My Cousin, Anna Rosethel Menard

Rose Menard
On Thursday, January 27, 2011 Anna Rosethel Menard — Rose as she was known to her friends and family — was called home to be with her family in Heaven. Rose was born on July 22, 1952 in Sault Ste. Marie, MI and passed away at War Memorial Hospital surrounded by her family after a short battle with cancer.
She was a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and had proudly served on their Board of Directors as a Unit 4 Representative. She was employed with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians as a Women’s Shelter Worker.
Rose enjoyed spending time with family/friends and prided herself on making sure that everyone who visited her home felt welcomed.
She enjoyed cleaning her home, playing cards, tending her yard, feeding the animals that came into her yard, making people laugh, and above all else, caring for children-she had such a special way about her that children were just naturally drawn to her  gentle nature.
She is survived by her daughters: Tiffany Sue Menard and Miranda Rose (Chrissy Yawn) Menard both of the Sault; her loving companion and friend James Lewis; her brothers: Robert a.k.a. Buck (Kathy) of Negaunee, MI, Ronnie (Julie) of the Sault, Thomas (Mary) of Negaunee, Wilfred a.k.a. Scott (Barb) of the Sault, Michael of Royal Oak, MI, Kerry (Charo) Dillon of Indianapolis, IN; and her sisters: Dorothy (John) Leach and Patricia (Lyle) Willette both of the Sault. In addition, she is also survived by several very special aunts/uncles, nieces/nephews, great nieces/nephews, cousins, and close family friends.
Rose joins her parents: Louis Hector and Dorothy “Teeny” (McCoy) Menard; her brother, Louis “Jiggs” Menard; her grandparents: John and Florence (Rickley) McCoy and Louis and Rose (Myotte) Menard, along with numerous others she held near and dear in Heaven.
The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to  the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Women’s Shelter or to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Visitation will be held at Clark Bailey Newhouse from 4-8 p.m. on Sunday, January 30, 2011 with Rosaries at 6:30 p.m. and Traditional Teaching to follow. A Mass celebrating her life will be held at Holy Name of Mary Pro-Cathedral (St. Mary’s Catholic Church) on Monday, January 31, 2011 at 11:30 a.m. with Father Sabatian Kavumkal as celebrant. All are invited to join the family at the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Cultural Center (Niigaanigiishik Building) for lunch immediately after Mass. 

As you see, Rose was always smiling! The pictures above taken from the last time I was to Sault Ste Marie. (Blog is here, CLICK),
www.flintville.multiply.com/journal/item/836/Sault_Ste._Marie-_And_Her_People

Life is short-
Too short.

My love to all, and my peace to Buttercup, and to her sister too.
Gods Blessings.

XOXO
Me

My back rant. Forgive me.

Icicles over the back door...

Good Evening Everyone;
Just playing catch up again....

It is Casey's birthday- She is a whole Double-Dozen.

She is recovering well from her vagotomy.
(My spell check insists that 'vagotomy' should be 'vasectomy') - But I can pretty much assure you that is one operation she will never have. hehehe



Below is Regina...


She loves her job at U-of-M, and is a very joyful NA to have around!


As we drove home, Casey took a little nap- Snowfall can do that to a body- Kind of a flurry hypnosis.




'Course maybe the fact that she'd just had surgery had a lot to do with that nap too. hehehe




Driving up B the other day, we saw these horses making a meal out of the trees.
The trees will never recover when the bark is stripped all the way around; and I am thinking that there is something important missing from their diet to be eating the trees.

Punk has been out of sorts as well.




Maybe these little trips take their toll on her too. Casey even brought her to the vet the other day. We have been calling her our Little "PunkaLump" as she has bumps in a few places.  The bump that worried me was on her back- where she had gotten squished as a little puppy.  Oddly the one that worried Dr. Spires more is one between her toes. Time will tell if that growth changes or goes away.

And now...
Turnabout is fair play-
Casey took this picture of me while I was at the hospital last week for my back.


Damn fine thing I am still halfway strong, as I had most of my weight on my arms.
There was no way I was changing my clothes, so they just covered me up with one of those nice warm blankets.
A very nice doctor, and nice nurses too.
As soon as I was treated for my pain, Casey had left to run to her house to get some clothes to be able to stay overnight with me...

