Joke of the day. (Was not started to make fun of anyone)

[Dogbert]

Az, children have truely wondrous ways to overcome problems with the right treatment. When the body is young, it's easier for it to devise new ways of doing things.

I saw once on tv something about genious children who had 1 thing in common - kind of a 'hole' in their brain. Those kids grew up normally and nerve centers that were supposed to be where that 'hole' is, moved elsewhere. They all have above average intellect and no problems whatsoever.

So don't lose faith, keep on giving her as much attention as you can, and trust the doctors and her to do what it takes to bring her to the day she can leave the hospital.
Best of luck

[Gurm]

Logan had issues when he was born. Low blood sugar, one leg was a LOT bigger than the other, his facial coordination wasn't up to par (left side would droop), he was missing a testicle, and they felt that he had a profound hearing impediment in his right ear.

Now, 15 months later...

Blood sugar is normal, legs are the same length and he walks (RUNS) just fine (although one is still a bit chubbier), his face is FINE (a little TOO expressive at times, if you ask me), the testicle was found (and removed, it was malformed), and the only hearing impediment he has is "voluntary hearing loss" when I'm scolding him.

In other words, he turned out PERFECT, in spite of all the terrible possibilities. Kids have a way of working out.

I'm not in any way denigrating those whose kids have real problems - I feel for them.

I guess I'm just saying "buck up". We had a few trying months with Logan but now he's picture-perfect. And TOO DAMN SMART for his own good.

- Gurm

[az]

Oh, I'm not saying I don't have faith and trust in her to overcome these problems - I know humans have wondrous ways of healing themselves, IF THEY REALLY WANT TO (hey, my own mother cured liver cancer on herself).

I just felt "nothing serious" a little ... dunno - made me sad you don't understand it. Have you ever SEEN such a small kid? I wouldn't have believed that so small (and so immature, if that's the right word) could LIVE! You don't know how much we cried during the first months, when her eyes weren't open, she wouldn't move, had needles all upon her, big tubes in her nose (bigger than her nostrils, actually), electrodes and other sensors strapped on her. You could SEE her heart beating, about two-hundred times a second. Sometimes she would move a little, especially when she had pain, which was of course caused several times a day by doctors and nurses, who had to do all kinds of things with her.

She had two operations done already, and now her excrements come through a whole on the belly - she will have at least one more operation to put her intestines back together and into her.

She's so awake now, HUGE eyes that look at everyone and everything in sight, and she laughs happily when her hands grab something (she looks like she's laughing, but no sound. She sounds like a coffee maker when she breathes a little more deeply, and can't cry loud. But at least she can produce sound now.) Even the nurses love her, although they don't like us (we've had a few fights, most of them are SO incompetent, which really scares me - for example: the air my daughter breathes is heated and made wet, but sometimes the water condenses inside the small tube/hose, and then it gets into her nose. One time, there was so much water coming out of it, into her nose, that there was a 2 cm fountain coming out of her mouth, and she was deep blue - almost exactly the color of this smily )

If I get access to a scanner sometime, I can post a polaroid of her when she was a few weeks old, then you might BEGIN to understand - but you can't feel it of course, and I can't blame you for that - I couldn't have imagined any of this before.

The doctors can't say when they think she's ready to go home, because it's unpredictable what will happen next, and because they don't know of any patients that have had the same problems and lived long (not because they all die, though many do, but simply because a few years ago, they all died, and so there don't EXIST people with the same problems that are 20). They cannot say when/if she will ever be without oxygen (but we do think so), but they say it may be another few years with it.

And my GF will be on the dialysis in the very near future.

But it's not serious

AZ

[Dogbert]

Az,

Like you said, she was is a worse condition and now she's better.
As long as the doctors and nurses do their job right, she should grow up to be a daughter you'll be proud of.
Like with your mother, it has much to do with faith.

Max: Your first story was better. (looking around) Where's that bellows? (spots it) He probably owes you money, huh? Well, I'll ask him. (he goes over and picks up a huge bellows)

Inigo: He's dead. He can't talk.

Max: Look who knows so much. Well, it just so happens that your friend here is only mostly dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Please open his mouth.

(Inigo complies and Max places the bellows into Westley's mouth and starts to pump air into Westley's lungs.)

