# dad\_mcl is in the hospital **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 9, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474 "2003-04-09T02:53:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/41 "2003-04-09T18:08:22Z")
hang in there, **matt**. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/42 "2003-04-09T19:30:27Z")
Best wishes, **matt** and family. It does sound like the way my mother in law acted when she had her strokes. Any kind of symptoms like that are frightening to see. She has recovered, and I hope your dad does too. ---
**Author:** ![Slainte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Slainte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slainte)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/43 "2003-04-10T00:17:32Z")
Positive Thoughts/Good Vibes/Prayers are headed North to **dad\_mcl** and the rest of your family. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/44 "2003-04-10T00:17:41Z")
Went and visited him again today in the hospital. The medication is doing well - he seems to have a good deal less difficulty speaking now. Dianne (aunt\_mcl) will come visit him tomorrow from Hamilton, so he’s looking forward to that. Thanks for the good words, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/45 "2003-04-10T00:20:35Z")
{{matt}} ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/46 "2003-04-12T03:22:39Z")
Any news, **matt**? ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/47 "2003-04-12T03:40:32Z")
My dad took a funny turn a couple of weeks back. He’d taken a fall at the local railway station, and a stranger contacted me, and I ran up there. When I got there, I saw a frail old man instead of the pillar I’d always known. Wasn’t the first time I’d seen this, but it was the strongest sense of it I’d had. It freaked me out. His doctor has told him that, at 74, he should slow down a bit. Dad told me he hasn’t felt “quite right” lately, and his hand-eye coordination has been dodgy. Somebody once said something along the lines of: “The happiest day in a young man’s life is when he realises he could beat his father in a fight. It is also the saddest.” That day is probably long past now, by a decade or more, but nevertheless it’s a sentiment I’m feeling strongly just now. Good luck to both of you, **matt** , and **dad\_mcl**. Thinking of you here. And **matt** , the fact that you reconciled with your dad _before_ this happened is very cool of you indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/48 "2003-04-12T03:53:42Z")
{{{ **matt** }}} ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/49 "2003-04-12T04:58:17Z")
Well, as long as this thread is bumped, Dad is much improved with the drugs. Unfortunately the biopsy has been put off until, I believe, Tuesday. Until then, they were trying to get it so he could go home for the time being. I haven’t heard yet, but I’ll be visiting him tomorrow. Thanks once more, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/50 "2003-04-12T05:41:05Z")
I’m so sorry, **matt**. I just recently had a scare with my dad, but everything turned out okay. Nevertheless, I know how you feel. The Jewish is a good hospital, and it sounds like he’s improving. This can only be good. Best wishes. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/51 "2003-04-13T01:12:03Z")
Welp, his biopsy was unfortunately delayed to next week; however, since he’s feeling much better from the drugs, Dad was able to come home from the hospital for the weekend. Today was an extremely lovely and sunny day (only the third jacket-free day this season) so after a morning protest I came by to visit him. My aunt and Dad’s friend Wayne are in town keeping him company, and Wayne and Dad and I went out for some coffee, and later the five of us went for dinner. Not everyone in hospital for a brain tumour gets a weekend furlough to go eat a steak and walk around in the sun 🙂 On that, I’m a little annoyed at Wayne. He’s always been a bit of an arrogant prick to me, frankly, and this time around he insisted on taking me aside after coffee and telling me that I should be conscious of my words around Dad because “he’s badly deteriorated, he’s very frail, his condition is progressing rapidly” blah blah blah. _Excuse_ me, maybe I know his condition a little bit better than you, since I’m his son and I’ve been dealing with it since he was admitted to hospital a week ago whereas you’ve just jetted in from Alberta, and since he might not have a lot of time left maybe I’d like to enjoy a lovely Saturday when he’s feeling very good, without being hit over the head with the fact that he’s very sick, which I _know._ :mad: Feh, I shouldn’t let him get to me. And I enjoyed and was grateful for the rest of the day besides that. ---
**Author:** ![Cosmopolitan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/94ad74/32.png) [@Cosmopolitan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cosmopolitan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/52 "2003-04-13T01:15:35Z")
I just now saw this, **matt** … Hang in there, man - as **LaurAnge** said, it sounds as though he’s taken a turn for the better. I’ll be crossing my fingers. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/53 "2003-04-13T23:40:13Z")
His biopsy has been delayed until Thursday and Mom is fit to be tied. More later. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/54 "2003-04-14T00:38:50Z")
Glad to hear you enjoyed your time with your dad, matt. Don’t listen to people like Wayne too much right now: focus on your father and mother. Every illness brings out dozens of well-meaning idiots, from relatives to friends to aquaintances. Happens every time, and not everything they say will be in your father’s best interest. Make sure you’re the first one he talks to, and that Wayne is in the back of the line. That’s all you can do, bickering is not going to help. Be the better man. Good luck man, and keep us posted. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/55 "2003-04-14T01:26:12Z")
Good luck! Even when things seem really dire, keep in mind that they can still turn out far, far better than expected. My grandfather went through a round of bone cancer (for which the 5-year survival rate was something like 15%), and then brain surgery a few years later (similar odds, I believe). He’s been cancer-free now for almost 10 years, takes a mile-long walk every morning, and goes out for the occasional 9 holes of golf. He turned 86 today! He says his secret is positive attitude. (I’d never say it to his face, but his legendary stubbornness probably helped, too.) Or maybe it’s Grandmom’s amazingly restorative chicken soup. I’ll try to get a recipe from her, if you want! ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/56 "2003-04-14T04:00:21Z")
Prayers and king thought, **matt**. Keep your chin up. Be there for mom. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/57 "2003-04-14T04:01:31Z")
Errr… Prayers and kind thoughts, **matt**. Keep your chin up. Be there for mom. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/58 "2003-04-15T22:02:24Z")
Well, my dad got his biopsy pushed up to today, fortunately. Mom was very relieved. We’ll have results next week, probably, and then we’ll know how to treat the tumour and what kind it is. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/59 "2003-04-15T23:19:50Z")
matt - if there’s anything I can do to help you get through this, will you please email me? Even if it’s just to unload? Please? You’re one of my favorite people in these parts…and I’d like to be able to give you a shoulder to lean on if necessary…oh, and hugs. Big Hugs! ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474/60 "2003-04-20T00:45:11Z")
Matt, I am so sorry. I just read this thread, and I am sending prayers and positive healing thoughts and hoping that the fact that we haven’t had an update is a POSITIVE thing. My Love, Cheri [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad_mcl-is-in-the-hospital/167474.md?page=4)