[sawgrass]

Steel Head that kitty has a sweet face!

[BobInTX]

Originally Posted by Lone_Wolfe

Got a bit of good news today, my 3 months remission check came back clear.

That's awesome!

[Lone_Wolfe]

Originally Posted by Magnus2131

Sorry not the best of friends all the time but you and Silent Runner are ALWAYS in my prayers.

What do you mean, you're not a good friend? I think you are!

Originally Posted by Lady Glock

Awesome news Wolfe!!!! I'm so happy to hear this! : thumbsup:: dancingbanana:

Thank you. Not I got to see if I can go back to work, since my insurance isn't covering me anymore.

Originally Posted by Lady Glock

An update about my pain issues...

Yay...I saw my pain management doctor yesterday...he seems to think he knows why I still hurt so bad and how he is going to treat me for the problem. Already, he is giving me meds that are going to help…then I have 2 shots scheduled and a nerve induction test to see if they waited too long and let the nerve get damaged. He says one problem is that I probably have a large growth of scar tissue that is causing me pain issues. Only one outstanding problem, still nothing to help with muscle relaxing as he is not comfortable giving me diazepam since I have sleep apnea and that coupled with diazepam (valium) has been known to cause people to not wake up when they have others contributing issues such as I do such as weight and diabetes.

I really hope the new doc can do you sone good.

Originally Posted by Steel Head

Got a bit of good news today, my 3 months remission check came back clear.


Good to hear: supergrin:
Fat Cat can relax now.

What a beautiful face!

Originally Posted by sawgrass

That is great news LW!

I've spent most of this week at the hospital with my best friend. She has some type of bacteria going on with elevated organ enzymes. The current IV antibiotic seems to be working, thankfully. I'm ready for some sleep. They might let her out later today on oral antibiotics. If so she is coming here for a couple of days.

I've seen fake but very real looking toy guns at Fleet Farm.
I'll check for an AK.

Thinking of you and Gloria and her family.

Thank you for that, she and her family needs the prayers.

Sounds like you're a pretty good friend yoursel. Hope your friend is OK now.

Still haven't found a suitable rubber duck. On another part of GT I mentioned destroying the real one and got called a 'Gun grabber'.

Originally Posted by BobInTX

That's awesome!

Thank you. I hope to be able to go back to work soon, I'm even still hoping I can go back to the sand and finally finish a tour in that damn place. I need to do something, because I found out today that my insurance has dropped my disability claim. Not like that's a surprise.

Another bit of slightly bad news, I have a URI once again. Oh, joy.... Another case of getting a little congestion, and not coughing well enough to clear it because it hurts too much. So once again, an infection. Called the VA early this morning, they didn't want to do squat. They tried to say it's not related to my injury. So why did I never have one before getting shot, and now have had a half dozen? ....... I went to a doctor on my private insurance and got it treated. I wasn't admitted to the hospital, but might end up if it gets worse. So now I have the fun of trying to get over this without wishing someone would just shoot me again. Oh wait, too late for that........


Update on Gloria; The news just gets worse, as expected. She gets worse in fits and spurts, which I'm learning is the norm. I really wish I could go back up and be with er now, but she doesn't want me to remember her this way. I have to respect her wishes. She did give the OK for me to give her Glock to her younger daughter, so I went to the storage locker over the weekend and got it and a few others that I'm going to start selling off.

I talked to her older daughter yesterday, and asked her to give Glorai an extra Mother's Day hug for me. She finally just broke down and cried and cried. She kept saying she was sorry, I told her not to be, I understand how hard this is for her. Hospice has been called in, they'll be there daily helping to keep Gloria comfortable. None of us think it'll be much longer at all, and they'll do as much as they can to keep her out of pain. I remember how much of a difference they made for Jeff, I'm so glad they're there for Gloria, too.

[NeverMore1701]

It's a bittersweet thing, but it sounds like she'll soon be at peace

[Glock26girl]

Well, I'm super happy that you came back cancer free, upset that you are losing your insurance, ticked that you have another uri and both sad and happy that Gloria will be at peace soon.

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned, though, is your staying in your house and driving your truck. That is such a HUGE step from a year ago, Wolfe. I bet you could get some part-time high paying gig with your computer skills. I spent years doing computer consulting work, making really good money because they didn't have to pay for benefits. With your experience, I bet you would be a shoo-in if you were interested in it. I did a lot of work from home, too. If you want to msg. me about details, I'm here. Although, if you are up to working full-time, insurance would be great, too.

God bless all of you good people who keep up with our girl.

