Haven't been around much lately. . .

[epstns]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that I haven't abandoned VR.com, just that the world has gotten in the way a bit.

The week of Aug. 23 we were away on a "vacation lite" visiting a couple of college campuses with my daughter. A very low-key trip, and a rest we really needed.

Came back to find that my mom isn't well. They found a tumor on her kidney and we've been back and forth to docs and outpatient like a yo-yo for the past week and a half. Now we have one more trip to outpatient, then surgery next Monday (Sept. 15th) to remove the kidney. They recently warned her that there's a "good chance that it is malignant."

Needless to say, between this and my home remodeling project and the annual financial audit at work, I'm a certified basket case and haven't been posting very much. I do lurk and scan posts as often as I can, and will definitely be back in the swing of it as soon as things stabilize at home. (Yes, Gina, God willing I will be at the reunion Friday, Saturday and Sunday!)

Just wanted to let all of you know that this family is a very important part of my life and my lifeline to sanity, but that I may be quiet for days at a time for a while.

 

[Les]

Steve,
Wish the best for your Mom. My dad is in the hospital with CHF and is failing a little more each day, it seems. Good to see you post and I hope everything in your professional and personal life return to a more normal pace soon.
____________________
Les AVR '93 / '95

 

[fyrfytr]

Hi Steve,
Sorry to hear about your mom. I hope everything turns out OK for her. Your family will be in our prayers.
Take Care,

Dave
_____________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical
Heart Center of the Rockies

 

[Nancy]

Hi Steve-

Your plate is full right now. Your mom will be in my thoughts and prayers. I'm sorry she has these problems. That's the most important thing, the rest will all fall into place. Take care of yourself in the process.

See you when you can.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Steve,

Sorry to hear about your mother.
Please contact me if you would like to talk. Would be happy to call you.

This is what my husband had. If the tumor is contained to the kidney..... full recovery and remission is to be expected. 5 year plan of scans to watch. He just hit his two year mark. Was at Loyola today having his CT w/contrast.

Wishing her all the best.

 

[bvdr]

Hi Steve,

Your family will be in my prayers and Les, so will yours. I know how hard it is when a parent is ill and my heart goes out to you guys.

 

[Gisele]

Steve,

Steve,

Don't worry about us here on the board, just take care of yourself and your family. Good luck to your mom. I hope the surgery goes well for her.

Take care.............Gisele

 

[Nancy]

Hi Les-

I'm sorry to hear about your dad. Chf can make a person so ill. But a lot of times, there is much that can be done. There are cardiologists who specialize in CHF. I hope your dad improves.

I had to find Joe a specialist last December. This doctor corrected a lot of very serious problems, and Joe has been on a pretty even keel ever since, at least no overnights in the hospital.

 

[hensylee]

Steve, you may recall that my surgery of 5/20 was presented to me exactly like your mother's. Mass in/on the kidney, suspicious for cancer. Turned out when the dr got in there it was on the adrenal gland and non-cancerous, tho, he did say, if it had been IN the kidney, it would most likely have been cancer. My brother, some years ago, had a small cancer in his kidney and like Gina's husband, it was removed and with it all traces of cancer. I was one of the lucky ones but was left with some other problems. Be sure to tell her doctor to handle her body with kid gloves - I am still seeing a doctor to try to find out what they did to my hip or my back during the surgery that left me unable to walk, except with help. I am better, but not ok yet -

My prayers are with your mother - and all of your family. It will be a bit rough but she will hopefully be just fine. My prayers are with you.

Gina talked by phone with me and was most encouraging; she helped me get through it.

