ThomWV Donating Member (1000+ posts) Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Sat Nov-19-11 10:44 AM
Original message
I'm back now - and thank you all very much again. (warning - horrible photo attached)
This is sort of a personal post; a thanks to all those who wished me well and offered up their thoughts and prayers to me about a week ago when I announced I would be gone for a while because of a medical issue I am having. So really don't expect it to be of much interest to a lot of people and to those who continue to read I want you to understand that as a general statement I'm not the most likable guy you're ever going to run across. Don't get me wrong, I think I'm the nicest guy in the world but there are lots of other folks who think, and maybe deservatively so, pretty much an asshole. I thank them for their thoughts and prayers too.
Now the long version.
I don't believe in prayer at all, but something dam sure worked. I'm not kidding one single bit about this. We walked into a very bad medical situation last week. It was life threatening, immediate, unavoidable. Learned and experienced experts agreed that the set of procedures I was about to undergo might be the end of me. No one was giving me much better than a 50/50 chance of being alive last monday night. The very short version of what I was facing is this. I had developed a tumor growing from the inside of the large vein that returns blood from bottom of the body to the heart. A long section of the vein - which is a little larger in diameter than a typical garden hose - would have to be removed and replaced. A great deal of blood loss was expected and preparations for transfusion had been made. The tumor had grown through of the wall of the vein, extended out to engulf my right Kidney and all of its plumbing. From there it brew down below and around my stomach but more importantly involving my Pancreas and the ductwork from it and my gallbladder to my intestines, which was going to have to be removed and rebuilt.
To do this work I was fortunate to enlist the talents of two of the most capable Surgeons in the country and their staffs. Their skills were going to be tested, and both of them were completely honest about it to me before we began.
As I said earlier this last act in the program began last friday when we (my wife and I) went to the Cleveland Clinic for the last round of testing before the surgery. As bad luck would have it all of the results of the day's testing were not available by the end of the day. The Surgeons could see that the mass had grown, but the quality of the imagery was not such that they could tell with clarity how much or where. Never the less by this time it was clear to all that the right Kidney would be lost and an extremely difficult second procedure was going to be required. We were braced for that news, we had been expecting it all along; it was on our plate as they wheeled me into the room and the universe went dark. The dual-surgery was scheduled for 265 minutes.
Eight hours after the surgery was begun, with all those thoughts and prayers ricocheting around the universe, I was wheeled out of the operating room and into the ICU. A few hours later they moved me to the recovery facilities.
Here is what I can only ascribe to your work on my behalf. When they rolled me into the recovery area I still had both of my kidneys, my entire pancreas, the super-scary procedure to reattach ductwork long ago destroyed proved unnecessary (the second surgical team was dismissed and went on home at the half-way point). The entire tumor was removed, not a speck of it to be found anywhere but in the dump on this fine day, and not a single drop of anyone elses blood was required to accomplish all this.
In short not only had everything gone well, in fact virtually every aspect of this operation went far far better than could have possibly been expected, but that entire portions of it became unnecessary and at its conclusion I am (aside from hellacious pain and discomfort) like the flick of a light from on to off, I am "cancer-free". They got it all, it was all cut away. No chemo is planned, no radiation, no nothing. All I have to do is heal up and get on with my life. We'll be watching my gut like a hawk for the next couple of years, but for now regular checkups are all that is in the plan.
My god, I can not thank you all enough.
And now the very very morbid part. I was not much for wanting to the the gory details of the operation but I had never seen a cancer tumor. I had sort of a picture in my mind of what it might look like but I really didn't know. I sort of mentioned this in passing during a conversation with my main doctor and he asked me if I wanted to see pictures after the operation. What? They could do that? "Sure" he said. So he took a dozen or so photos during the operating including a couple of the tumor all by itself just sitting on the table. I am going to post that picture below. If you want to see what a potentially man-killing tumor looks like you've found your page. Its right below. I'm going to put in enough blank spaces that no one should stumble across this by accident - it it a very ugly thing, just looking at it may make you ill, but if you ever wanted to see one here it is:
Okay, best and sincere wishes for a rapid recovery for the mountain man primitive.
One hopes that as soon as he's well, he'll get back to providing top-notch material for the DUmpster.
I am concerned that perhaps this was the discovery of the cause of liberalism. Maybe it's not just a mental disorder after all, and it originates in filthy disgusting tumors that create the mental problems. Chicken egg thing. If so, there is a chance he might not provide the great comedic material he once did. That would be a shame. To be determined I spose.
Yeah, it would be a shame, because the mountain man primitive's been remarkable in the past, for all the good fodder he gave the DUmpster.
The mountain man primitive's 65-66 years old, drives a great big diesel-consuming pick-up truck across the recreation areas of West Virginia, a college degree in economics, retired from government work somewhere.
A kind of squat, phlegmatic guy, the mountain man primitive is.
One of his big deals is his non-acknowledgement of God; even the bitter old Vermontese cali primitive had to get on his case about it one time.
The mountain man primitive alleges himself to be an atheist, but that's not true. He fondly and firmly believes in Jack the Father, Bobby the Christ, and Vast Teddy the Holy Ghost.
Not sure her expertise is in religion. I was thinking it was more in line with dirty windows and bugs that infest cafes. So his God's bare a Kennedy aura. That's unfortunate but I guess everyone needs a higher power to bang drums to, even if mere men.
The mountain man primitive was boasting about how he'd shut up a sister-in-law or something, at a family dinner, when she wanted to say Grace. It was at her home.
Surprisingly, there were actually some primitives who jumped all over the old grump, and the bitter old Vermontese cali primitive was one of the most vigorous, commenting about his intolerance and selfishness and bad manners.