[Lady Glock]

Originally Posted by Lone_Wolfe

Update on Gloria; The news just gets worse, as expected. She gets worse in fits and spurts, which I'm learning is the norm. I really wish I could go back up and be with er now, but she doesn't want me to remember her this way. I have to respect her wishes. She did give the OK for me to give her Glock to her younger daughter, so I went to the storage locker over the weekend and got it and a few others that I'm going to start selling off.

I talked to her older daughter yesterday, and asked her to give Glorai an extra Mother's Day hug for me. She finally just broke down and cried and cried. She kept saying she was sorry, I told her not to be, I understand how hard this is for her. Hospice has been called in, they'll be there daily helping to keep Gloria comfortable. None of us think it'll be much longer at all, and they'll do as much as they can to keep her out of pain. I remember how much of a difference they made for Jeff, I'm so glad they're there for Gloria, too.

I'm so sorry to hear this Wolfe...I know you want to be there, and maybe you should disobey her and go see her anyway...I can't imagine she would be mad at you for that. I will keep praying, and ask God to give her relief from pain, and give her peace. I know that means passing, but I just want her to be able to rest...God bless you for being such an awesome friend. I'll be saying many prayers for you and for Gloria's family. Comfort for all who will mourn for her.

[DustyJacket]

Once again, words fail me.

[DustyJacket]

I think it is time to give FATE the stink-eye

[BobInTX]

I pray that Gloria will go soon and with peace. You have been good friends to each other and I know it hurts.

[Lone_Wolfe]

Originally Posted by NeverMore1701

It's a bittersweet thing, but it sounds like she'll soon be at peace : crying:

Yeah, I hope.

Originally Posted by Glock26girl

Well, I'm super happy that you came back cancer free, upset that you are losing your insurance, ticked that you have another uri and both sad and happy that Gloria will be at peace soon.

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned, though, is your staying in your house and driving your truck. That is such a HUGE step from a year ago, Wolfe. I bet you could get some part-time high paying gig with your computer skills. I spent years doing computer consulting work, making really good money because they didn't have to pay for benefits. With your experience, I bet you would be a shoo-in if you were interested in it. I did a lot of work from home, too. If you want to msg. me about details, I'm here. Although, if you are up to working full-time, insurance would be great, too.

God bless all of you good people who keep up with our girl.

Yeah, that's pretty much the mix of feelings I have. Mostly sad, thinking about Gloria.

I drive my truck a little, short distances. I can't do computer work anymore, the effects of the chemo messed up up my brain to the point I can't figure things out anymore. It's so frustrating, I even had to give up on some local work I tried to do because I was just lost looking at it. I don't know what I'm going to do.

Originally Posted by Lady Glock

I'm so sorry to hear this Wolfe...I know you want to be there, and maybe you should disobey her and go see her anyway...I can't imagine she would be mad at you for that. I will keep praying, and ask God to give her relief from pain, and give her peace. I know that means passing, but I just want her to be able to rest...God bless you for being such an awesome friend. I'll be saying many prayers for you and for Gloria's family. Comfort for all who will mourn for her. : crying:

You don't know how close I've come to buying that plane ticket, or how many times. I want to so bad, but she said no. She really doesn't want me to see her like she is now. Only immediate family and hospice nurses now.

Originally Posted by DustyJacket

Once again, words fail me.

: crying:

Me too.

Originally Posted by DustyJacket

I think it is time to give FATE the stink-eye

Not stinky enough.

Originally Posted by BobInTX

I pray that Gloria will go soon and with peace. You have been good friends to each other and I know it hurts.

Yep, it sure as hell does.

[Lady Glock]

Originally Posted by Lone_Wolfe

I drive my truck a little, short distances. I can't do computer work anymore, the effects of the chemo messed up up my brain to the point I can't figure things out anymore. It's so frustrating, I even had to give up on some local work I tried to do because I was just lost looking at it. I don't know what I'm going to do.

I'm glad to hear you are gaining some of your independence back...able to drive yourself, even if it is only short distances so far. As for your frustration, don't give up...just get some old, broke down equipment and keep working at it...I think you'll find your memory comes back. Maybe if you just tinker, muscle memory will take over and remind you. Or...get a grant and go back to school! Something that will take your mind off all the things that are keeping you down. Whatever you decide...you will be in my prayers and I'm sure the prayers of many others here. We're family now...so, on to the second part of my reply...

Originally Posted by Lone_Wolfe

You don't know how close I've come to buying that plane ticket, or how many times. I want to so bad, but she said no. She really doesn't want me to see her like she is now. Only immediate family and hospice nurses now.

