Posts by outnfree

117

Vigil for my daughter, please.

by outnfree in

as mentioned in my other thread, my daughter lena is having brainsurgery on monday, jan 24. the surgery will last 6-7 hours, so i'm hoping the board members will be willing to make a special effort tomorrow to send positive thoughts, healing energy, good wishes and prayers her way.

we are asking that the surgeon's hands be delicate and skillful and that lena does not bleed overmuch and that brain damage be minimal (if not non-existant).

surgery begins at 8 am eastern standard time (us), but we have to have her to the hospital by 6 am, so this is "good night!

outnfree

Hello, everyone!

Sorry I haven't posted sooner. Lena DID come home that Friday and things have been incredibly busy here. Many of her friends came home last weekend to see the recovering wunderkind, and all this month relatives will be visiting from out of state. She is doing GREAT!!!! We have a follow-up visit with the neurosurgeon tomorrow when the staples will be removed (ouch!!!!). She says she's more fearful of the staple removal than of the actual surgery -- at least she was unconscious during surgery! She is healthy and happy and whole! Which I attribute to the power of goodwill generated towards her and the surgeon by so many, as well as by the surgeon's skill.

I had to drop two classes completely and am taking an "Incomplete" on Intermediate French Conversation, but will be allowed to take the Advanced French Conversation for which the Intermediate was a prerequisite due to the circumstances. I'll just be called upon to give TWO oral presentations, one of which will be my final in Intermediate Conversation. (It's times like these when I can magnanimously "bless" the Theocratic Ministry School--and my prior career in Public Relations.) It was very nice of the profs to work with me.

If the doctor clears her for work after the end of this month, Lena will try to find a part-time job. And then she'll take some courses at the local university this summer which will transfer to her school.

I'll give a health update Tuesday after the follow-up appointment. Thanks for caring.

out

37

just introducing myself

by adri2 in

jw
friends

i never did become a jw but i did associate with them for a few years by attending meetings, going house to house, and all that fun stuff.

anyway, i have so much in my mind that i cannot possibly say in one post.

basically i saw/heard many things during my association with jw that i just didn't agree with or just made me wonder if they were truly teaching the "truth", which i have recently come to the conclusion that there is no truth.

outnfree

Hi, Adri2!

I believe in God but I don't believe in organized religion.

This describes me, too. Welcome to the board!

outnfree

13

New Outlaw in town

by Outlawed in

jw
friends

hi, i am robert from the

http://websitemaker.kennisnet.nl/jehoshuafellowship/index.htm

regards robert (most time reading only because of languish, but i learn)

outnfree

Dear Outlawed,

Welcome to the forum! I checked out your site and got the drift that you've quoted Watchtower literature to show how the Witnesses heralded the "return of Christ" so many different times. Interesting that you in the Netherlands have also made the unstated, but subtly hinted at, connection that 2034/5 could fit JW chronology for the current crop of new members.

Regards from another "out",

outnfree

24

Hurting so bad here in Ohio...don't know where to turn to

by FreedomFrog in

jw
friends

does anyone know of a forum i can go to to get lots of support?

cheeko's death has hit me pretty hard.

i'm looking for a forum for ones who have lost close pets.

outnfree

I'm sorry for your loss, ((((FreedomFrog)))). I have lost many pets over the years, but it is always difficult to adjust to life with them gone. I'm sorry I don't have a website address to offer you.

outnfree

117

Vigil for my daughter, please.

by outnfree in

as mentioned in my other thread, my daughter lena is having brainsurgery on monday, jan 24. the surgery will last 6-7 hours, so i'm hoping the board members will be willing to make a special effort tomorrow to send positive thoughts, healing energy, good wishes and prayers her way.

we are asking that the surgeon's hands be delicate and skillful and that lena does not bleed overmuch and that brain damage be minimal (if not non-existant).

surgery begins at 8 am eastern standard time (us), but we have to have her to the hospital by 6 am, so this is "good night!

outnfree

Update: Lena will likely come home today. We started moving her things out yesterday. She had some fever spikes, nausea, and a bit too much Dilantin in her blood levels for her to be released then, so they've drawn blood this AM and if everything checks out, I'll be bringing my little girl home! I'll post again when that happens.