The radiologist (Holly) left much to be desired. She came in my little room, demanding that I "jump in the wheelchair" so she could bring me to radiology.
Nothing doing as I had all I could do to get from the wheelchair that carried me in on arrival, and get on the bed.
i explained that I could barely move without excruciating pain, and she got very angry at me, and asked if I could move? I said yes, that I wasn't paralyzed.
So once again, pointing, she demanded me to get in the wheelchair.
Again, after telling her how much pain I was in, I asked could she please wheel me down there on the bed?
She said they don't do that.
What?!? (No I didn't say that). I call BS though, as they have done that many times for Casey.  I didn't say that either.
But I did tell her "I am NOT going to argue with you."
With that she stuck her head out of the room and declared that she would need 4 or 5 people to help her get me down to radiology. While I am not extremely fat, I don't think 4 or 5 people would be necessary...

She wheeled me down the hall while everyone toddled behind.

When we got to Xray, "Holly" said they would pick me up and carry me to the table.
I asked them to kindly put the wheelie bed close to the table and I would move myself. after I was situated, I apologized to one nurse who was there for having made them wheel me down to radiology. Not knowing what had transpired, she looked a little perplexed but said, "Oh don't worry about that, we do it all the time. Besides that is why the beds have wheels on them." 
(Bitch that I can be, I was quite pleased that she'd said that in front of the technician).

Everyone but one male nurse left at that point- He helped me to be able to move to get into position for "Holly"
She told me to pull my bra up to my neck.
HAHAHA- God how I wanted to laugh...
But all I said was "No."
I told her I would unbuckle it and put the metal tabs in my armpits. She told me they would be in the way of the Xray.
I then pointed (best I could) to my vertebrae. i explained that she was taking pictures of the middle of my back and that wire hootchies in my armpits should not interfere with that if she did it right.
Ooh was she pissed...
So onto my back I went.
I bit my tongue so I wouldn't cry out loud-
Sometimes that helps, sometimes not. (Thankfully it did help enough that day so I wouldn't cry out in pain as I slowly got onto my back).

She told me to hold that position after she had taken 2 Xrays, wanting to make sure they turned out before I had to 'move' again. She spoke as though I was lying about my pain, and had I felt better I would have had more than a few nice words for her... ('Course had I felt better i would not have been there to begin with).

After she checked those out and proclaimed that they were fine, her attitude changed almost night and day. Suddenly I was "Anne" -and suddenly she was very quieted and gentle.
Go figure- She'd taken one look at my Xrays and knew damn well what she was dealing with- and it sure as hell wasn't a liar!
Oy- What a bitch she was!
And yes, I do know my back is neither her fault nor her problem, but i do believe there might have been the part where she gave me the benefit of the doubt...

I had an appointment with my pain management doctor the following day. Casey drove me there after staying overnight.
(Thank God they had a wheelchair, or I would not have gotten in the building).
Miss Becky was wonderful as always, and even brought in a different doctor to consult with. I had gotten out of the chair to go to the table, and wound up on my knees by the table. Not too uncomfortable, but I do believe I scared the dickens out of her and Casey. (Sorry girls).
They put 6 shots in my back once I was on the table.

Tomorrow I go in for 6 different ones.
She changed my pain meds too- They make me very tired- so at least I nod off every now and then.

I don't know what will happen next. That's maybe the worst part of it all. Though to be truthful, the pain actually scares the hell out of me at times.

Casey has been so very good to me, and I am sure that she would much rather be sleeping next to Greg than next to the stupid intercom phone here.

I haven't even dust-mopped in so long, and my once tidy house has become quite a mess. The hardest thing when Casey isn't here is letting Punk out, and getting her fed and watered. We finally put the 5 quart pan on the floor by the sink so I don't have to worry about carrying a stupid bowl of water.

I can't begin to tell you all how bad this is. There are no words to even describe this pain.
I did ask about the cement- No go -because it is now my entire back, and that cannot be done on the whole back.

They will put me to sleep tomorrow as these shots go straight into my spine. I pray that they work.

And on Friday, I get my TENS unit. Maybe by then I won't need it?

I wish there was a maid service for people with disabilities...

Casey has just gotten back- They had game tonight- She left early from there so we can be up early tomorrow too.
Poor kid.
She even bought her own cake. That made me cry.

I hope all is well with you all.
My love always.

XOXO
Me

Talk about insanity at its finest... Read comment section below. XOXO, Me

The "Heart~Attack~Pack" is back!

Sometimes you just have to give 'up' a little...

