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It’s ten months since I lost my husband of 55 yrs and reading this brings it all back. He was taken to the hospital with trouble breathing...they had to shock him three times to bring him back but finally he came around....was placed on ventilator for a few days. He came off of it pretty good and seemed that he might surprise everyone and make it....they jokingly called him the miracle man. He progressed to where they took him out of ICU and put on cardiac floor although his heart appeared pretty good. One day spent there and I arrive one morning to find him struggling to breathe..rang for nurse..she comes running and they call in the emergency team from ICU that floats around.....anyway back to ICU...back on ventilator for couple of days. They take him off of this and determine he needs a bi-pap machine to help breathing...okay with that...no big deal. Well his kidneys start acting up so they put port in and do dialysis a few times and determine that helped with breathing etc.
All of a sudden the nurses are taking myself and family into a room and telling me that three doctors have determined that he is too weak to make it and if he does go home it would be to hospice etc...I say okay...understand. Well, then they go into this speal of perhaps I needed to take a look at his quality of life and is this what he would want (an no he hadn’t filled out any paperwork on his wishes) So we talk to his cardio doc of 13 yrs and he tells us he thinks we need to let him go now and that it would be pain free and he wouldn’t suffer....anguish time and didn’t know what to do so decided to rely on the doctors etc....so they proceeded to take him off the bi-pap and tell me they will start a morphine drip. I ask why ..he’s in no pain...they say...don’t worry this is just to make him comfortable. I tell the nurse that I’m getting family so they can talk to him and leave the room....he is alert at this time....I returned a few minutes later and he is out cold and I immediately ask what happened and the nurse says well I gave him the morphine....he never awakened...none of us had a chance to talk to him....I held his hand until the morning when he just stopped breathing....to this day I feel like I let them kill him......I’m relaying this just to let you know that we all need to have a better understanding of just what is going on with our medical care....when one has spent three weeks in ICU with the ups and downs of problems it’s very difficult to be at a place where you are fully aware of what is going on..what they are talking about and just what it all means.....sorry this is so long......................

About four yrs ago I had heart attack and open heart surgery..due to complications I was on ventilator and stayed in hospital for 30 days. (this was well known & respected hospital in Atlanta)....I was so weak I couldn’t do anything for myself for long time but eventually they got me up one day in one of those recliner type chairs. I spent the entire night there with no-one checking on me even though I kept buzzing for the nurse. The next day when the shift changed the nurse said “oh good...they got you up for the day”.When I said I was there all night she acted like she didn’t believe me. Many a night I would buzz for nurse or actually call out for help if I got twisted in bed and couldn’t move etc.....no-one came. One night one of my daughters said she would spend the night to help me...she happened to mention this to the lady walking the hall who was in room next to me. Her response “well, good..I hear her calling for help all the time”....
And this is before Obamacare sets in!! Heaven help us...particularly we seniors who already are getting short-changed from Medicare........

As a senior citizen I can already attest to the changes within my cardiologists practice and this is before the great Obamacare is put in place. No longer am I getting the regular testing I used to get...blood work lab shut down and now taking longer for results because of need to send out....office staff cut at least 50% and more on the way. Having had two open heart surgeries, one major heart attack and one valve replaced I guess I’m one of those that the non-existant “death panel” will deem not worthy of any more testing or proper care. My doctor fears for the future care of his patients and in the end his practice.......

Having gone through many melt downs with my brother over the years I can second your thoughts as to this being a head ups to others. If you have never witnessed this then take heed as indeed millions of alcoholics/drug addicts go through this all the time. Not a pretty picture but one that unfortunately happens to many families and their loved ones......

My first thought when watching this man disolve into his present mode was that he may be bi-polar and using drugs and alcohol to make himself feel better. It’s really sad to see just how destructive he presently is and yet there are those who are feeding off of this and exploiting it all the way to the bank.
Had a brother died an alcoholic so can see all this behavior in him but also know many who are bi-polar and last night watching his u-stream rant saw the manic mode. Some say he is just “acting” in order to gain whatever it is he is after.....could be...but whatever it is he seems to be headed for total destruction unless there is something done soon. I pray he gets the help he needs and soon......my brother didn’t......

The first year Glee was pretty good with great music..storylines weren’t that bad but slowly you could tell the show was changing. It was if getting people hooked on the music alone and then over time putting in one storyline after another that had to do with social issues. This year has been really bad and decided I could no longer watch even though I have loved the music. At age 75 I really don’t care to watch something that seems to be trying to indoctrinate me into believing the “new wave” of liberal crap. So I’ll just dig out my IPod and listen to that..........

The first year Glee was pretty good with great music..storylines weren’t that bad but slowly you could tell the show was changing. It was if getting people hooked on the music alone and then over time putting in one storyline after another that had to do with social issues. This year has been really bad and decided I could no longer watch even though I have loved the music. At age 75 I really don’t care to watch something that seems to be trying to indoctrinate me into believing the “new wave” of liberal crap. So I’ll just dig out my IPod and listen to that..........

I think you’ll find a lot of the reason may be that the average person unless they have gone through what you are they don’t have a clue what it is like. They most likely don’t know what say....what to ask....are fearful mainly of saying the wrong things. It’s like there is no guidebook when it comes to this and the majority of people just shy away.....afraid too that they may one day have to face this with a loved one therefore they are in some sort of denial. If they don’t see it personally with you then perhaps it won’t happen to them.....not very realistic but somewhat protective mode. I’d definitely call the friends and ask for whatever you want...even it is just a few minutes of their time to chat. And then you may also find some feeling guilty as all get out for not staying more in touch with you and they won’t call......so many reasons and none because they don’t really care.....more unsure of how to act etc. Stay strong!!