((((HE))))

Brenda

15

When It Snows, It's an Avalanche!

by outnfree in

as if i wasn't already completely stressed out about my daughter's upcoming brain surgery, not to mention being executrix of my mother's estate (and she left a lot of debt), i just learned the day before yesterday that my father-in-law has colon cancer, and now today.... today i learned that my 35 year old nephew, my deceased sister's only living son, is suffering from congestive heart failure.

the cardiologists have told him he only has 10% function left.

they cannot even perform a catheterization to see whether or where arteries are blocked or valves are diseased.

outnfree

Oh, yeah! There's news on these fronts, too...

My nephew is in ICU as of yesterday. They managed the catheterization and none of his arteries are clogged. A CT Scan will be performed today of his lungs, since they, too, are compromised, but bottom line is that his heart is working at only 15% capacity and he needs a heart transplant because his ventricles cannot push the blood hard enough to oxygenate his other organs.

My father in law had 90% of the tumor removed from his colon, but my sister-in-law (a geriatric RN) told me that his systems are beginning to shut down. He is 84 and has had a long and good life, but I don't think my husband is actually processing the fact that his father's dying process has begun.

It's all very sad, but out of my control and I have my Lena as my primary cause right now, so requesting more prayers from you all and myself is about all I can do.

I've been getting messages BIG time lately to learn to "Let Go," "Surrender & Release" and the gods are not letting me be in a position to do anything other than that, are they?

Love,

Brenda

117

Vigil for my daughter, please.

by outnfree in

as mentioned in my other thread, my daughter lena is having brainsurgery on monday, jan 24. the surgery will last 6-7 hours, so i'm hoping the board members will be willing to make a special effort tomorrow to send positive thoughts, healing energy, good wishes and prayers her way.

we are asking that the surgeon's hands be delicate and skillful and that lena does not bleed overmuch and that brain damage be minimal (if not non-existant).

surgery begins at 8 am eastern standard time (us), but we have to have her to the hospital by 6 am, so this is "good night!

outnfree

Morning update:

Lena was finally transferred to a regular room last night. She's still got a drain line under her scalp, but that will likely come out today. The bandage was off and she finally looked at herself in the mirror and said, "My hair looks like crap!" <<-- That's my girl!!! Then she said, "I look like crap!" and I told her she looks beautiful to me: ALIVE! and coherent!

The swelling on her forehead was a bit worse and she's swollen around her left eye as though she's been bitten by a mosquito there, but the nausea had subsided and she actually ate dinner. Apparently, she will have the joy of watching her face go through all the purples, yellows and greens of bruising, as they need to pull away some of her forehead skin in order to get to the lesion. She's only got one IV line left, though, so that's good.

I am a little slow out of the starting blocks this morning. Still need to shower and get down to the hospital. I have promised myself one of those long, standing-there-until-the-hot-water-starts-running-out showers to get all the aches out of my old body which doesn't do pretzel contortions so well anymore. But first I need to do this update and I have another mass e-mail to send out as well. Her dad went down to see her before work, though, and brought her the book we forgot to bring her last night.

I should get going, but thanks again for the support. She will be reading this thread and the rest of the other one as well when she gets home. Which could be TOMORROW or Friday, even!!!! Unless there are deep reasoning problems that aren't obvious now, it appears she has had no brain damage requiring rehabilitation of any sort other than healing!!!!

Ian, if you're reading, we remembered last night to send energy your way from her hospital bed. Hope it helped.

Joy -- I am only taking two French conversation classes: back to back, 10 weeks each. I've missed 5 out of the first six classes, but I went for the first test and I'll go this afternoon. They're only offered Winter Semester and they're required for my degree. Lena is on Medical leave because the neurosurgeon said it will be at least an entire month to fully recover at home.

Morty -- Got your lovely phone message. I've saved it for Lena to listen to this weekend.

Love to all,

Brenda

117

Vigil for my daughter, please.

by outnfree in

as mentioned in my other thread, my daughter lena is having brainsurgery on monday, jan 24. the surgery will last 6-7 hours, so i'm hoping the board members will be willing to make a special effort tomorrow to send positive thoughts, healing energy, good wishes and prayers her way.

we are asking that the surgeon's hands be delicate and skillful and that lena does not bleed overmuch and that brain damage be minimal (if not non-existant).

surgery begins at 8 am eastern standard time (us), but we have to have her to the hospital by 6 am, so this is "good night!

outnfree

G'day, everyone! And it IS a very good day. Thanks, Rhonda, for posting that brief update last night. I wanted to phone you to ask you to do that, but I was bone-tired and no cell phones were allowed to be on up in ICU.