No. No. No.
Just a little note...
At 6:45am today-
I had a zillion of your pages open this morning when something 'gave' in my back. The pain was indescribable, and immediate. I couldn't even move my feet off the little stool under the table to get my phone, let alone even take the weight off my forearms.
Punk was at my side immediately.
Stuck in my office chair, I texted Casey to call Randy- (her car is here yet). They were here within 45 minutes.
We spent the morning at the E.R. where they treated my pain, and of course took more Xrays. According to the doctor and the radiologist I have "the back of a 90 year old"

I don't think I have to tell you how it made me feel to hear that I will be in a wheelchair soon. It is more than defeating -to put it mildly.
I have an appointment with my pain doctor tomorrow. Hopefully I will know more after that. E.R doctors have been known to be wrong, right?

XOXO
Me

Green Bay Packer Babies

A Green Bay Packers Fan is drinking in a Chicago bar when he gets a call on his cell phone.
He hangs up, grinning from ear to ear, and orders a round of drinks for everybody in the bar, announcing his wife has produced a typical Green Bay baby boy weighing 25 pounds.

Nobody can believe that any new baby can weigh in at 25 pounds, but the Packer Fan just shrugs, "That's about average back home, folks like I said my boy's a typical Green Bay baby boy.
    
Congratulations showered him from all around, and many exclamations of "WOW!". One woman actually fainted due to sympathy pains.
    
Two weeks later, he returns to the bar.
The bartender says, "Say, you're the father of that typical Green Bay baby that weighed 25 pounds at birth. Everybody's been making bets about how big he'd be in two weeks. So how much does he weigh now?"

The proud father answers, "Seventeen pounds."
The bartender is puzzled, concerned, and a little suspicious. "What happened? He already weighed 25 pounds the day he was born?!?"

The Green Bay father takes a slow swig from his Leinenkugel's beer, wipes his lips on his shirt sleeve, leans into the bartender and proudly says...
..."We had him circumcised!"

OW!

G'mornin' all;
A horrible day for my back... So I will be keeping this short(er).

Greg got home from Milwaukee about 3 yesterday afternoon- 2 hours later, a very happy Greg and Casey left for their home.
I napped. hehehe

Casey is doing very well- A laparascope surgery is almost nothing to her now, after the major major cuts she has had in the past.
Still, the need to rest and heal is of the utmost importance.
She is one tough young lady!

Perhaps my back can be blamed on our beloved Pack for making me jump a few times on Saturday night, hehehe -but upon waking this morning, I am unable to barely walk enough to let the poor dog out. I have managed to move to a different chair as I need to. I have also managed to get Casey's car moved and the garage door closed. It is beginning to snow- It is to snow all day and night- It is falling straight across the yard too. Never a good thing.

I think I am the only Packers fan who has been holding their breath all season long- Ever since Grant was out for the year, (way back when), it seems that the rest of the Pack is dropping like dead flies.
Yet, it also seems that the more we lose players, the more strong we know we have to play, and the better we do.
Not to jinx anything, but I am so looking forward to the game this coming weekend, that this week will not pass fast enough for me!
Win or lose, the fact that we have gotten this far is freakin' fantabulous!
Honestly I think almost any Packers vs Bears game is better than the Super Bowl.

OK... That said, it is time for me to see if I can sit to sew a little now.

Hope all is well in your little corner of the world.
Love to all

XOXO
Me

Don’t Let Renters Vote

Tea Party Nation President Says It ‘Makes A Lot Of Sense’ To Restrict Voting Only To Property Owners

From here: CLICK
http://gawker.com/5702830/tea-party-leader-restricting-voting-to-property-owners-makes-a-lot-of-sense

Every week, the Tea Party Nation hosts a weekly radio program, calling itself a “home for conservatives.” Two weeks ago, Tea Party Nation President Judson Phillips hosted the program and discussed changes that he felt should be made to voting rights in the United States. He explained that the founders of the country originally put “certain restrictions on who gets the right to vote.” He continued, “One of those was you had to be a property owner. And that makes a lot of sense, because if you’re a property owner you actually have a vested stake in the community. If you’re not a property owner, you know, I’m sorry but property owners have a little bit more of a vested interest in the community than non-property owners”:

PHILLIPS: The Founding Fathers originally said, they put certain restrictions on who gets the right to vote. It wasn’t you were just a citizen and you got to vote. Some of the restrictions, you know, you obviously would not think about today. But one of those was you had to be a property owner. And that makes a lot of sense, because if you’re a property owner you actually have a vested stake in the community. If you’re not a property owner, you know, I’m sorry but property owners have a little bit more of a vested interest in the community than non-property owners.