You are her family...have been for many years. Maybe not blood, but family in our dear brother Jesus! I'm afraid it will hurt you more if you don't go...I honestly don't think she would hold it against you if you tell her you HAD to see her, HAD to be there to give her the comfort of your friendship. That NOTHING you see now will change how you remember her in your heart...and that you NEEDED to be there for YOU too...You might even give her the strength she needs to let go, and have the peace she so desperately needs to accept. You are a good friend...and an even better SISTER.

[Lone_Wolfe]

Originally Posted by Lady Glock

I'm glad to hear you are gaining some of your independence back...able to drive yourself, even if it is only short distances so far. As for your frustration, don't give up...just get some old, broke down equipment and keep working at it...I think you'll find your memory comes back. Maybe if you just tinker, muscle memory will take over and remind you. Or...get a grant and go back to school! Something that will take your mind off all the things that are keeping you down. Whatever you decide...you will be in my prayers and I'm sure the prayers of many others here. We're family now...so, on to the second part of my reply...

Yep, on the driving part I'm not back to where I'd gotten before I started chemo, but I can go get my own groceries and stuff. I know that doesn't seem like much to most people, but it matters to me because I don't have anyone to do that stuff for me anymore. My other friend who took care of me during chemo just had her second knee replaced, so she's the one needing care right now. I've gotten take-out for her a couple times this past week.

I'd like to be able to go down to the Gulf like I did last year, even if it did take me 2 days before I could drive back from Mobile. I may try to go to Pensacola next month. I know better than to go on Memorial Day weekend.

I'm trying to work with computers a bit lately. So far, no progress, but I still mess with them some. My own laptop has some problems that I used to be good at fixing, so I need to get it back soon.

You are her family...have been for many years. Maybe not blood, but family in our dear brother Jesus! I'm afraid it will hurt you more if you don't go...I honestly don't think she would hold it against you if you tell her you HAD to see her, HAD to be there to give her the comfort of your friendship. That NOTHING you see now will change how you remember her in your heart...and that you NEEDED to be there for YOU too...You might even give her the strength she needs to let go, and have the peace she so desperately needs to accept. You are a good friend...and an even better SISTER.

I've been thinking about this a lot, and it's tearing me up. She made me promise I wouldn't sit there and watch her die, and I did promise. She said not to come back when I was leaving last time, but I could tell she was saying that for my benefit, not hers. But I really need to see her again, to thank her once again for all she's done for my in the 20+ years we've been friends. If I could somehow make it easier for her body to let go, I'd gladly take my lumps when she comes back and raises hell with me. Mrs VR made a comment recently about needing an excercist for her mother if the family doesn't act right, I wonder if he'll give package deals if 2 GT'ers hire him.

I know I can't travel yet, even if her daughter OK's it. This URI still has me so sick I'm barely staying out of the ER. I have the feeling if Gloria was here, she'd already have carted my ass to the hospital. Pardon my typos, there's something wrong with my monitor. It keeps blurring.

[Lady Glock]

Originally Posted by Lone_Wolfe

I've been thinking about this a lot, and it's tearing me up. She made me promise I wouldn't sit there and watch her die, and I did promise. She said not to come back when I was leaving last time, but I could tell she was saying that for my benefit, not hers. But I really need to see her again, to thank her once again for all she's done for my in the 20+ years we've been friends. If I could somehow make it easier for her body to let go, I'd gladly take my lumps when she comes back and raises hell with me. Mrs VR made a comment recently about needing an excercist for her mother if the family doesn't act right, I wonder if he'll give package deals if 2 GT'ers hire him.

I know I can't travel yet, even if her daughter OK's it. This URI still has me so sick I'm barely staying out of the ER. I have the feeling if Gloria was here, she'd already have carted my ass to the hospital. Pardon my typos, there's something wrong with my monitor. It keeps blurring.

Just show up, the daughter wouldn't refuse you if you show up and ask face to face, would she?

Get you better first though...if you don't take care of you, who will?

What do you do when you go shopping and have groceries to carry in? It's too much weight for you to lift to carry them in yourself, isn't it? I have 2 sweet little neighbor kids that I have given them .50 cents each to carry in a few bags...once, I had a large shopping trip that needed unloaded and paid each a dollar....they were happy to do it, and their mother is such a sweetheart to allow them to help me. Usually, I don't go shopping without my boy as he is the best at helping with the actual shopping and unloading, then I make the girl get up and help with the putting away. She's anxious to get her own place now, but can't until she finds a job...and she's not putting much effort into finding a job.

Anyway...get better and then take the time to go see your friend...whether she realizes it or not, she needs you. It sounds like she is hanging on with all her might for everyone else...she needs to know that she doesn't have to...and that she is loved, and as long as people hold on to her memory...she's still here, with them all.

