Our youngest daughter, Colette and her daughter, Noelle came to the house the Sunday before Christmas. They had 2 scrolls that were tied with red ribbon... handed one to San and one to me... It was an invitation to have Christmas brunch and dinner with them at their NEW RESIDENCE. For the first time in a very long time, I was absolutely speechless. I kept saying "Oh My God!!!!!". They had moved way back in November. Never said a word. They said that we had so much going on that they didn't want to add any more stress for us.
We'd already bought the food for Christmas dinner and preparations had begun for the holiday... Our middle daughter, Toni, was driving down from Atlanta for the holidays and my brother was joining us for dinner. Colette and Noelle had already put up our tree and decorated it... Suddenly I had to switch gears and change plans which made me feel a bit off balance. It was the first time since we came back to Florida (14 years) that we did not have our Family Christmas dinner at our home. It was a new and strange feeling.
On Christmas when it was time to open our gifts, someone said that it was very interesting that I had the most gifts.. especially, since I have not been that good. LOL I was truly surprised and very happy with all of my gifts. There was another first... except for my brother... I had not done any Christmas shopping... we gave everyone $$ gifts.
Christmas came and went so quickly. I can't believe that it's New Years eve. I guess it's all a sign of getting old. No celebrating for us old folks... We'll open a bottle of Sparkling Apple Cider to toast New Year... Telephone the rest of the family to wish them Happy New year and go to bed...
Happy New Year to you too..
Monday, December 31, 2007
Update for Sanford.
I can finally breathe again... I feel free. I feel as if I am no longer walking around with a heavy backpack. Our whole family's relieved and our friends are too. Last Thursday, Sanford received a really good report from both his surgeon and oncologist. San's still anemic, but they're working on that. There's still one more bridge to cross... He's having a PET scan on Wednesday. And God willing, we'll be starting the New Year with a clean slate.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Support service that doesn't support.
I'm not so sure that the cyber world is not as unpredictable as those who know nothing about it believe it to be. Or is it because some of the people who are employed in the the cyber world make it unpredictable and unbelievable.
For years we've shared jokes about people in the work place who should not be allowed to touch computers. Well here's a new one for you. But this is about the support staff of a very popular ISP.
Monday they sent me an email advising that me I could receive, but not send emails because I was sending SPAM... I called them and after some discussion when I explained that on occasion I find it necessary to send blind copies to protect recipients, but I don't send Spam. They agreed that I could send emails. They reconfigured my account, tested it and when everything was back to normal they hung up.
Shortly thereafter, once again, I was unable to send mail, I kept getting an error response. I called them back and spoke with several people who kept transferring me to a more qualified tech as they found they couldn't help me. The last support technician told me that he didn't understand what the problem was and that he could not help me... He suggested I call the manufacturer of my computer. I called eMachines/Gateway and when I explained the reason for my call, they took control of my PC and tried unsuccessfully for almost an hour to resolve the problem. They tried one thing after another to correct the problem. Finally, they said it was a Comcast problem that eMachines could not correct. Advised me to call Comcast back....
I DID NOT call Comcast. Figured why should I ?? They'd already told me they couldn't help me. Imagine paying for service that you weren't getting... I just couldn't believe what was happening.
I called AT&T instead. I'm now a new AT&T Internet customer. Because we already had AT&T local phone service and AT&T wireless service... We're getting a discount on our wireless service, plus $$ back for bundling and for switching to AT&T. Our total bill for all 3 services is less now than we were paying prior to this unbelievable experience with Comcast.
I still can't believe they actually told me that they didn't understand why I was/am having the problem and could not correct it. Have you ever heard of such a thing?
For years we've shared jokes about people in the work place who should not be allowed to touch computers. Well here's a new one for you. But this is about the support staff of a very popular ISP.
Monday they sent me an email advising that me I could receive, but not send emails because I was sending SPAM... I called them and after some discussion when I explained that on occasion I find it necessary to send blind copies to protect recipients, but I don't send Spam. They agreed that I could send emails. They reconfigured my account, tested it and when everything was back to normal they hung up.
Shortly thereafter, once again, I was unable to send mail, I kept getting an error response. I called them back and spoke with several people who kept transferring me to a more qualified tech as they found they couldn't help me. The last support technician told me that he didn't understand what the problem was and that he could not help me... He suggested I call the manufacturer of my computer. I called eMachines/Gateway and when I explained the reason for my call, they took control of my PC and tried unsuccessfully for almost an hour to resolve the problem. They tried one thing after another to correct the problem. Finally, they said it was a Comcast problem that eMachines could not correct. Advised me to call Comcast back....
I DID NOT call Comcast. Figured why should I ?? They'd already told me they couldn't help me. Imagine paying for service that you weren't getting... I just couldn't believe what was happening.
I called AT&T instead. I'm now a new AT&T Internet customer. Because we already had AT&T local phone service and AT&T wireless service... We're getting a discount on our wireless service, plus $$ back for bundling and for switching to AT&T. Our total bill for all 3 services is less now than we were paying prior to this unbelievable experience with Comcast.
I still can't believe they actually told me that they didn't understand why I was/am having the problem and could not correct it. Have you ever heard of such a thing?
