark -- it meant a lot to my son and our family.

Keep well, Áine