Nothing But Lots Of Sad And Scary News Here :(

My Brother standing next to my Dad at our July 4th Barbeque and Swim party in 2008.

Hey Ya'll,

I'm sorry that I haven't really posted much lately, but there has been so much drama going on in our family this last week. 

Tuesday, my Dad called me to let me know that my Brother was in the Hospital.  He didn't know too much (mostly because the Family tries to hide the worst of any news from him, as he is in such a delicate state himself), so once we were off the phone, I called my SIL for the full report.

She has been by my Brother's Hospital bedside since last Sunday.  Apparently, he fell ill with what they thought at first was the Flu, on Wednesday of last week.  By Thursday, he couldn't eat anything.  And by Saturday, he was in extreme pain and discomfort.  So Sunday morning, my SIL forced him to go to the Emergency Room.

Once he was seen by a Doctor and tests were run, they were extremely concerned that my Brother was Septic, and his Organs were possibly failing him.  They thought this because his Diabetes was out of control.  His Blood Sugar Level was OVER 500, his Blood Count and Blood Oxygen was extremely LOW, and his Foot (the one that he has to have Surgery on all the time) was Swollen and very painful.

Luckily, they determined that he wasn't Septic, just Pre-Septic, so they admitted him to the Hospital, but didn't place him in Intensive Care like they wanted to at first.  Within the first 24 hours (I think), he had been given 3 Blood Transfusions, which helped bring his Blood Count and Blood Oxygen back into the normal range.  And his Blood Sugar Level was down to 146 by late Wednesday night.  So other than his Foot, he was on his way to recovery.  We are just so thankful that he got treatment in time to save him.  As he could have died....

Now for his Foot.  He had broken it a few years ago stepping down out of a Diesel Truck.  The Doctor that was originally taking care of him, did not send him to the proper Specialist soon enough, and by the time my Brother forced the Doctor to refer him (about 6 weeks later), the Bones in the Foot had already healed in the wrong position!  Think of the Foot like this.  Normally the Bones lay flat across the Foot while standing on the floor.  My Brother's Bones had healed, to where they were shaped more like a Church Steeple.

The Surgeon he went to really did the best that he could for my Brother, but unfortunately, it was too late to give him a normal Foot shape again!  This Specialist/Surgeon was really pissed at the 1st Doctor, as he said that that Doctor basically screwed my Brother from having a normal life after the accident.  Because of this, he could no longer walk normally, or run at all!!  Before the accident, he was really athletic, always playing Baseball on Mens Leagues, etc.  So now, he can only walk straight, he can't even twist his Foot right or left, only up and down (kind of).  And this also makes it VERY difficult for him to drive his Diesel....try driving a huge Diesel Truck constantly having to shift up and down with a Foot that is always in pain....

Other than this totally changing his LIFE!!  He has to have Surgery periodically, to re-scrape the Heal Bone down.  This because the Bone continues to regrow, causing it to grow through the Skin of the Heal!  So he is constantly taking Antibiotics to control Infection.  And this is the Surgery that he just had done....yet again!!  The Surgeon has told him that he recommends the my Brother allow him to remove the Foot, giving him a Prosthetic, but my Brother isn't ready to lose the Foot.  Also, during the years, my Brother and his Surgeon has actually become friends.  And because he hates what the 1st Doctor "did" to him, he refuses to "bill" my Brother for any of the Surgeries or Office Visits.  He bills the Insurance, and accepts what payment he receives from that as payment in full!  What a friend!

Anyway, on top of all the drama and scare with my Brother over the last week, I just found out late last night, that one of my Cousins, who lives in Arkansas, has Cancer again!  She is younger than me, and has already battled Breast Cancer about 6 years ago.  Unfortunately she now has Bone Cancer and it is in stage 4.  She called my Mom and Dad and our Aunt, to tell them of her new Cancer, and that there isn't anything that can be done for her.  I think that she waited until there was no hope, before she advised them about it, so that they wouldn't worry for such a long time....who knows?  But she is in desperate need of prayer and good thoughts.  I realize that there isn't any way to save her, but I would like to hope that she goes fast, and in as little pain as possible....good thoughts and prayers would be appreciated.  I have included a photo of her at the bottom of the post. 

Now, for us, we are ok.  We have talked out what was bothering us a couple weeks ago now and are doing great again!  As usual, one or both of us over stresses and gets overly concerned.  What can I say, we are both neurotic!!

We put our Truck in the shop to get the Transmission redone, so that it would be able to pull any size/weight of RV that we wanted to.  It was only supposed to take about 2 days....well, it has now been about 2 weeks!  The problem is that with the Truck in the shop, we only have the Motorcycle to get around on!!  So I have basically been house bound....the last fill on my nails, was almost 4 weeks ago!  So they are really showing the growth, and the need for a FILL!!  LOL

Anyway, the main problem is that poor Walt has had to ride the Bike to and from work.  now remember that this is Winter, and the temperatures are a LOT colder right now!  He leaves early in the morning before the Sun has come up, and returns after Sundown.  We have been having temperatures dropping down into the teens over night here.  So him having to ride the Bike before Sun up, when it is still below 20 degrees, sometimes as low as 9 degrees, it is really cold!!  At least coming home, it is still at least around 32 degrees, or possibly higher.  So we are really looking forward to the Truck getting finished....I really feel for poor Walt.  Luckily he only has to ride about 6-8 miles each way.  We really hate to say it, but thank God this Winter we have not had the Snow and Ice like we did last year!  Can you imagine him trying to ride the Bike in the Snow/Ice????  We probably would have had to rent a car....

So, with saying all this....I guess I will go for now.  Got lots to do to get our Tax information pulled together so that we can get them sent off to our CPA.  Till next time....

Aloha My Friends  :)


My Cousin is in the center in Purple shirt.  She has lost a lot of weight.  I can tell by her Face, Neck and Chin line.  She is still wearing her "bigger" clothes.