Lena came through with flying colors!!! I firmly believe that it is as a result of all the prayers/energy/thoughts/support/love/empathy/compassion brought to the situation by my friends here on the forum and Lena's friends and our family as well. The doctor was on his feet operating on my baby for almost 9 hours (instead of the 6-7 expected). But she is alert and, aside from a headache and nausea (nowhere near what she had when all this first started, however), seems to be neurologically sound. Speech was not likely to be affected because she is left-handed and the lesion was on the left side of her brain, thus speech would develop in her right brain. But, it truly seems to me (<<-- not a doctor, of course) that she has ALL her wits about her. And physically there is no numbing, weakness, drooping muscles, etc. in any of her extremities. She had an arterial line in her left arm that was bugging her bigtime, very sore, but that was removed this morning.

She will be transferred from ICU to a regular room sometime today, as all her vitals are fine. She had a slight fever upon leaving OR, but it has slowly gone down overnight.

I barely slept and am almost afraid to drive myself home, but I have an appointment at 11:00 AM, and so I will wait until rush hour is over and be very careful. Lena's dad will come to take over bedside support duties. :)

We called on the Source and Lena's guardian angels for protection and support for the neurosurgeon and feel our prayers were answered. The neurosurgeon who assisted marveled at Dr. G's skill and stamina. Apparently the lesion was waaaaaay larger and deeper than they had thought and in a very tricky location too. We cannot be more pleased with the outcome! << INSERT BIGGEST SIGH OF RELIEF IN MY LIFE THUS FAR HERE>>

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Will write more tonight from home.

Love, out

117

Vigil for my daughter, please.

by outnfree in

as mentioned in my other thread, my daughter lena is having brainsurgery on monday, jan 24. the surgery will last 6-7 hours, so i'm hoping the board members will be willing to make a special effort tomorrow to send positive thoughts, healing energy, good wishes and prayers her way.

we are asking that the surgeon's hands be delicate and skillful and that lena does not bleed overmuch and that brain damage be minimal (if not non-existant).

surgery begins at 8 am eastern standard time (us), but we have to have her to the hospital by 6 am, so this is "good night!

outnfree

Here's the update:

Lena is still in surgery. She had very good spirits going in, right up until they sedated her. Surgery didn't begin until about 9:50 AM EST, and the surgical nurse phoned the waiting room a little while ago to let us know that she is doing fine, but they still have quite a bit of work to do. I take that to mean that she won't be done by 4 PM or even 5 PM.

Frankly, my nerves are just about shot. I was doing well until about 2:30 PM. They had said they'd update us by 2 PM and every time the waiting room phone rang I was jumping out of my skin. Finally, I went to the chapel with a calming desert music CD and tried to ground myself. I only partially succeeded.

Thankfully, I have Jann as a friend locally, and she helped me allow myself to experience my fears and tears. I also took a walk outdoors, which was very calming. I was making my way back to the waiting room when I noticed that the Library here only has hours until 4:30 PM, so I thought I should update all of you who have been so kind with your time, posts, and prayers today and these past few weeks.

Please keep up the vigil. I am actually very optimistic, but with all the other stuff going on in my life right now, my nerves are frazzled. It helped for me to send out love to Lena from the chapel, so perhaps I'll do that again before rejoining the rest of my family. Her best friend's Mom is here and also two friends from grade school (who are now boyfriend and girlfriend).

It was so wonderful to read your expressions of love and support. My heart is full.

Love,

Brenda

117

Vigil for my daughter, please.

by outnfree in

as mentioned in my other thread, my daughter lena is having brainsurgery on monday, jan 24. the surgery will last 6-7 hours, so i'm hoping the board members will be willing to make a special effort tomorrow to send positive thoughts, healing energy, good wishes and prayers her way.

we are asking that the surgeon's hands be delicate and skillful and that lena does not bleed overmuch and that brain damage be minimal (if not non-existant).

surgery begins at 8 am eastern standard time (us), but we have to have her to the hospital by 6 am, so this is "good night!

outnfree

As mentioned in my other thread, my daughter Lena is having brainsurgery on Monday, Jan 24. The surgery will last 6-7 hours, so I'm hoping the board members will be willing to make a special effort tomorrow to send positive thoughts, healing energy, good wishes and prayers her way. We are asking that the surgeon's hands be delicate and skillful and that Lena does not bleed overmuch and that brain damage be minimal (if not non-existant). Surgery begins at 8 AM Eastern Standard Time (US), but we have to have her to the hospital by 6 AM, so this is "Good night!" from me!

I'll update this thread when I return from the hospital. I may be staying there overnight tomorrow, so there may be no news here until Tuesday PM.

Thanks very much.

Love, Brenda