[tri-med] Re: pneumonia/intubation/futility?

Sorry to hear about your Aunt, but take heart. I saw a program on ABC 
(Dust to Dust) where the film crew follow the funeral directors from 
start to finish. They featured the funeral of a "pauper" (hate that 
word) but it described a person who had no family to bury him (or 
like your case, sons who weren't interested). They had a minister say 
a few words, and one of the funeral home people (a woman) made it her 
business to place a few flowers from the garden on his coffin. This 
was an Italian run funeral parlor in Leichhardt (I think).

About the car...what a bummer.!

Hope that settlement comes up SOON.

As for Bonnie. It's sad for Alex. I know how much he loves her.

Our dachshund Heidi half killed a kitten when we lived at Bilpin. I 
drove it to the vet crying all the way in the car, as I was so 
horrified that my little lady could do such a terrible thing. She was 
a house dog, but I relegated her to the heated kennel with the Blue 
Cattle dog. (Actually she was much less neurotic then). The kitten 
survived, but always had a funny mew (she had crushed its larynx). 
Heidi slept with her head on our other ginger cat, so this was 
probably just like Bonnie, playing too rough. But the trouble is, 
when we saw her and demanded her to stop, she just ran off with the 
kitten in her mouth. Could never forgive her for that. Another one of 
life's lessons..animals will be animals.

So glad you are feeling better health wise Karen. I could hear it in 
your voice last time we spoke.

Wonderful news about the concert and upcoming trip to Tassie.

Hope your dream of going to Salt Lake will come to fruition.

Keep cool!  I do so HATE this warm humid weather. Roll on Autumn.

PS, I was a teeny bit naughty while you were away, but I gave myself 
the wet noodle lashing, knew you were too busy.

At 10:58 AM 28/01/2007, you wrote:

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Jude Wolpert"
> > oops you stuck your head up so now i want an update of what's up with you
> > guys.
>
>Do you just want a list of the disasters?
>I think I mentioned that my favourite aunt died just before Christmas - we
>were trying to find her baby sister to let her know and found that over a
>year ago she had also died, and has been buried as a pauper. That disturbs
>me greatly as she has at least 4 sons. She was no saint believe me, but
>everyone deserves a decent burial.
>
>My car became very sick just before Christmas so I stopped driving it until
>I had the money to get it repaired. Its 300 yards to the mechanic and I
>would have made it except I thought that I had better put some petrol in it
>for him - drove to the service station and put some petrol in. Drove out to
>drive around the block to get back to the mechanic and it stopped in the
>middle of the highway in peak hour. Rang the mechanic, got a tow truck and
>had it towed to the shop. The bad news - it died a thousand deaths, three
>thousand actually. The harmonic whatsy broke off and caused the air
>conditioner belt to fall off and then get tangled in the4 engine thingy
>which caused the pistons to seize. $3,000 will take me a couple fo years to
>save so as far as I'm concerned its a write off. The cost of the towing is
>more than I can get for the car as scrap even though I paid twice that for
>the car just over a year ago.
>
>On the positive side it means that my choice is made with regards to Alex
>and school. I was going to teach him from home because of issues with the
>Education Department - at least while I filed a complaint with the human
>rights commission. Now I have no choice. Because of Alex's medical problems
>I can;t be more than 10 minutes from school - walking or even jogging I am
>at least 1/2 an hour away. So my decision (which I was waivering on) has
>been affirmed.
>
>Alex was given a kitten for christmas by my girlfriend. He adored it (you
>know Alex and animals). The bad news - Bonnie (Alex's golden retriever) got
>a bit rough with her playing and accidentally killed it. Hard decision time.
>Bonnie, even though she is 4 years old now has never settled from the puppy
>stage. Turns out she has a hyperactive thyroid. Soooooo tomorrow she goes
>back to the guide dog association. Alex and I are both devestated. She will
>be taken off the pets as therapy program and placed on the pet program.
>
>They have offered us another dog but I have said no - not yet. Firstly we
>need to grieve and secondly we may be moving soon. If we move as I hope then
>all Alex's animals will have to be placed in quarantine for 3 - 6 months and
>I don't want to do that to a new pet.
>
>And thats the good news - my solicitor (lawyer) is optimistic that we may
>get offered a settlement soon. If that happens and if things work out as I
>hope (I am still optimistic that this year is our year) I may see everyone
>at conference. Which would be so neat - its exactly 10 years since Alex and
>I were in Salt Lake City this conference. I am going to be positive and get
>Alex a passport just in case it works out - if it does it will probably end
>up a last minute thing and its going to take months to get him a passport.
>
>What else - oh yes, I came down with pneumonia over Christmas and have just
>started to feel better. (and hence the reason I have been so quiet) I have
>also decided that summer pneumonia is worse than having it during winter!!
>At least in the winter you can curl up in bed and feel sorry for yourself.
>
>Respite care has been its usual nightmare. They employ a worker, train them
>and then they either don't show or leave. His new night nurse is working out
>well though so we are hoping to employ him for some afternoon respite shifts
>as well. Alex adores Stuart so that will be good.
>
>On the positive side Alex and I are heading off to Tasmania again in a few
>weeks. Ronnie is doing a concert with Normie Rowe, Jane Scali etc so we are
>flying down to see them in concert then heading back to Appin Hall for a
>week. We are then going to catch the Spirit of Tasmania back to Melbourne
>(The Spirit of Tasmania is a ferry / boat that travels across the Bass
>Straight) and spend a week with my cousin. Then we will fly back to Sydney.
>No TV crews or cameras this time - a real holiday courtesy of Appin Hall who
>are paying all the fares etc, we just have to pay for any extra food thats
>not in their pantry.
>
>I think thats the major new news in sunny Sydney. Alex has been well - my
>guess about the air conditioning was correct. He is far more stable with a
>constant ambient temperature. He has been busy looking after me and learning
>to do some additional chores - like how to work the washing machine and he
>is now ironing flats (tea towels, pillowcases, handkerchiefs etc). This week
>its back to the school books though..........
>
>Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.
>                                             -- Josh Billings
>
>Keep Looking For Rainbows!!
>    _--_|\
>  /Karen \
>  \ _.--._ /
>           v Karen, Mum to Alex (12 years, T-18 Mosaic)
>http://members.optushome.com.au/karens
>
>                   Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
>                        www.trisomyonline.org
>                   Families Helping Families On-line
>
>
>
>
>--
>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.8/649 - Release Date: 
>23/01/2007 8:40 PM
>
>
>
>
>--
>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.8/649 - Release Date: 23/01/2007

Jocelyn, Wife to Frank, Mother to Ian, Gillian & Susan. Maker of 
quilts, singer of songs,
Nanna to Carly 19, Mathew 18, Ashleigh 17, Alex 14, and Tess nearly 
10 years old with T18.
also step Nanna to Carrie age 19. & Great Grandmother to Eli, Jonas & Escha.
Living in NSW, Australia 


-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.8/649 - Release Date: 23/01/2007


                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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