-- & a question for our support group

[Guest guest]

, Jim and I (and perhaps , too, if

he’s available?) would be only too happy to meet up with you, should you

ever come to San Diego!

For the record, we’re in the north coastal town of Encinitas, but we could meet up with you

anywhere.

Jim’s liver biopsy has been

scheduled for 7:30am, Thursday, August 17th… but lab results from

this upcoming Monday, which will provide the Great and Powerful Oz up at USC

with more data since Jim’s weight loss, may postpone a biopsy. I’m

not counting on that, but it’s a possibility? If we all decide to

postpone, then of course, Jim’s labs will be followed even more closely.

And ohmyyes, we’d certainly appreciate

any and all prayers, as it’s only a matter of time before the Catbert

Saga continues (and a few members of Jim’s family butt in, the wrong way,

under the guise of caring, telling us what they think we should do, insisting

we consult doctors of their choosing, trying to usurp our calm with their

panic, respecting neither our privacy, nor our ability to intelligently

advocate for ourselves, thanksverymuch, had occasion to break the rules set up

by Jim and prior to their surgery regarding not making phone calls, yada

dada. I’m SO not looking forward to anythink like that again, but

unfortunately, with these people, history has a way of repeating itself, time &

again. These individuals were problematic before, during and after the

transplant… they were problematic before and during Jim’s skin

cancer scares… and now, if Jim is facing new issues… ugh. I’ve

already warned Jim that for his sake and for the sake of my sanity, I simply

cannot allow the possibility of another pissing contest. Jim makes the

decisions, I’m more than willing to help Jim with that as he so directs [ &

as I stay in my learning curve], but in no way should his family force their

decisions “for” him “on” him!).

So, to the above, I’ve an important

question for the group: we didn’t know about the existence of the sanity-saving

CaringBridge prior to Jim & ’s transplant. We dearly wish

we had, as CB would have enabled my keeping friends & family (including

in-laws & out-laws!) informed, without that communication process further

stressing our already-stressed-enough family. The 100s who work at the

family business, many who work closely w/Jim, would have had a CB venue without

having to go through an exceedingly controlling Catbert, who insisted upon

being the hub of all communication from work & forbade employees to e-mail any

in our family directly, despite Jim’s willingness for that to take place

(Jim had me bring a computer up to Los Angeles, as he knew this support group

was a lifeline for me). Jim could have dictated to me anything he wanted

to convey to CB, and I could have posted medical updates to the CB site instead

of making incessant calls (which sometimes kept me away from Jim’s &

’s side). So now, I’m wondering, given the nature of certain

members of Jim’s family causing us (mostly me) undue grief, would it be a

worthwhile idea to start a CB site for Jim, but not announce news of its

existence until absolutely necessary? Or is this thinking just too

premature? If I can divert any onslaught of ick, I should probably consider

it, no? Lessening our having to deflect any “well-intentioned”

ick is a good thing, right? If Catbert or anyone were to initiate a(nother)

power struggle, couldn’t I simplify our lives by referring them to CB?

I respect & highly esteem the individuals in this group, & since there

truly is wisdom in the counsel of many, I’d appreciate any thoughts or

ideas (thanks in advance!).

About your romantic relay operator/brother’s

story, , I actually did encounter, one time, a relay operator for the

hearing impaired, too: for our children’s elementary (and computer, and

handbell choir) teacher who almost permanently lost her voice, so had to take a

sabbatical from school, eventually adjusting her career choice over to

curriculum development (which she could pursue without speaking). We’d

call the relay operator, who would type whatever we said in the teacher’s

direction, who would then type her response to the relay operator, who would in

turn then read those words over the phone to us. Before that experience,

I never knew such a service existed! Anyhoo, how cool your brother may

have found love. Just as precious to me, though, seems the tight bond

that exists between you & him. :-)

The Devil Wears Prada was enjoyable, I truly

needed the break, & Meryl Streep’s performance was definitely worth

the cost of admission. Then again, I double-dog-dare anyone to name a

movie with Meryl Streep where she didn’t deliver an outstanding

performance? Doe-eyed Anne Hathaway was like some delicious, Barbie doll,

dress-up, high-fashion eye candy, just delightful. And Stanley Tucci (you

may remember him from Big Night, Road to Perdition, The Terminal and/or Shall

We Dance… all superb movies, in their own way) turned in a sound

performance, too. I saw it with a friend of the male persuasion, and even

HE was laughing. See it (if only for Streep’s performance), if you

can! :-)

Love,

Maureen