Another miracle.........

It would appear there was nothing wrong at all with my friend. We got news today that they gave her another cat scan and things looked so good, they sent her home.
She literally went from ICU to home. Didn't even check into a regular room.
Literally, they cut open her brain, took out a 4cmx3cm tumor, stapled her up and sent her home the next day. Is this modern medicine at it's best or a miracle?
I am just dumbfounded. They say she looks great, has her vision, and was in great spirits. I am shamed for fearing the worse where this girl is concerned.
I don't know how long she can keep winning the war against this cancer, but it would appear she is kicking ass one battle at a time. It's almost unbelievable.
Anyway, this was all great news.

Does it feel like Christmas to anyone? It does not to me. I don't know if it's just that I spend so much time at work and we are all so burned out, or if the general public is losing interest in this Holiday. It's weird though. I am anxiously waiting to see my grandkids (who I miss terribly) on Christmas Eve. Other than that, it seems business as usual.

jb

Mixed emotions......

My friend had her surgery today. We got the update at 1:00pm that they removed a rather large tumor out of her brain. They were hopeful they got the whole thing and the message was optimistic.
The huge risk of this surgery, due to where the tumor was located, was that she could lose her eyesight. "be blindsided" as Edie put it yesterday to me.
The friend who keeps us all updated via a webpage said she would send another update after they could see Edie. She said in about an hour. That was 9 hours ago and we have heard nothing. This friend has been faithful in her updates, as she knows so many of us are here waiting and praying. So, the fact that we have not heard anything is of concern.
I don't know what to think, but I do know something is wrong. I have that nagging feeling inside. I will go to sleep and hope I wake up to a new message, stating all is well.

One another note.. I just watched the best movie ever... "Once". I highly recomend it. A little Irish movie that was brilliant. The music was astounding and the message of the movie was thought provoking.
Even when there's not a happy ending, it is not always sad.

jb

Random things......

I just spent my kicker check! Bought myself an airline ticket to Baltimore, MD.
Got great airfaire, so there's even enough left to buy groceries. This is a very good thing.
This will truly be my first traveling experience solo. My friend in Baltimore will be working most of the time, so I will be left to my own devices. I finally confessed to her I was a little nervous about it. She, being the good friend she is, put me at ease. For one, she told me it was about damn time I traveled alone and second, she gave me the rundown on the train to DC for daytrips. 7.00 and they run every hour! I can makde daytrips to museums etc and come back to her house in the evening. She is going to take me to NYC on one of the weekends. It would appear traveling alone can be a rewarding thing. She shared some of her experiences and tips for traveling solo. It feels so Mary Tyler Moore like.
I will leave in early March for 10 days. Seems along ways off......

I just found out my friend Edie is going in for another brain surgery on Tuesday. One of her tumors is not shrinking and is causing trouble and must be removed. She has has been having seizures.
I just went to Van Halen with her and I remember thinking how happy I was to be there with her and knowing that any time spent with her was a gift. I just know that eventually her body will lose the battle. I know one should not think like that, but it is reality. I will forever remember dancing with her on one side of me and my son on the other in the Rose Garden and I feel fortunate to have been there.
I don't know if the Universe is going to see her through this one or not, but I pray for a Christmas Miracle for her......
jb

Hundreds of Santas.........

I took a little break at work today. As I was coming back, I rounded the corner and couldn't believe my eyes. There were hundreds and hundreds of Santa Clauses parading down the sidewalks. They stretched about four blocks or more. They were dressed in different varations of Santa, but they all had the red suits. It was the most random thing I have ever seen. They were singing and passing out little trinkets and hugging people. This really wasn't a kid friendly type of thing. They were a scrappy crowd. There were some sexy santas, some trashy santas, one santa in a black suit, and several of them had odd accessories with their suits.
I really can't even describe the scene. I don't know who they are or what their puprose was, but it was a hoot. I had to call up to my office and make everyone come out. My friend got a pair of yellow sunglasses and a plastic eyeball from one of them.
It was one of those things that you knew you were seeing, but you knew your mind would block it out at some point shortly thereafter.
Kind of like the guy walking the rooster at the park. You saw it, but your mind couldn't keep it.
We didn't even talk about it back in the office. It was like it didn't happen.
Very strange.
Well, it was Christmas in downtown Portland today and whoever they were, they made our day for about 15 minutes.
jb