Saturday, December 15, 2007
An Early Christmas Gift
This past Thursday I was given the first of two reports of the bone marrow biopsy and it was good news. It didn't show multiple myeloma [a cancer].. but I will be watched closely... Obviously it was a possibility... The second part (the Chromosome report) is still pending, due next week. But Doctor doesn't expect it to be anything to worry about... so he will see me again in February, unless there's a surprise in the chromosome findings.
Some more good news... I'm no longer anemic!!!
Finally, after all of those scary tests during the year... I can breathe. It's like I've been holding my breath, afraid and waiting for good news. I feel like a a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders. God is Good !!!
Some more good news... I'm no longer anemic!!!
Finally, after all of those scary tests during the year... I can breathe. It's like I've been holding my breath, afraid and waiting for good news. I feel like a a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders. God is Good !!!
Thursday, December 6, 2007
ANOTHER DAY UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
This morning I finally had my bone marrow biopsy. It was done in my doctor's office.
I was lying on my side on the table as the doctor pressed spots on my lower back searching for thin bone that was close to the surface when he realized that I was too sensitive in that area to do it there (I have a bad back). He told the nurses that I was "jumping all over the place and would hurt myself if he attempted to get the marrow from there''. He said "Fortunately, there is another part on the body where the biopsy can be done". Are you ready for where?... IN MY CHEST!! ... between my breasts. Yes!!! And that's where it was done... owwwww.
Believe me, there WAS some pain, I won't go into details here... You probably don't want to know anyway, but if you are interested just call me... LOL
Medically, the procedure is described as 'sometimes uncomfortable and is tolerated well by children and adults'. Also said that 'There may be some discomfort after the needles are removed'. I certainly would like to edit that description. There were times when the procedure definitely was not uncomfortable... but was PAINFUL, including sharp, stinging and dull pains. I find it very hard to believe that whomever wrote that description spoke from personal experience... Perhaps they were afraid that if it were known what it's really like... some might refuse to have it done.
I kept my eyes closed until it was finished. As I listened to the doctor and nurses talking during the procedure, I knew I had made the right decision to close my eyes and not see all of the needles and stuff and what was sent to the lab.
One of the nurses held my hand and encouraged me during the procedure... she told me breathe in and out when it REALLY hurt; she kept telling me that I was doing great. Dr. R. also said that I did great. Before I left, other nurses and the receptionist, all complimented me on how great I did.
For a long time after the procedure was finished the nurse had to apply pressure where the needles had been, to ensure that I didn't hemorrhage and so that the blood didn't spread under my skin. I left there with a big bandage on my chest. I'm curious as to what it'll look like when the bandage is removed. I'm taking 2 Tylenol capsules every 4 hours while I have discomfort.
The first part of the results will be ready next week and the second part, I'll learn the following week.
Sanford is seeing the same Oncologist next week, when the doctor will let us know whether or not he thinks San needs chemo therapy. And on December 17, Sanford goes to the hospital for an Outpatient procedure, where the surgeon will 'Take a look around' and check to see if the cancer's all gone.
You never know who's heart you will touch when you share a piece of your own.
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
I was lying on my side on the table as the doctor pressed spots on my lower back searching for thin bone that was close to the surface when he realized that I was too sensitive in that area to do it there (I have a bad back). He told the nurses that I was "jumping all over the place and would hurt myself if he attempted to get the marrow from there''. He said "Fortunately, there is another part on the body where the biopsy can be done". Are you ready for where?... IN MY CHEST!! ... between my breasts. Yes!!! And that's where it was done... owwwww.
Believe me, there WAS some pain, I won't go into details here... You probably don't want to know anyway, but if you are interested just call me... LOL
Medically, the procedure is described as 'sometimes uncomfortable and is tolerated well by children and adults'. Also said that 'There may be some discomfort after the needles are removed'. I certainly would like to edit that description. There were times when the procedure definitely was not uncomfortable... but was PAINFUL, including sharp, stinging and dull pains. I find it very hard to believe that whomever wrote that description spoke from personal experience... Perhaps they were afraid that if it were known what it's really like... some might refuse to have it done.
I kept my eyes closed until it was finished. As I listened to the doctor and nurses talking during the procedure, I knew I had made the right decision to close my eyes and not see all of the needles and stuff and what was sent to the lab.
One of the nurses held my hand and encouraged me during the procedure... she told me breathe in and out when it REALLY hurt; she kept telling me that I was doing great. Dr. R. also said that I did great. Before I left, other nurses and the receptionist, all complimented me on how great I did.
For a long time after the procedure was finished the nurse had to apply pressure where the needles had been, to ensure that I didn't hemorrhage and so that the blood didn't spread under my skin. I left there with a big bandage on my chest. I'm curious as to what it'll look like when the bandage is removed. I'm taking 2 Tylenol capsules every 4 hours while I have discomfort.
The first part of the results will be ready next week and the second part, I'll learn the following week.
Sanford is seeing the same Oncologist next week, when the doctor will let us know whether or not he thinks San needs chemo therapy. And on December 17, Sanford goes to the hospital for an Outpatient procedure, where the surgeon will 'Take a look around' and check to see if the cancer's all gone.
You never know who's heart you will touch when you share a piece of your own.
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
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