Update on Jacky

This is the best news yet!

Jacky has NOT severed her spinal cord, new xrays show. In fact, she even has a little new bone growth! She has been able to wiggle her toes on her broken left leg and push down a little with the flat of her foot. She has even been able to sit up for 3/4 of an hour! They are hoping she will be able to receive visitors in another few weeks, but she has become more actively involved in her own health care now (hehe....now THAT sounds like Jacky!). Her partner, Paul, has returned to work part time, which is awesome too. They hope to move her to the specialist spinal hospital in a few weeks.

Thanks again for all your positive thoughts, good wishes and prayers. Please keep them coming in for Jacky and Paul - great things are happening for them both through this

 

Excellent news Lev.

 

That's wonderful news Lev.

 

Most wonderful Lev hope she makes a full recovery soon

 

Thank you all

 

Lev, please do not take this as any disrespect, it is nothing of the sort at all, but who's jacky, and paul? sorry I wasn't around for a long period, and I think I`ve missed something? if it's only for people who already know, then by all means tell me to pull my head in.

 

Excellent...glad to hear that!!!!

Roger

 

Start here:
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=99087

then here:
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=101520

 

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=99087&highlight=prayers

Woops...I posted at the same time as GT!! Sorry!!

Roger

 

Ahhh, thankyou G.T.! reading now!

 

Just read those threads, I am really sorry to hear that! and even more sorry that I didn't even see those threads since I was back on at that stage, just!

You have my absolute best wishes and prayers Lev! You are alot stronger than most and a real great friend, I`m sure I can speak for alot of us in saying we all wish we had a friend like you that 'really' cared, and felt ever emotion!

Again, my wishes and prayers are on your side! great news regarding her spinal cord & scans!

P.S: I`ve never given a girl flowers before, well I have, but she stomped them on the ground (Years ago, she wanted my BF), they were just roses, so if I have no idea on what flowers are what, I apologize, it's the thought though, right?

 

Nothing to be sorry about rog. We just both helped at the same time. Happens fairly frequently.

 

Wow Luthius. I'm speechless (and it don't happen very often..ask anyone here ) Those are such kind and uplifting things to say - thank you so very much. I really do appreciate them. I appreciate your prayers even more, thank you

And the flowers are awesome.....how did you know that roses are my absolute favorite flower? (long story there, but they truly are!). That's only the second time i my life anyone has given me roses. You are such a sweetie *hugs*

 

Hi Lev,

Your so kind You really do have my best wishes and prayers, it's hard to come across a friend who cares about you in every way! You are a very small, I mean, small minority, which should be nutured! Honestly, most friends, well in my experience, will not go out of their way as you are doing, or in the case of what has happened, cared as much! I can say that Jacky is very grateful & thankful to have you as a friend! I know I would!

I didn't know you liked roses, I just wanted to apoligize for my ignorance, not knowing about all of this earlier, I feel somewhat like an arrogant pratt, I honestly never saw it before today! that's why I was originally confused. Ladies that I have met mostly do not like mind roses, but I have never really giving a girl flowers, which I should actually do one day, get spruced up, switch this thing off, go buy a bunch of kylies favourite flowers (Which I have no clue at the moment) and take her out for dinner, or eat in with the kids, or something, I just don't know how to arrange, or do it without feeling clich'e,.... But back on topic, I am glad you liked them, first real women I`ve given flowers too!

 

Well, that certainly IS great news, Lev! No that they (and you), have our support, prayers and thoughts thought these harsh times.

Take care, Lisa.

 

That is excellent news, Lev!

 

Thank you guys...your support is so gratefully received.

@Luthius - forget about the cliches...just do the flowers/dinner thing how it feels right to you, from your heart. If it is truly from your heart it will come across perfect, and seriously, who cares what anyone but the two of you think of it So you don't know her favorite flower? Buy a mixed bouquet of roses, iris and lilies with some gip and greenery and you won't go too far wrong....just stick to one main color theme Dinner plans....a nice table at your favorite food restaurant e.g. chinese, steakhouse, mongolian...whatever works for you guys And, most important, enjoy yourselves!

