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Dealing with problems
Topic Started: Jun 19 2005, 02:05 PM (298 Views)
dolmansaxlil
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HOLY CARP!!!
My cousin has had a rough couple years. She just turned 30, and about 2 years ago she started having weakness in her legs, extreme fatigue, and eventually had to go off work because she couldn't predict whether she would be able to walk that particular day (she was an RPN, registered nurse practitioner, in a nursing home). My grandfather has ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and her early symptoms mimiced his exactly. We all feared the worst. The latest diagnosis (ALS is diagnosis by exclusion, so it'd be the last thing they'd say) is that she has a problem with her spine and something out of whack with her central nervous system. But nothing concrete.

About 5 days ago, her daughter's school (the daughter is 4) called because she had been drinking a lot of water and the teacher was concerned. My cousin took her in to the doctor and they tested her blood sugar. It was in the high 30s (it should be around 7). She was hospitalized to stabilize her and diagnosed with Diabetes.

I ran into my cousin (and her daughter) yesterday at the grocery, and she was so upbeat and positive. She is thankful that she has some sort of diagnosis, as vague as it is, for her problem, and thankful that as an RPN she doesn't have concerns about administering her daughter's insulin. She did nothing but talk about how wonderful the local diabetes association has been, that they are going into her daughter's school to train all the staff on the signs of problems in a diabetic, and is thrilled that the school just happens to have an Educational Assistant on staff who also happens to be a registered nurse. She feels lucky that everything has worked out the way it has and feels that her family will be stronger because of it.

I can't imagine myself reacting similarly in that situation - especially so soon. I found it utterly amazing (and admirable) that she's so positive about the whole thing.

I guess there isn't a point to this post. Just sharing my wonder.
"Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson

My Flickr Photostream


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The 89th Key
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Well, it's a shame to hear of the situation, but inspiring to hear her attitude.

Give her (and her daughter) the best of luck next time you see them! :)

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justme
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HOLY CARP!!!
Wow. We tend to get so wrapped up in our own issues we tend to forget what others may be going through. Good for her. God bless her.
"Men sway more towards hussies." G-D3
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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
The other day I met a Franciscan priest -- he is 50 years old and diagnosed with some weird degenerative disease that will kill him within 6 months. He was ambulatory, but wearing a chest harness that supported a metal frame and a halo that was screwed into his head to keep his head upright. Quite a frightful sight actually. Yet, he had NO sense of self pity or even self awareness -- he was only concerned for helping a group of nuns who needed his help. Furthermore, he had clear and bright eyes, and a joyous smile. I felt as if I was encountering a living saint.

The atheists out there might never understand, but holiness is real. I've seen it.
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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The 89th Key
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Someone said it one time, I think it was pianojerome...it's like trying to describe what the color blue looks like to a blind person.

You know it when you know it.
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Wacki Iraqi
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Senior Carp
The 89th Key
Jun 19 2005, 09:53 PM
Someone said it one time, I think it was pianojerome...it's like trying to describe what the color blue looks like to a blind person.

You know it when you know it.

Or, 89th, it could be like, trying to stop a hysterical relative from falling to their knees and shovelling handfuls of sand into their mouth on a particularly long walk across a desert, because the're so thirsty they see the shimmering glint of water everywhere............Maybe ? :help:
You're an atheist when considering Zeus, Apollo, Amon Ra, Mithras, Baal, Thor, Wotan, the Golden Calf and the Flying Spaghetti Monster.........I just go one God further.
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
They talk about making lemmonade when life hands you lemmons.
There is a book called Pollyana.
Pollyana was a hopeless optimist who changed the lives of everyone around her.

It is amazing to me how different we all are.

Some have a positive outlook
Some have a negative outlook.
It seems to have no relationship to the cards dealt to them in life, though people with a positive outlook seem to be better at putting their cards to use.

I have also seen people with very positive and negative outlooks come from the same family.
I have also seen both kinds of people with and without religion.

I wonder if outlook has a genetic component.



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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
Fascinating.

I just read Ivorythumper's post, after I posted.

For Ivory, this thread was an opportunity to support religion.
I mentioned that outlook seemed to have no relationship to religion.

Just goes to show, you see what you are looking for.
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The 89th Key
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Wacki Iraqi
Jun 20 2005, 07:16 AM
The 89th Key
Jun 19 2005, 09:53 PM
Someone said it one time, I think it was pianojerome...it's like trying to describe what the color blue looks like to a blind person.

You know it when you know it.

Or, 89th, it could be like, trying to stop a hysterical relative from falling to their knees and shovelling handfuls of sand into their mouth on a particularly long walk across a desert, because the're so thirsty they see the shimmering glint of water everywhere............Maybe ? :help:

No, that would be dangerous and deadly...being religious is actually the complete opposite - to try and live a better life and to save life. :thumb:

...sorry Dol, let's get back to the thread...not a good time to Hijack.

Start another thread if you want to continue, Wacky.
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
Ask any neuro...general bilateral neuropathies are a booger to correctly diagnose. The diagnosis of ALS is a heavy cross to bear, but knowing beats not knowing...I would want to know, if it were me....
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
kenny
Jun 20 2005, 03:57 AM
Fascinating.

I just read Ivorythumper's post, after I posted.

For Ivory, this thread was an opportunity to support religion.
I mentioned that outlook seemed to have no relationship to religion.

Just goes to show, you see what you are looking for.

Kenny:

Why can't you accept another's contribution at face value without deciding it has an agenda? Or at least acknowledge that many of your posts are meant to underpin your own gay - fuel efficiency agenda? Perhaps because you do it, you cannot help but think that everyone else does it ("we are all the same" is one of your mantras -- "we are all different" seems to be your new mantra).

We share from our perception. This man that I met made a profound impact on me. I've met a lot of people who suffer, but none who were so joyful and less self interested. I wanted to share it with others, and you can only cheapen my contribution with your bogus analysis of what you presume my motives to be.
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
Huh?
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The 89th Key
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ivorythumper
Jun 20 2005, 11:45 AM
your own gay - fuel efficiency agenda?

:lol: :lol:

..it's funny because it's true.

Just kidding around Kenny. :wink:
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