# Huge sigh of (medical) relief **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 19, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621 "2003-01-19T11:38:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/1 "2003-01-19T11:38:13Z")
Outside, it may still be dark as pitch, overcast with the clouds that hide men’s souls, cold as the grave, and gray like a dirty snowbank - but not here. In my heart, the sun is shining, it’s blue skies, a warm spring day… Because the doctor just told my wife she does NOT have cancer. NOTNOTNOTNOT. That sounds good, so I’ll do it again. NOT. For 4 long weeks after my wife had surgery to remove a mass, we waited for results. The hospital said early on that they thought it was cancer (lymphoma), but weren’t sure of the details. So we waited. And waited. And waited. We cancelled our Christmas plans, and we waited. They let her go home from the hospital, and still we waited. The samples went from hospital to hospital to clinic, and still we waited. Two doctor’s appointments to check up on her, and still we waited. Two more doctor’s appointments that should have been to discuss results and treatment were cancelled because they didn’t have the information yet. Nigh unto a month we waited with a black cloud of doom over our heads, with our lives on hold. And it turns out that the biggest danger to my wife’s life was the stress that this put her through - because she doesn’t have cancer. I should be posting a long rant in the Pit now about the hospital screwing with the pathology, but I can’t bring myself to do it - I’m just so happy they were wrong. We would all (normally) be worried about the one procedure she still has to undergo, but compared to what we were afraid of, she’s the first person to say it seems like nothing. This is probably mundane and pointless to most, hence the forum, but for me it’s a reprieve from a possible loss of one of the 2 things that matter most to me in this world - my wife. Thank you for letting me share here. ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/2 "2003-01-19T12:13:55Z")
That’s wonderful news, **NE Texan.** I can only imagine how happy you and your wife are. Good luck and God bless. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Washte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Washte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washte)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/3 "2003-01-19T12:47:55Z")
Congratulations! Having recently lost my father to cancer, I fully understand the anguish and frustrations you must have felt wating for ‘the verdict’. I pray thee both well. Peace to you both. Washte ---
**Author:** ![Ayesha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Ayesha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ayesha)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/4 "2003-01-19T15:37:04Z")
WooHoo ::does happy dance for for NE Texan and wife:: Not mundane or pointless at all !! This is wonderful news, and I am so glad you shared it with us. ---
**Author:** ![HerMajestyLorna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7cd45c/32.png) [@HerMajestyLorna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HerMajestyLorna)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/5 "2003-01-19T15:43:51Z")
Hooray! Wonderful news, **NE Texan**! ---
**Author:** ![Weary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@Weary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weary)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/6 "2003-01-19T16:01:28Z")
Fantastic news, NE Texan. I am really pleased for you and Mrs Texan ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/7 "2003-01-19T17:00:17Z")
congratulations. i hope you’re going to spoil her rotten! so glad to see something cheerful! ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/8 "2003-01-19T17:02:45Z")
**NE Texan** , that is wonderful news! ---
**Author:** ![aenea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@aenea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aenea)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/9 "2003-01-19T18:29:05Z")
Wonderful indeed! Now, get step away from your computer and go take that lady out to dinner or something, willya! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/10 "2003-01-19T19:17:26Z")
Definitely something to celebrate! ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/11 "2003-01-19T19:27:37Z")
Hey, that’s fantastic news and must be such a relief to your wife! ---
**Author:** ![Haywood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Haywood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haywood)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/12 "2003-01-19T19:32:40Z")
Wonderful news! I am happy for your wife and you. Now, go get several pairs of vise grips and clamp them onto the wing wangs of those who put your wife through the stress for so long. ---
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/13 "2003-01-19T22:07:28Z")
Thank you for sharing this with me. I appreciate the kind words. On the bright side, this has been a chance for my wife to spend some time with her parents, at our house (usually we visit them), without siblings or distractions. That part of it, at least, has been nice for her. ---
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/14 "2003-01-19T22:09:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Haywood \* > \*\*Now, go get several pairs of vise grips and clamp them onto the wing wangs of those who put your wife through the stress for so long. \*\* I believe in the right tool for the right job… would I use vice grips for that, or a nut wrench? ---
**Author:** ![Haywood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Haywood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haywood)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/15 "2003-01-19T22:39:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NE Texan \* > \*\*I believe in the right tool for the right job… would I use vice grips for that, or a nut wrench? \*\* The last time I was in New England (1973) vise grips were considered the appropriate tool. However, times change and the vise grips may now be a faux pax. If you are in the Boston area buy your wife a frappe and wish her continued good health, if you are outside the Boston area buy her a milkshake with the same thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/16 "2003-01-19T22:57:30Z")
fantastic news. how does it feel to breathe freely? ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/17 "2003-01-20T00:43:23Z")
Having seen my share of the sadder side of this story, I rejoice right along with you and the others, **NE Texan**. Congratulations and best wishes to you and your wife! :)🙂 Quasimodem ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/18 "2003-01-20T00:48:25Z")
Excellent, excellent news. ---
**Author:** ![Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horrifying_Howler_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/19 "2003-01-20T00:53:01Z")
Hurray! That really is wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-sigh-of-medical-relief/149621/20 "2003-01-20T01:31:12Z")
Wonderful news, dear 🙂 CELEBRATE.