 

[Granbonny]

Hi Steve

Hi Steve

I will keep your family in my prayers. My mom died two years ago. When I'm not on this board..it ususally is because I'm in Alabama visiting with my age 89 year old Daddy. Try to go as much as possible. Family is first in my life too. Bonnie

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi steve!
i'm so sorry your mom has to go through this. please let us know how it all turns out and how she is doing. in the meantime, please try and take little breaks yourself so that you don't exhaust yourself. she needs you.

hi les,
i am so sorry to hear about your dad. my dad was hospitalized this past year for the same thing and nancy was so very helpful in explaining a lot to me. my dad was in florida and was totally s.o.b. but refused to go to a doctor (he has a st. jude's and had double bypass surgery 3 years ago). it took all i had on the phone to get him to go and they immediately hodpitalized him and medicated him. he's ok now.
please let us all know how your dad is doing.

wishing you both all the best. your families are in our thoughts and prayers.
sylvia

 

[nadi]

Steve and Les,
I am so sorry your parents are going thru all this. Remember to take care of yourselves, it is hard on care giver/provider also.
I know 1st hand I took care of my mother who had several problems all relating back to her heart problems and my grandmother who was 98, blind, arthritic, and had dementia, at the same time.

I will keep both you and your family in my prayers.

 

[pillarpaul]

Can't add much more, guys. Been there, too, and it's no fun. Like Nadine said, rememebr to take care of yourselves (easier said than done) and hope to see you both next month. Can't wait!

Paul

 

[Rain]

Hugs & I love you's are soooo important

Hugs & I love you's are soooo important

Steve and Les,

I?m so sorry to hear about your Mom and Dad. Its so hard to see our parents grow old, slowly slow down and eventually begin having health problems.

I lived it... I know how stressful and painful it is. A simple ?I love you? will work wonders for them at this time. I think as we grow older we don?t say that to them enough.... I didn?t anyway.

Take care, and know your vr.com family is here for you. I look forward to meeting you both next month.... hopefully your parents will be much better by then.

 

[Mark Wagner]

Hi Steve,
I'm glad to see your post, but sorry to hear of your mothers health problems. She is in my prayers my friend. (and you too.)

Mark

 

[Mark Wagner]

Hi Les,
I just read down a saw your post. I am terribly sorry about your father. Like Steve, you and your father are also in my prayers. Cheer him up and tell him some 'knucklehead in Washington state adopted his qoute.
I hope your still running. I know it is a good way to blow off the stress.

2 years ago on this day, my daughter whom works for an agency in Washington DC, left her apartment three blocks from the Pentagon, went to the front of the Pentagon and caught a bus one hour before the plane crashed into the building. At the time I didn't know if she was in the building that morning. Their was no way for her to get a line out to me as everything was jammed. At 1:00 that afternoon, I was in contact with the chaplin handling defense family notification. At 3:00 I had to get out of the house, and I must have looked pretty ridiculous jogging along the road with tears running down my face. We were really beginning to think we lost her. It was so unlike her not to call. At around 5:00 that night we finally recieved an E. mail that she was okay. I was so relieved that I still had my daughter. That night as I lay in bed I was overwhelmed with guilt because I was so relieved that my little girl was okay, but I pained for the families I knew would not get that call. I hope we as a nation never have to feel what we all felt that day. It was truly the worst day of my life. Two years later and it still hurts like hell.

Mark

 

[Ross]

As everyone has said Steve, take care of family. We will be here when it's taken care of.

Les, I didn't mean to bypass the happenings with your dad. Sorry to hear about that. I've been the route with both of my parents who are no longer here, so I know how tough it is.

Keeping you both in thought and prayers.

 

[wlaldridge]

Steve and Les,

No one has the right words, but we all are praying for the best for your families.

My mundane life keeps me away from Vr.com but I have warm thoughts and wishes for all my heart buddies.

Ann-I am sorry to hear of your problems, guess I missed being here too long to even glimpse your problems. Sorry, I will send an email.

Bonnie, my favorite cheerleader even gave up on me. But not Ross-thanks to you all.

Best

 

[wlaldridge]

Steve and Les,

No one has the right words, but we all are praying for the best for your families.

My mundane life keeps me away from Vr.com but I have warm thoughts and wishes for all my heart buddies.

Ann-I am sorry to hear of your problems, guess I missed being here too long to even glimpse your problems. Sorry, I will send an email.

Bonnie, my favorite cheerleader even gave up on me. But not Ross-thanks to you all.

Best

 

[Granbonny]

Billy Bob

Billy Bob

How are those twins. Growing I bet. Maybe we will be parked on your beach next week. Watching that one big hurraine. May come to U.S. Bonnie