I have watched this church’s services a number of times online and I believe you are correct. I kept waiting for them to talk about beliefs that I grew up with. When I questioned my grandchildren who attend this church I’m told that my religion is the “old” type and that this is the new...updated version that the young like. No wonder they like it...nothing they do comes under the category of being “wrong”....it’s all about feeling good...that touchy, feely type of “let’s all get along”.......so wasn’t too surprised to hear that Michelle Obama was coming to speak...frankly if I were a young parent I’d be insulted that I had to be lectured to on what my kids should be eating.

Oh she has my sympathy...I had migraines at the rate of 2 or 3 a week for many, many years. Way before some of the new meds we now have. The only thing that gave me any relief was to force myself to throw up a number of times and then try to fall asleep. Sometimes it wasn’t until I got very nauseous from the pain but once I got that I knew I had to throw up..,.and once I got to that point I could almost feel the headache leaving and getting into a deep sleep then helped.
For me it was hormonal and once I reached say 55 they disappeared totally....today I do have the ocular migraine but other than visual disturbances they are nothing compared to the actual magraines. I wish her good luck in finding some relief....for everyone it seems to be so different as to triggers or getting relief. Mine first started when I was 28 out of nowhere...in fact at first I was sure I had a brain tumor!! Extremely painful...I’d do plenty of research as to all the various reasons and try to pinpoint something if possible.........

My brother died an alcoholic after many years of drinking...he started at age 18 and died at 62. Through-out the years he found AA and attended...would be sober for a long length of time. He’d get his act together and we would think he was on the path to recovery. Each time this happened he would end up back drinking....we decided that he just did not know how to handle success...didn’t know how to live a “normal” life and when he appeared to have it all he went back to the drink.
I only hope this Ted Williams will find support that he needs and finds a way to accept his good fortune...it doesn’t come around that often. And yes I know many who have successfully beaten the addiction but it is a tough battle so I hope he gets the needed help.........

Absolutely loved the music today!! But missed the name of the group who sang at the beginning and then at the end....believe it was two girls and one guy.......loved them and would like to find more by them.
But missed their name.....anyone know it?
Thanks.......

For one thing....I think a rally like this does provide energy and support for those thousands of us who health wise can’t do much. It makes us feel like there are indeed many others who feel as we do and hopefully those watching will also be motivated to get off the couch and do something. I work on phone calls...mailings...emails...all from home.....but would give anythng to be out there on the ground like I used to do. nothing like that energized feeling So while you may look at it as a useless project..there are many who look at it to re-energize people....Oh yes, I also contribute money..and time to the Wounded Warrior project......

My daughter had what we think was a dead squirrel in her all causing one bedroom to smell horrendous. You felt really sick to your stomach going into the room. This was 5-6 yrs ago so I may be incorrect on what was used. I had a friend who owned a pest control company and he told me to take cotton balls....soak them good with witch hazel(pretty sure that was it) and throw them around the room. Within a day the smell was much less and before we knew it we hardly noticed anything.My pest control guy said “try witch hazel..if that doesn’t work we may have to cut out the wall”...fortunately it worked. Good luck..

Exercise has been found to grow new collaterals that supply blood to the heart. I have had two CABG operations 10 yrs apart. Both times was told by the surgeons that my collaterals most likely saved my life since the regular arteries were so clogged. So as someone who basically was a couch potato (and computer addict) I now set aside time for a good walk everyday....and I do believe this is what saved me 3 yrs ago when having a heart attack (yes my body is a mess). My genes are bad so gotta find something to override that somewhat..for me it’s exercise............

After doing some research on this I just read an article about a man who had this implanted in 2008.....he spent a month in the hospital adjusting to it and now is back doing some things he had previously done. The LVAD once used for those waiting for transplants now are being designed for “destination therapy” which means long term useage.
That is encouraging ....so perhaps Cheney being in the hospital this long may be considered normal for this procedure.............

For some reason I thought he had gone home shortly after it was implanted. Will be watching for his recovery to see just how good this device works....I’m following in his footsteps having had 2 open heart by-pass surgeries, valve replacement, heart attack and now heart failure.
So I”m wishing him the best and God speed for a recovery that gives him many more years. Was aware this was being used for those waiting heart transplants but not too sure how long people have been living once this is implanted.

I’ve been making some phone calls on behalf of Karen Handel. When the race started I was not sure who I’d go with but being active in politics in my county for 10 yrs I relied on those years contacts and working with various politicians to make my decision. As for Oxendine he peaked pretty early on but there is something there about him tht turns me off....not sure what it is. Nathan Deal....really don’t know enough about him....liked his years in Congress but was kind of upset when he left to run for Governor...thought he could have done more there with his conservative views. Was very impressed with Karen Handels brochure I got in the mail...for those who don’t know her views I thought it gave a good rundown on them. I’m happy with all I know about her at this point and yesterday got a robot call from Gov Brewer saying she is supporting Karen and she knows they both share the same views on immigration.

He sounds just like my brother who died at age 62 from many, many years of drinking. It’s sad....a waste of a life and yet with all the help and support out there....you have to want to become sober and stay that way. My brother had a million reasons why it was impossible to stay sober...he died years ago and yet I still cry for him and others who find it too difficult to stop drinking...........

Is there any email address or way to reach the full board to voice our opinion? To me this is a national issue and not just a NYC problem....I’d like to say I’m surprised this mosque is even being considered....but today it doesn’t surprise me and it if it gets approval I believe it will be another very sad day and slap in the face to all who lost loved ones that day..............