Gentle hugs...I hope everything starts looking up for you. I'll pray for you and Gloria and all her family...as well as the others on this thread who need prayers.

BTW...next week is a busy week for me and I sure would appreciate some prayer

Monday=therapy
Tuesday=shot to the back
Wednesday=nerve induction test
Thursday=upper endoscopy
Friday=therapy

[Lone_Wolfe]

Originally Posted by Lady Glock

Just show up, the daughter wouldn't refuse you if you show up and ask face to face, would she?

Get you better first though...if you don't take care of you, who will?

What do you do when you go shopping and have groceries to carry in? It's too much weight for you to lift to carry them in yourself, isn't it? I have 2 sweet little neighbor kids that I have given them .50 cents each to carry in a few bags...once, I had a large shopping trip that needed unloaded and paid each a dollar....they were happy to do it, and their mother is such a sweetheart to allow them to help me. Usually, I don't go shopping without my boy as he is the best at helping with the actual shopping and unloading, then I make the girl get up and help with the putting away. She's anxious to get her own place now, but can't until she finds a job...and she's not putting much effort into finding a job.

Anyway...get better and then take the time to go see your friend...whether she realizes it or not, she needs you. It sounds like she is hanging on with all her might for everyone else...she needs to know that she doesn't have to...and that she is loved, and as long as people hold on to her memory...she's still here, with them all.

Gentle hugs...I hope everything starts looking up for you. I'll pray for you and Gloria and all her family...as well as the others on this thread who need prayers.

BTW...next week is a busy week for me and I sure would appreciate some prayer

Monday=therapy
Tuesday=shot to the back
Wednesday=nerve induction test
Thursday=upper endoscopy
Friday=therapy

I'd need her daughter to pick me up from the airport, plus I'd be staying in her house, so I can't just show up unannounced. I'm going to ask as soon as I know when I can travel. I'm still not close to over this URI yet. And damn, it hurts!

Carrying groceries isn't too bad. My injury makes it painful for me to do anything that requires pushing, like opening a heavy door. Lifting a bag straight up is tolerable as long as it's not heavy. I'm only shopping for me, so I don't get a ton of stuff at once. I also don't buy large quantities of anything. For example, I buy 4# bags of potatoes instead of 10#. Any more than that would have time to go bad on me. Plus, I've got all my pain meds to help me deal with what does make me hurt worse.

Your week sounds like this past week for me, trying to get over this MRI. Prayers going up for you. Is Ranger walking OK on her own yet?

[Lady Glock]

Originally Posted by Lone_Wolfe

I'd need her daughter to pick me up from the airport, plus I'd be staying in her house, so I can't just show up unannounced. I'm going to ask as soon as I know when I can travel. I'm still not close to over this URI yet. And damn, it hurts!

Carrying groceries isn't too bad. My injury makes it painful for me to do anything that requires pushing, like opening a heavy door. Lifting a bag straight up is tolerable as long as it's not heavy. I'm only shopping for me, so I don't get a ton of stuff at once. I also don't buy large quantities of anything. For example, I buy 4# bags of potatoes instead of 10#. Any more than that would have time to go bad on me. Plus, I've got all my pain meds to help me deal with what does make me hurt worse.

Your week sounds like this past week for me, trying to get over this MRI. Prayers going up for you. Is Ranger walking OK on her own yet?

Sorry, my bad...I didn't realize you would be staying with them so yeah, bad idea to just show up unannounced. I'm praying your URI is healed soon so you can go see her!

As for heavy doors...have you tried walking through it backwards, using your legs and butt to open the door? That's how I have to open doors that don't have the handicap openers...especially doors that are really heavy. It hurts like crazy to use my arms to open the door. My back just hates me!!

Thank you so much for the prayers...next week is already causing me anxiety...I hate being poked and prodded....and having to go through it without sedation is just a horrifying thought for me. Wish I could get the happy drug that makes me believe I was asleep for it, so I don't remember anything about it. I will be completely under on Thursday...They will be putting a tube down my throat with a camera and another tool that allows them to expand the circumfrence of the tube and push out on my esophagus. They are checking for a narrowing of my throat that is causing me to choke on anything and everything including liquids from Water/coffee to soda. I've had to have the Heimlich a few times...once for a drink of flat soda and once from a bite of meat. It's scary when you can't get a breath

Ranger is walking, sometimes using one cane now and sometimes without the cane at all but then she's easily unbalanced. She is getting better, and actually has walked into a store to introduce herself to the manager and to tell them she has applied for work, and looks forward to hearing back from them. I've helped her write a letter of interest/cover letter...and I hope to get her out today so we can work on a resume...the only problem is, she has no jobs or job skills to list. We are making sure to put her CPR certification and her fluent sign language abilities -self taught, but we don't say that. She is so good with sign language our church has asked her to stand in for their normal person when that person isn't available...she didn't accept the offer though, she doens't want to HAVE to attend church when she doesn't feel like it, and if she agreed...she would have to go, and possibly to other services that she wouldn't normally attend. That would have been great to add that to her resume, but she didn't think about that at the time.