Listen to it:

Phillips is advocating a policy of voter disenfranchisement that has its roots in the 18th century. When the United States was first founded, ownership of property was one of the requirements to vote in most elections. Many of these restrictions were phased out by the 1820s and replaced with requirements that the voter pays taxes. By 1850, these requirements, too, were phased out. Nashville Scene blogger Betsy Phillips calls the Tea Party Nation president’s idea a “frivolous proposal designed to stoke intergenerational antagonism — as if the people who are older and can afford a home are somehow better citizens than the 18-year-olds who are going off to war to die for our country.”

Unfortunately, numerous major conservatives have advocated for rolling back the voting rights of Americans. Supreme Court justice Anthony Scalia, Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX), Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), and Sen.-elect Mike Lee (R-UT) have all advocated for repealing the 17th Amendment, which would end direct election of U.S. Senators and return Senate elections to the purview of state legislatures. (H/T: Tea Party Nationalism)

________________________________________________

OK I see this is from November 30th, 2010, and I am belated in reading and sharing it...
But am wondering where anyone comes up with such ideas?

What say you?

XOXO
Me

(Above links should work)...

Ferrlecit Reaction- (part two)?

Sputty. (With "cattitude")...

Good Afternoon!
As you know from yesterdays blog, Casey had a very bad reaction to her infusion on Wednesday evening.
It's pretty damned bad when suddenly your own body no longer fits in your own skin!
She was so very swollen, and had so much pain everywhere. The swelling in her joints being almost as bad as the hives and the other swollen parts.
Unfortunately, she can only have benedryl as the rest of the stuff is steroids. As Robin was good enough to point out after Casey had tried the Infed infusion, Casey cannot have those treatments because steroids ultimately kill off her precious islet cells.

It happened again last night. The same thing! This, 24+ hours after her infusion was stopped. Again, she took the 50 mgs benedryl and her pain meds as prescribed. Finally, about 4AM the swelling began to go down. She is sleeping for now- I will wake her about 3 or so to make sure that we don't have a repeat of last nights insomnia. I would fall asleep a bit, then awaken; and she was still up. Even after another 50mgs of the benedryl...
The only difference this time is that now we are home. The Minneapolis forecast called for flurries yesterday. No big deal that, as flurries are almost a way of life in Winter.
But the forecast was wrong.
The weather turned a 4 and a half hour drive into almost 8 hours. Kelli remarked that we must have brought it with us because it didn't start snowing in Flintville until 20 minutes before we got home. hehehe
We followed that weather all the darn way home!!! Saw one lone snowplow spreading salt, and just west of Wausau, WI; otherwise the roads were not treated in our direction. (I must add that we counted 8 or 9 plows heading west, plowing and salting).  We saw a few crashes along the way- only one that the car had passed me previously. Being a fan of "late", (in the choice of 'late' or 'never'), I just took my time; stopping every now and then for a potty break. (And medically necessary to unwind my knuckles for a short time).
No stopping in Ringle for Punks potty break either. 
I did stop every now and then for gas- Not needed, save for a few extra pounds added to the car.

As I wrote to my KelliBaby this morning, Mr Sputnik couldn't make up his mind whether to sleep upstairs or down last night. ('Course neither could Casey, so she was awake all night long).
Grrr... One might be tempted to think that 2 days post surgery that one would want to sleep. Not so with herself...  hehehe
I wonder now, if it was pre-hives, the allergy, that kept her awake, the trip, the surgery, or a combination of everything?  Probably that combination.

I still have dishes to do- Left over from before we left, my back not being accommodating enough at that point to stand and scrub. (How's that for an excuse)?! hehehe 
Will get to those after I go in search of a few fresh groceries. The darned dishes will keep a few more hours, and are soaking in bleach water for now.

I would put off the shopping until after the dishes if we weren't to be expecting about 4" of new snow today. I drove far enough in the darn weather yesterday and don't wish to be driving any more than I have to today.
The sun was out earlier, but it is cloudy now. Imagine the snow will start soon.

That said, I had better close.  I hope everyone is safe and warm. And I thank you ALL for your letters, notes, and gifts, for Casey. What grand family and friends we have! Thank you! Thank You!! THANK YOU!!!

My love to all.