 

Thanks Lev, your right, and coming from another Women, you`ve actually built my confidence to do it! Will do it tonight for us!

Will let you know tommorow how it goes, todays a good day too, kylie will be out most of the day taking the kids for their needles (I wont go becuase I get too worked up when Jonas get's them, I feel like I am failing to protect him) and a few airins!

 

Awesome Glad I could help. Let us know how your evening goes - look forward to hearing about it

PS: Taking your kids for their needles IS protecting them as a parent from all the big nasties out there

 

HEHE! You got me there, I just get 'Emotional' and upset when he screams while it's happening, I can handle it home here, or any other time, but I myself HATE needles, can't really handle them myself, but when he had his last needle, I nearly cried myself for him!

 

Some days (weeks & months), life just doesn't seem fair. My friend, Ali, who has been keeping me up-to-date with regular emails from England about Jacky's progress, sent me a sad email today.

Her father was taken ill with what seemed to be related to his diabetes, but they have not been able to stabilize him, and it has led to fluid-filled lungs, a heart attack, and two hospital moves to get specialist treamtent. He is not yet stable.

Naturally I'm talking to the Big Guy about this, and know that many of you have been extremely supportive in sending good wishes, thoughts and prayers for Jacky. Please add Ali's Dad to these, if you would be so kind.

Thank you. *looks up* ...And God, can we have another awesome miracle please?

 

Well, you're a daddy now, and doing what's necessary despite your own emotions will be part of the responsibility. Being there for routine shots/needles is a good starting practice for the things that may (probably WILL) come later. What will you do when he breaks an arm or leg, requires stitches for a large gash, or requires surgery? "Being there for them" is all about the tough times, not just when things are going well.

Hehe. I've never been all that fond of needles myself. Spent 3 hours today with a LARGE needle stuck in my elbow; gave 3 vials of blood for testing, and got fed 4 bags full of crap for the cancer. Get that every 3 weeks. I've gotten real used to being stuck. And I've had my share of broken bones and stitches, although no real surgery yet, except oral surgery. But helping our KIDS through the tough things is harder than going through it ourselves. But it's a very necessary part of being a parent. As they grow up, your kids WILL remember and appreciate you being there for the tough times, whatever they are. Grit your teeth, paste on a smile, stay as calm as you can (at least on the outside), and just do it. It does get easier with practice, although it's never any fun.

 

Will do. The list never gets any shorter, does it? A friend on another forum just lost his dad yesterday.

 

I am so sorry to hear this latest bad news Lev.
I will be adding my "looks" upstairs tonight to when I go to bed.

 

Thank you Gal and GT. Indeed it does not get any shorter. I was just thinking after I heard this news...when we were younger we would say we were having a "bad day". Then you hit your 30's and you say you are having a "bad week". In your 40's it seems to be a "bad month". I guess as you get older you know more people and they aren't getting any younger either. You'd think with experience we'd get more resilient to the bad news, but I find myself just getting more emotional to it.

BUT...I think we do get a lot better at appreciating the small things in life, not just the big things, as we get older Good thing really

 

Yup, I'm in my 40's and it's been a real bad year, so far, and it's not over yet. I do try and focus on our blessings, but it's not all that easy at times, I'll admit.

Ali's Dad in our prayers and thoughts, as are you, as we know how stressful this is for you as well.

G.T.:- I hope you're keeping well, despite all the junk you have to have pumped in you. I've had to commence two different meds for blood pressure this week, myself - but such is life, a.t.m.
~Take care.

 

Yeah, it's been a "bad year" for me physically, but a very GOOD year getting to re-know my son and his wife. Plus some other lesser delights. The good and the bad come when they come; we have to enbrace and savor the good, and just deal with the bad, so we CAN embrace the good things.

@ Phantom: Sorry about the new meds you're having to take. I hope they do their jobs and don't have any side effects. An awful lot of the wonder drugs seem to have serious potential side effects. I'll keep YOU in my prayers too.

