# Uncle, May Day and Help **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 9, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465 "2008-12-09T23:14:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/21 "2008-12-10T02:23:18Z")
(((((rigs)))))) And cyber-chocolate. I’m so sorry. ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/22 "2008-12-10T02:30:19Z")
That is way beyond what anyone should have to deal with. You have everyone here for support. That is something anyway. ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/23 "2008-12-10T02:31:47Z")
Aww, {{{{{{{ **Rigs** }}}}}}; we’re here for you, hon. With lots of chocolate, as needed. ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/24 "2008-12-10T02:37:44Z")
Big hugs to you \*\*rigs, \*\*along with extra chocolate. You know we’re here for you. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/25 "2008-12-10T02:45:07Z")
All these hugs and not one of you felt me up? I’m disappointed in my Dopers! Really, I am very grateful for the cyber hugs. I was about at the end of my rope. I am back from ICU, where my FIL is doing well (well, as well as a man who has battled lung CA with bone mets for the past three years can be). They put in a chest tube and got 1 liter out right away. It has drained 2.5 liters, total so far, since about 5 pm. Stupid gatekeeper cow of a receptionist for the big research university oncologist wouldn’t let my MIL talk to the oncologist directly on Monday. “Doctor doesn’t see pts on Tuesday; you have an appointment on Friday.” :mad: I hate receptionists (we’ve had this conversation). Luckily, my MIL recognized that he was getting no better and called his pulmonologist, who saw him right away in the office,\* took one look at him–walked him over to ICU, told them to ignore the registration process and got a chest tube in him right away.\* Yes, he was that bad. (why my MIL didn’t call 911 escapes me, and she didn’t call me, but that’s another story for another day). I don’t expect every doctor to do what he did or even think that all emergencies warrant such treatment, but it probably saved his life (for now). And as most of you know, I have a not so nice relationship with my MIL, but she is holding it together very well (this from a woman who refused to even come to the hospital to see me and her first grandchild because she “doesn’t like hospitals.” She was civil to the doctor (the internist, who was remarkable in his patience and review of FIL’s health history–I would go to this internist) and polite to the nurses (she used to say that they wouldn’t come in to help her, even though she was beating the walls down and screaming from pain–MIL is a wee bit of a drama queen). I was also surprised, but glad to find FIL is DNR/DNI (do not resuscitate, do not intubate). They call it something else these days, but that’s what it means. By the time I left, his breathing was down from 34/min to 24, and he could talk and eat dinner. Thank you all for “listening” and for your support. Of course I’m not about to worry about filing for divorce just yet–I can’t be bothered. God knows we can do that later, after the funeral(s), Xmas and FIL is in hospice or even wait until his final journey. Hell, it’s not so bad I can’t wait (and it won’t be all that long, sadly). ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/26 "2008-12-10T05:35:04Z")
: gropes my favorite nurse : ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/27 "2008-12-10T05:38:52Z")
Well, bad as they are, I’m glad things have at least calmed down a bit for now. I hope this gives you a chance to take a couple of deep breaths and grab a few winks. I’m sending these by Metra. {{{{eleanorigby and co.}}}} ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/28 "2008-12-10T06:06:08Z")
You are all in my thoughts and prayers. **((BIG HUGS))** ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/29 "2008-12-10T06:47:25Z")
Jesús, **rigs** , when did you offend someone who cursed you with interesting times? In a Latin American soap opera, what you’ve described would take up some two years. I know it’s been mentioned before but… have some chocolate as needed along with the {{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}! Doctor’s orders! ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/30 "2008-12-10T08:29:56Z")
Damn, baby! Big hugs to you in this challenging time and a sincere wish and hope that you experience nothing exciting for months to come!! ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/31 "2008-12-10T10:40:31Z")
Choose which you prefer… Just a big, “you really need a good break now” type hug {{{ **Rigs** }}} Or a “Hellllllo Nurse!!” type “fucking hug” (or at least a groping one… ;)) OR you can have both. And an ear to vent to and a shoulder to cry on… sounds like you need all of the above and more. You deserve a better Holiday Season – and a better next year and “rest of your life.” ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/32 "2008-12-10T11:54:09Z")
Sorry, you’re not my groping type… But how about hugs and chocolate chip cookies? {{{ **rigs** }}} ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/33 "2008-12-10T14:28:01Z")
**{{{rigs}}}** I’m so sorry it’s all piling up. We’re here for you to scream at, vent to, and we all have big shoulders for you to cry on. :: leaves a stash of chocolate on top of the fridge :: ---
**Author:** ![Tupug\_Anachi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@Tupug\_Anachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tupug_Anachi)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/34 "2008-12-10T14:37:02Z")
**rigs** , sometimes it feels like the bad stuff just won’t quit. Just remember there are a lot of folks here with big shoulders and we don’t mind it when you vent here at all. {{{{{ **rigs** }}}}} ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/35 "2008-12-10T14:37:27Z")
I am sorry to hear of your string of bad luck! Sending supporting thoughts your way. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/36 "2008-12-10T14:42:12Z")
Not fair! Fuck! Hugs and love to you. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/37 "2008-12-10T14:42:57Z")
Is it horrible that I made a pan of brownies for Liz’s family (the girl who died) and ended up eating about 5 of them myself? I’ll make another batch for them today. The chocolate and the sleep I got helped immeasurably. The hugs do, too. 🙂 The story I told re the doc pushing the wheelchair straight into ICU was a bit of hyperbole, but it’s a great story. They did do a direct admit to ICU, but doc didn’t push the wheelchair and of course, no one did a thing until his insurance info was in the computer etc. :rolleyes: Daughter seems a wee bit more stable this morning as well. She’s coming home (at great, ill afforded expense) for the funeral. I don’t begrudge the money, but it’s not like we have a lot extra hanging around. This ups the credit card bill with its insane interest rate. ☹ Today I’m going running, making brownies and watching Love Actually while knitting. I need today. You’re all welcome to join me. I call the corner of the couch! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/38 "2008-12-10T14:48:38Z")
Hugs, kisses, and gropes, darling. You’ll get through this. You’re strong. ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/39 "2008-12-10T14:49:24Z")
{{{ **rigs** }}} We’re always here to listen. Vent away. If you have dark chocolate on hand, these [babycakes](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/14/dining/141nrex.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=molten%20chocolate%20babycake&st=cse)are really easy to make. I made 1 (a quarter recipe… you really don’t need 12 oz of good quality chocolate! Just 3 oz, which is one bar of the Lindt or Green&Black or whatever from the grocery store.) last night and we were eating it in under 1/2 an hour. Rich, dark chocolate may not make life’s problems go away, but it certainly does taste good and that can help take one’s mind off things for just a few minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Dottygumdrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Dottygumdrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dottygumdrop)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncle-may-day-and-help/476465/40 "2008-12-10T15:14:06Z")
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