XOXO
Me

PS

If you are newer here, {since Casey's TP/AIT (transplant)}, please read here
http://flintville.multiply.com/calendar/item/10011
or here
http://flintville.multiply.com/journal/item/721

Or...
Just start here
http://flintville.multiply.com/journal/item/712
& keep reading forward by hitting 'next' at the bottom of each blog...
Pictures in most. <--- (You have been warned). hehehe 

Casey. Very BAD reaction to Ferrlecit

Just an update...
Casey was given her Ferrlecit infusion yesterday afternoon/evening...

As usual, they run this very slowly; and since she is sensitive to it, they also give her 50 mgs benedryl before even beginning.

Over the course of those 4 hours, she did quite well, save for a bout of diarrhea.
She had only 12 minutes left on it when the benedryl gave up, and she immediately broke out in hives from head to toe.
She had excruciating pain in every joint in her body-

We rang the nurse, who stopped the IV, and also withdrew the last of the Ferrlecit that was in her neck.
Within minutes she was given 50 mgs more of benedryl, and a bolus of her pain meds for the overwhelming joint pain she had.

Before I left last night she was given 50 mgs more benedryl, and her normal pain meds.
I have yet to hear from her this morning-

Please keep her in your good thoughts and prayers.
Love to all

XOXO
Me




Anyone that knows Casey, knows that her ankles and legs are very slim and trim...




This is what happened within a minute-
- - - The pain. The swelling. The hives.

Casey. Minnesota. Surgery- (The 1st few days).

Good Morning All;
First, and most important, Casey's surgery went very well, even though I'd brought her there for 9:30, and never heard again until she was out of surgery around 3:30.
Surgery did start a bit later than they'd hoped. Still, it was a long long day...

To thank everyone who sent their cards, notes, and gifts- Casey will thank you all personally as she can! Suffice to say the top of the fridge is full of cards for her!
Way cool!

We have been in Minnesota for almost a week now- It's been quite a ride, given that I arrived here with a migraine and a sick child, both in tow.
Leaving home, we had gotten new snows- a good enough cover to smear up the roads. But the plows had been out, spreading their salts, and the roads only slowed us down a little, and only for the first 90 miles or so.




Casey stole a nap as we neared I-94, having pain with her meal, and being stressed out as well.

I snapped this picture-



- and wondered who the heck in the north has a new boat on their mind in the middle of January?!?


As you can tell from these pictures, the sun finally did come up and out that day-




Know that the beauty is misleading too- as the temps were hovering around 10°(F) all day long.

We passed LOTS of these marks in the medians-




Evidence that some people were either caught unawares, or didn't care, about the snow/ice.


We stopped a few times (twice for relief and once for gas and food)-

Then finally, we were to Minnesota!




It is always so nice to see The Moos Tower (part of U of M)-
(There are only about 20 minutes left to drive at this point).

Casey's appointment was for 2 to meet with Dr. Andrade- We had about 45 minutes to get signed in to our room, leave Punk where it is warm, and get over to Fairview.






Dr. Andrade is a specialist in Thoracic and Foregut Surgery.
Casey was referred to him by Dr. Sutherland.
Obviously Casey could have opted to find another (closer to home) surgeon for this Vagotomy- Since all of Fairview is knowledgeable of the TP/AIT transplants that are done there, we choose to remain with them whenever possible. This makes real sense to not only us, but to Fairview as well.








Just one floor down from Dr. Sutherlands offices and clinics-


Once in the room, Casey found a poster of "normal" insides...


OK.
So it's upside down, and all parts are still there. (Unlike Casey's own innards).
hehehe

We remain very impressed by Dr. Andrade- Though younger, he is much like Dr. S. He listens to the patient, to everything, and responds according to the fact that Casey is 23, and very well informed.
(I am sensing that this ability to actually talk to a patient, instead of 'down to' - or 'at'- a person, is a prerequisite for being hired on at U of M)...
He also asked about my head- (it was that obvious). 
He then turned down the lights, saying that his own father suffered terribly the whole of his life. He even asked the nurse to talk quietly when she came in.

He explained all that the surgery would entail; how long it would take, etc, to us, and then checked her over too. He also said that, depending on her pain levels, she may be in the hospital for quite a while.


Back at the hotel, Casey was waiting for her food to arrive, and Punk was watching an "Animal Planet" show.





It must have been a fascinating program...




Casey tried, but our Punkster would NOT take her eyes off the screen! hehehe

But oh, we were so hungry! And so happy when the food finally came!

(Food DID make Punk leave her show). hehehe



Punk had to inspect the whole thing...