[Lone_Wolfe]

The antibiotics have done their job on the infection, so that's getting better. I'm still coughing up a lot, but it's normal now. My chest hurts like you don't want to know from all the coughing on top of everything else, I could swallow a whole bottle of pain meds and I don't think it'd help. The weather we've had lately doesn't help, either. I did call Gloria's daughter today and ask, she said she'd let me know later. She's going to ask Gloria later, she didn't want to wake her when she's comfortable. I don't mind waiting for that reason.

For heavy doors, I turn and use a shoulder to push carefully. That's usually OK, as long as I don't actually hit the door. If I forget and hit my shoulder on the door, I get a sharp reminder right where the ribs connect to the sternum. Ouch!

I know how scary not being able to breathe is, for sure. Hope they find what's causing your's. Why won't they sedate you? I have to be knocked out for almost anything.

Glad to hear Ranger's doing better, hope that continues. Maybe she'll find a good job soon that has her doing even more walking.

[Lady Glock]

Originally Posted by Lone_Wolfe

The antibiotics have done their job on the infection, so that's getting better. I'm still coughing up a lot, but it's normal now. My chest hurts like you don't want to know from all the coughing on top of everything else, I could swallow a whole bottle of pain meds and I don't think it'd help. The weather we've had lately doesn't help, either. I did call Gloria's daughter today and ask, she said she'd let me know later. She's going to ask Gloria later, she didn't want to wake her when she's comfortable. I don't mind waiting for that reason.

For heavy doors, I turn and use a shoulder to push carefully. That's usually OK, as long as I don't actually hit the door. If I forget and hit my shoulder on the door, I get a sharp reminder right where the ribs connect to the sternum. Ouch!

I know how scary not being able to breathe is, for sure. Hope they find what's causing your's. Why won't they sedate you? I have to be knocked out for almost anything.

Glad to hear Ranger's doing better, hope that continues. Maybe she'll find a good job soon that has her doing even more walking.

The issue with me having a hard time breathing only happens if my blood is too thick which is part of me not being on the right dose of thinners...for the next 3 weeks, it's going to get bad as I have 3 seperate procedures that I can't be on the thinners when I go in.

As for not knocking me out, or at least giving me the twilight drugs, they say they never have and never will...doesn't matter about the anxiety, they will give me valium, but that's it...it's a 5 minute procedure and they don't have an anethesiologist on location to give it. They may refer me back to my surgeon for this shot series since they have the ability to give me the twilight drugs, and they know of my anxiety issues. Saw my surgeon today, and he said "you're freaking out...what's wrong" so I told him and he said "you need to call them and find out what they can do" I told him I had already let them know how bad I get and he said "if they could see you right now, they wouldn't follow through with the shot for fear of you having a cardiac issue". So...maybe next tuesday (when it's been reschedule for, giving me another week to freak) they will decide to refer me back to Dr Ammar for the shot since they can sedate me with the better meds.

I find on opening doors...I do it better if I put my tush against it and walk backwards through it...if I try to use my upper body in any way for a heavy door, the pain is excruciating! Wonder if that might work better for you too?

I'm glad the antibiotics have done as they should and you are on the way to getting better...I will pray that Gloria and hers will agree to let you go back to see her...I hope Ranger finds a job soon...as my landlord is about to put her out on the streets since she is 18. I would have to go too as I can't in good concience, put my baby out without somewhere to call home and be safe

[sawgrass]

LW I hope it works out that you can go.
Glad to hear that the infection is getting better.

Hopefully the weather will improve soon.

Things are still busy. My friend is responding well to the anti-biotics, thankfully. She had e-coli. Don't know where she got it.

Things at 'home' are still bad. I need to figure out a way to get my Stepdad up here to Mayo. He is still very sick and my Mom is having a hard time taking care of him. Her knee didn't have a chance to heal properly with his illness occurring days after her surgery.

One bit of good news, is that my Uncle has completed all of the deed paperwork and is waiting for my signature. He is giving me Grannies old place which includes a few acres of land and her house. It's home to all of us and he knows that I will take care of it. It means a lot to me.

[faawrenchbndr]

L_W........1st blooms of the year