I'm doing the best I can. Current chemo is holding the cancer in check and eliminating the pain from the cancer in the bones (which can get very bad), and MOST of the listed nasty side effects haven't hit me, but it is causing some neurological damage to my hands. They're a LOT more shaky than they used to be. Can still touch type pretty much OK with palms resting on the pad below the keys, but can't play the guitar anymore, and eating peas with a fork is starting to be a challenge. LOL. The good news is that if we stop THIS chemo, the damages usualy repairs itself. The bad news is that if we stop this chemo it will be because it's losing effect, and the other options are worse. (shrug) They don't call it "terminal" for nothing. But I'm not done fighting yet.

 

Both of you, Phantom and G.T., are in my prayers too. Sorry to hear your health is testing you too Phantom. Thank you both for your continued prayers and support for me and my friends and their families.

@GT...I've always struggled with eating peas anyway I like to get a big pile of mash potato and use it to get my peas to stick to the fork With brown gravy is even better!

 

LOL. Yeah, I do that too where mashed potatoes are available.

 

Packets of Idaho 4-cheese instant mash work just as well and much quicker

 

Heh, heh! That's 'bout the only way I eat peas.

Re:G.T. & Lev: Thanks for the well-wishes. G.T. knows some of my health issues stem from my own brush with so-called 'terminal' cancer, some others, courtesy of the British army, or at least the situations we found ourselves in. Like Gary says, you just take each day as a gift, and remind ourselves that nothing is permanent - both the good and the bad, except death, I guess.

When the P.S.A. test came back clear, (as part of the full blood exam). I said "yippee!" in a quiet voice. The nurse laughed, but I knew why I said that.

I try and just be grateful for each day I get up, for the fact that I CAN get up. Anything else is an added bonus, though it doesn’t seem that way at times.

 

Phantom and G.T - like my friend Jacky, you are three of a kind. So positive despite the lemons - I'm learning a lot from you guys, and just wanted to thank you for sowing such positiveness throughout these forums. It is so awesomely uplifting for me, and I'm sure many others who read your posts. Geek-on guys

 

Well, Phantom and I would need sex-change operations to truly be three of a kind. .

But we're all doing the best we can with what we have. As are many others. We're sure not alone in it. God willing, things will get better. God NOT willing, we'll eventually end up where the aches and pain will be gone anyway. Maybe I can spend my days upgrading and Tweaking God's computers.

 

Wouldn't that be awesome! Imagine the networking capabilities of His computers!!! You could set them all to folding and have all the world's illnesses solved in no time

 

Thanks a lot, Lev. Pleasure 'knowing' you too (really! ).

Yep, we just do the best with the hand that's dealt us. Always said "Ya can't make gold from manure, but you can put it to good use". Doing one's best in adversity has little to do with being 'brave' or 'noble', but just with being the best kind of person you can, and helping others out along the way. I can do no more, and no less. I’m done with beating myself up over things that either aren’t my fault or not in my control, or both.

I've always had a pretty dry, and sometimes black sense of humour. I don't even know I'm doing it half of the time. Humour is one the best survival tools, i.m.h.o.

'Cos "Life's a piece of....you know, when you look at it" ~ Monty Python)

 

Me too. I sometimes scare my friends cracking a joke about cancer or death. Last week I told the gal next to me at work that if they let us dress up for Halloween this year I wanted to come as the Grim Reaper. She slapped me on the arm and said don't TALK like that! I thought it would be funny.

 

ROFL...love it! Love your sense of humor. You have to find humor even in the not-so-great things in life. My friend Ali is totally like that too, which is why she and I get on so great

 

Yep, some may that "Dying aint much of a living", but living with out laughing and joy is pretty close to dying, i.mh.o. Always believed in living each day like it is your last, because sooner or later, it will be.

I have no ambitions of becoming a real Phantom any time soon!

 

Sad update - Ali's father passed away on Thursday, cause as yet unknown. Wish I was there to hug her, sucks that I can't be - please keep her in your prayers and thoughts.