That salad was for me! "Mmmm"...
(I'd ordered extra dressings so I could eat that salad for 3 or 4 separate meals).

Casey ordered a baked potato pizza- knowing that *if* the tomatoes set off her tummy, that the pain would be short~lived at best.



Broccoli, with 3 cheeses, onions, tomato, and baked potato-
With sour cream to dip it in! - - - Double "Mmmm"...


I'd better close for now- Casey texted earlier and told me to hold off on coming up- She wants to sleep. (Imagine that)! hehehe
Methinks I will nap a bit too, and will catch you all up more about the day of surgery as soon as I can.

I hope all is well with everyone.
As always, I send my love-

XOXO
Me

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Shot in Tucson

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/us/politics/09giffords.html?_r=1&hp
January 8, 2011
Congresswoman Giffords Shot in Tucson
By J. DAVID GOODMAN

A congresswoman from Arizona was shot on Saturday along with several others during at public event at a grocery store in Tuscon, according to her spokesman, C.J. Karamargin. The Tucson Citizen reported that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat, had been shot at close range in the head.

Ms. Giffords, 40, ... was taken to University Medical Center in Tucson, the trauma center for the area, about 10 miles away.

CNN quoted a public information officer as saying that 12 people had been injured in all.

The shooting occurred at a Safeway supermarket in northwest Tuscon as Ms. Giffords hosted an event, called “Congress on Your Corner," to allow members of the 8th Congressional District to meet her individually. She has held several events since first taking office in January 2007. At one such event in 2009, a protester was removed by police when his pistol fell on the supermarket floor. This was her first event since her re-election to a third term in November.

Last March, her Tucson office was vandalized a few hours after the House vote overhauling the nation’s health care system, the authorities said.

Earlier events in Tucson, Oro Valley, Green Valley, Sierra Vista, and Douglas had attracted between 75 and 150 people, according to a statement announcing the event.

Ms. Giffords was interviewed on Fox news on Friday to talk about a bill to cut to congressional salaries by five percent.

Fookin' dang head of mine; spots, dots, and more spots- With a whole lotta 'flash' thrown in... - Going to go upstairs and lie down and try to make it go away... Love to all. XOXO, Me

Asking for a HUGE Favor (Pretty Please)?

***Private Entry***



Hi Everyone;
I am back online; having had issues with Yahoo. (Will try to explain THAT fiasco in a new blog).

However, this one blog is for Casey-  Or not, as the case may be... hehehe
Please don't tell her.

Casey will be having her transthoracic vagotomy next week Tuesday.
We leave, (dependent on the weather), either Wednesday or Thursday. (Yikes, that might be tomorrow already)!

Casey has 2 appointments, pre~surgical; one on Thursday and one on Friday. We will stay the weekend, given that neither of us are up for 3 trips.


Anyhow, a little birdie told me that Casey and Greg received all of 2 Christmas cards.
I know many of you do not send cards- I sent relatively few of my own this year. (Thus, I am also guilty of not sending them one, and will take up my own advice shortly). hehehe

I am wondering if you would please send her a card? Either a surgery, a get well- or even a  birthday card?  (Casey will turn 24 on the 26th).
I have no idea how long she will be in the hospital, so if you could do this before next Tuesday, that may be best. Just please don't send it out today already, (or it might get there before we do).


As always we will be staying at Days Inn...

CaseyAnne L. DeGrave
c/o Days Inn
2407 University Av Se,
Minneapolis, MN 55414

I think this would be very very cool for her. What do you think?

Love to all-  (More soon, I hope).

XOXO
Me


PS
If you are wondering about her surgery...  Here is the email I got from her.


Hi Mommy!

When I searched for "transthoracic vagotomy" all I got were clippings of parts of medical journals, and couldn't understand those... However, I searched for vagotomy and it brought up a bunch of info on it. It's actually something I've heard of before, where they cut the nerve to the stomach that is in charge of telling the stomach to produce ulcers. Since most ulcers are caused by the H. Pylori bacteria, not a lot of these surgeries are done anymore as they respond to the antibiotics and the ulcer is gone... But it is done in cases like mine, when patients don't respond to medical therapy...

Here are {some of} the links I found:

Wikipedia on Vagotomy

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagotomy

Definition and other info on Medical Dictionary
          http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/vagotomy

And Vagotomy on Surgery Encyclopedia

          http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/St-Wr/Vagotomy.html

Love you MUCH MUCH!

~CaseyAnne


We will know much, much, more by the end of Friday. hehehe