Max: Now, mostly dead is slightly alive. Now, all dead...well, with all dead, there's usually only one thing that you can do.

Inigo: What's that?

Max: (stops pumping) Go through his clothes and look for loose change. (starts pumping again and then stops and takes the bellows out of Westley's mouth. He leans down right next to Westley's ear and talks very loudly.) Hey! Hello in there. Hey! What's so important? What you got here that's worth living for?

As long as your daughter feels she's being loved and cared for, she has a great reason wanting to stay around. I'm more than certain that you and your girlfriend are doing your best to make her feel loved and cared for.


I don't know a lot about dialysis except that it's a lot of pain and usually when it's needed it means things are prety nasty.
I hope your girlfriend gets well.

[az]

You cannot get well from what she has. If your kidneys are working at under 10%, you can only hope it doesn't get worse. Sadly, I have a feeling Bones won't come along and give her a pill that'll grow her a pair of new kidneys. Transplantation would be an alternative, but you only get on the list once you're on dialysis, it takes years until you get an organ, and then your body might reject it. Even if not, you will have to take pills your whole life to suppress your immune system. But we're used to that (and weekly infusions).

Sorry to sound so negative, and Joel, sorry I ruined this thread and dragged it down, but I'm really being down at the moment. And I am the healthy one.

AZ

[Dogbert]

Hey Az,

Here there are many Kidney donations from within the family that work really well. Doesn't your girlfriend have (a) brother(s) or (a) sister(s) ?

I know they're quite successfull with this kind of operations here.

[Dogbert]

By the way, you must cheer up. At least in front of her you must do the effort and be the strong one. Like you said, you're the healthy one so everyone leans on you this way or another. you give them hope. It's a hard ungratefull job but it's one job you can't fail.
Feel free to vent all your anger and frustration here, and keep the happy face for your girlfriend and daughter. You already know the power of hope and you're the one providing it so you can't break. Not in front of anyone you care for.

[K6-III]

Otherwise, organ cloning may become a reality in the years to come...or so we all hope....you know how they're growing human ears on the backs of rats and human hearts inside of pigs....

[Joel]

Sorry to sound so negative, and Joel, sorry I ruined this thread and dragged it down, but I'm really being down at the moment. And I am the healthy one.

Don't worry about it, I can understand. My thoughts and prayers goes out to you and yours. I just hope someone coming in here for the first time don't get the wrong impression of it all by the thread title.

Joel

[az]

Thanks for the understanding everyone

You could edit a disclaimer into the thread title, joel

Dogbert, she only has half brothers, and they don't like each other very much - besides, she'd never ask (partly because they'd find a reason to say no). I try to be as strong as possible, but it's hard without becoming cold And it's not that I never laugh or something, it's just that sometimes I just start crying.

AZ

[Dogbert]

I understand your pain Az. Just try to be strong when you're around them.

And remember:

Cheer up, Brian. You know what they say.

Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best...

And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life...

If life seems jolly rotten
There's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps
Don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle - that's the thing.

And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life...

For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin - give the audience a grin
Enjoy it - it's your last chance anyhow.

So always look on the bright side of death
Just before you draw your terminal breath

Life's a piece of shit
When you look at it
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true.
You'll see it's all a show
Keep 'em laughing as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.

And always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the bright side of life...
(Come on guys, cheer up!)
Always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the bright side of life...
(Worse things happen at sea, you know.)
Always look on the bright side of life...
(I mean - what have you got to lose?)
(You know, you come from nothing - you're going back to nothing.
What have you lost? Nothing!)
Always look on the right side of life...

Cheer up dude...

[Drizzt]

Az, I think you deserve a lot of respect.

At the age of 20, I think you show really smart and adult...my full respect.

And my deep hope and prayers for your daughter.

[ZokesPro]

Originally posted by Drizzt
Az, I think you deserve a lot of respect.

At the age of 20, I think you show really smart and adult...my full respect.

And my deep hope and prayers for your daughter.

Yeah man, me too!

[az]

Well.. I'm not THAT smart & adult, but I HAVE to try my best, thank you

AZ

[Byock]

Az, I think I speak for everyone when I say our hearts go out to you in this difficult time. You are in our prayers.


Dan