On a better note, Jacky is still wiggling those toes and growing stronger each day. Thank you for your support and prayers for her

 

Sorry to hear about Ali's father, but glad to hear Jacky is progressing.

While we're passing prayers around, I could use a few. Been a really tough weekend; not sure if I'll be able to make work tomorrow.

 

Thanks for your kind words Gary. Sorry to hear your weekend has been tough on you. Of course I'll pray for you If you don't make it in to work, take the time to rejuvenate your batteries as much as you can.......lots of healthy snacks if you can face them, and some good R&R with the TV remote Will be thinking of you *hugs*

 

Sorry to hear of Ali's father's death, Lev. Actually, not to differ rent from my own father's death four and a half years back, re: diabetes and heart problems, etc. Glad Jacky is showing more signs of recovery.

Gary, you are always in my thoughts and prayers, my friend. Like Lev said, maybe time to relax and kick back a little. I know proper rest and diet is important, and easy to overlook. Take as much time off as you need to rest, and maybe then some.

Still struggling with my health issues, but at leat they seem to be improving in general.

Take GOOD care of yourself, Gary. I'm sure you’ll be wanting to spend quiet a few years together with your family yet.

All the best.

 

Lev... I am sorry to hear of the passing of her father. Glad she is improving, though.

Gary....get some rest. Take a "me" day and just rest and relax.

Phantom..Glad to hear you are improving, too.

You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

 

Thank you for your kind thoughts for Ali everyone...greatly appreciated and will be passed on to her.

Sorry to hear you are still struggling Phantom, but it's good to hear things are gradually improving for you

Gary....so have you gone in to work today? Just wondering how you are doing and how your day is going. Lots of hugs and prayers hunny

 

No, I'm home today. Still very sore and weak. I've had some fairly tough pain in my neck and lower back of my head, sometimes shoulder, for over 6 weeks now, and have been treating it like a muscle problem (heat, rest, relaxants) and that hasn't helped. Saw the doc Thursday for my regular chemo, and he scheduled me for a spinal MRI for Friday. Day after chemo (actually the whole weekend) is normally a hard crash day recovering from the chemo, but I figured it would be better to get the MRI while I'm off work anyway rather than burn another day off, so I dragged my butt out for the MRI. Whole day was a giant screw-up. Went for my appointment, at 1:00PM, was told I was at the wrong place; they only do MRIs at their other location ~15 miles away. Ran over there, and was 20 minutes late getting there, they left me cooling my heels for over an hour, started the scan, then told me that they had to do TWO scans, second one with dye in the veins, and wouldn't have time to finish Friday; would have to bring me back Monday to finish. I told them.... quite loudly... that they'd first sent me to the wrong place, then kept me waiting for over an hour, and NOW THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO FINISH?!? Also told them that I've burned all my paid days off for the year, and that it would cost me around a hundred bucks to take another day off, and to get it done NOW. SOBs left me sitting until the last dog died. Started the second scan around 6:00PM, finished around 7:00PM, which got me home about 7:30, having had nothing to eat since some cereal around 10:00AM, 3 hours overdue for pain meds, and so flat out exhausted I literally staggered out of there. I don't know if it's just missing my normal rest on Friday, or if the dye they pumped into me isn't happy with my system and all the stuff already sloshing around inside, but I've been wiped out all weekend, and still am today. Lost my pay for today anyway. (shrug) Been a really fun weekend.

 

I'm sorry you got treated so disrespectfully Gary. As if you haven't got enough going on already without those types of issues being thrown at you last minute. It's probably a combination of those stressors and the stuff pumped into your veins, plus your body is busy in the background declaring war on misbehaving cells when you had very little to eat all day.

I have a doctor's appointment today - not looking forward to it one bit.

Hang in there...thinking of you and sending positive "feel better" hugs at ya

 

Major bummer on how screwed up and inefficient they were in your M.R.I. scan, Gary. Now wonder you were burnt out, and feeling run down and sore.

Sufficient rest and good food will promote healing.

Will still be praying for a speedy recovery for you.