Thank you Andy. I don't know you but my life is in Perspective

[bamademo]

I wish you the best. I do Computer Tech Support in an Army Health Care Facility. I also spend a lot of time in the ER at Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, Al because my Dad had been there frequently over the last 3 or 4 years for various ailments. He broke his hip in February and the femur on the same side right below the rod they inserted for his broken hip on Friday. I have spent so much time at the ER in Huntsville that they now joke that they are going to charge us rent. To get to the point, I work in an health care environment and I have to involuntarily spend time in another because of my Dad's various illnesses. I have seen so much human drama in the last few months that I could move to New York and become a writer for All My Children. My Dad is a trooper, all the times he's ended up in the ER, he never whines. And he's been through cancer and broken bones and kidney stones. You don't whine either. You and my Dad keep on keeping on and fighting the good fight even though you must really be sick of Doctor's and hospital's. Even though I've never met you I feel a bond with you because I have great friends that get me through these stressful times. You have the whole DU community and that is a powerful force indeed.

After what you and my Dad have been through, I don't think I can ever whine about another single thing because I'm still here and relatively healthy. I did not work consistently for 18 months after Dubya's 9/11 stunt and lo verily was I whiney. But I was still up walking around.

Get well soon. To my fellow DU'ers. If you can still walk, talk or type, you can still fight. Don't ever give up.

[jeanarrett]

1. Right on to you Baby!

I agree whole heartedly. You know I don't know Andy either, but I sent out some $ a month or so back when he needed it. I'm a single mom with five kids and not a dime to spare, but I like people and I'm pretty alone in this world, except for my kids. I figured 20 bucks was worth it--you know? It was really for me to feel good about doing something for someone else. So, was it really about me? Honestly, I know that sounds crass, but I think we do these things to pump a little juice back into our own lives.

I got the nicest, most sincere thank you letter back from Andy and a really cool picture of him in a goofy hat--my kids asked me, "who's that guy?" I just said a friend I hope to meet. And I've not met him yet, but I intend to!

I lost my mom in high school from cervical cancer, now one of the most curable. It screwed me royally and I'm 44 now. But, yes, perspective is something you get that some people never do. At the time I thought it was a punishment, now I see it was a gift.

This forum is made up of a vey diverse group of people. I'll tell you though, even with some of the stuff I see going on here sometimes, it's a good place to be. It's a whole lot like the real world, only with some brains, love and heart thrown in. Thanks--