He'd lit the campfire, expecting accolades (as I myself did, when I saw it lit), but it didn't burn that way.
Sometimes the primitives do surprise. But usually not.
He fondly and firmly believes in Jack the Father, Bobby the Christ, and Vast Teddy the Holy Ghost.:rotf:
The picture is nasty. BTW Thom, with socialist healthcare you and your tumor would be six feet under right now.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2343302
:rotf:
Considering his dental work, I'm surprised the DUmbass didn't operate on himself.
He can go to hell.
Is this the guy that pulled his own teeth, or something of that nature?Yeah, he claims he pulled them all, then threaded them onto a necklace. But he's a DUmp democrat, so 98+% of what he writes is a lie.
Yeah, he claims he pulled them all, then threaded them onto a necklace. But he's a DUmp democrat, so 98+% of what he writes is a lie.
That includes all this whiny Cleveland Clinic bullshit.
The mountain man primitive was boasting about how he'd shut up a sister-in-law or something, at a family dinner, when she wanted to say Grace. It was at her home.
That would be right before he got his sorry ass booted from my home.
That would be right before he got his sorry ass booted from my home.
Not nice that he told someone not to Pray before their dinner though, and very rude to do that in someones own home.
Yeah, it would be a shame, because the mountain man primitive's been remarkable in the past, for all the good fodder he gave the DUmpster.
The mountain man primitive's 65-66 years old, drives a great big diesel-consuming pick-up truck across the recreation areas of West Virginia, a college degree in economics, retired from government work somewhere.
A kind of squat, phlegmatic guy, the mountain man primitive is.
One of his big deals is his non-acknowledgement of God; even the bitter old Vermontese cali primitive had to get on his case about it one time.
The mountain man primitive alleges himself to be an atheist, but that's not true. He fondly and firmly believes in Jack the Father, Bobby the Christ, and Vast Teddy the Holy Ghost.
The mountain man primitive has a campfire going on over on Skins's island, about the guy in the bed next to him at the hospital, but I didn't feel like bringing it over.
The guy had some sort of really bad kidney condition, and no insurance; was probably going to die within days.
The mountain man primitive went on and on and on about how much work the hospital and others put into getting this guy financial assistance for his medical condition, which they did. The guy was taken care of.
The mountain man primitive bitched about this, that it's too bad somebody has to go through this ordeal.
I had different thoughts on the matter.
Remember, I was in the socialist paradises of the workers and peasants, living their lives, seeing things up close and first hand. I saw plenty of people die because their medical needs weren't taken care of because they had no money.
This guy here in America, with no medical insurance, was treated.
I'm starting to suspect that while the mountain man primitive's an old geezer, he really hasn't seen much of the world.
"told"?
"told"?
He ripped her to shreds, right at her own table.
That's far more than "told."
I'll find that thread; I'm having intermittent internet outages right at the moment. The weather.
That's awful if he did that, I'd love to see that thread.
ThomWV Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Jul-28-08 03:34 PM
Original message
Did I do wrong?
Last week one evening we were at my son's place where my sister-in-law was visiting. My wife and I were there, my son and his lady as well as their child, and my son's two daughters from an earlier relationship. We sat down to a really nice dinner when SIL says "Anyone mind if I say Grace?" I said "Yes!"
My wife, son and I are all athiests, my son's lady (born and raised in India) is Hindu, and the children have been kept as far away from Christianity as my powers have allowed. I thought it was an insult to everyone there for her to babble christian nonsense over the food and said so.
Right or wrong?
It was about two years older than I thought it was.
Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Jul-28-08 04:12 PM
Response to Reply #1
38. I will tolerate anyone who tries to tolerate me and notice I didn't say they had to be successful.
However, insisting on public prayers with unwilling people is intolerant.
I have no objection to people praying before they eat. However, when they demand the rest of us be a part of it, they're going to find out they don't run my dinner table.
I will request they do so silently, then move on.
They can run their own dinner tables as they like.
babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Jul-28-08 04:21 PM
Response to Reply #38
48. She was being tolerant by asking; the OP wasn't in the way he responded.
It wouldn't have bothered me and I'm not at all religious. I also wouldn't have felt like this person was trying to 'force' anything on me. JMO.
Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Jul-28-08 05:17 PM
Response to Reply #48
71. Bullshit. As a relative, she knew the score
She just wanted to priss around and show everybody how Christian she is.
I'd have told her to do it silently, thanks, but that's at my table.
NNN0LHI Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Jul-28-08 06:25 PM
Response to Reply #29
106. I tried that once in a restaurant with another couple
We were eating at a buffet and as they were eating and after their woo woo to the gods they proceeded to fill up their pockets with candies and such from the ice cream bar.
It was all you can eat not all you can steal.
When they began filling their pockets my wife and I got up and walked out and left them inside doing their Christian thing.
Don
Vinca Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Jul-28-08 05:51 PM
Response to Original message
85. I would have said -
"Knock yourself out, pass the peas." Tolerance means she can pray and you can eat.
ThomWV Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Jul-28-08 08:27 PM
Response to Reply #113
128. All I said was "Yes", the 'babble christian nonsense' was in my mind
I find prayer offensive in general but when there are children around I think it is unacceptable. There is no excuse for indoctrinating children with rubbish like prayer; one might a well perform a VooDoo ritual before dinner as far as I'm concerned.
annabanana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Jul-28-08 06:50 PM
Response to Original message
118. Tell her "Go ahead, but please don't do it out loud"
that would do it
ThomWV Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Jul-28-08 08:30 PM
Response to Reply #126
129. Would you mind telling me just what a "Blessing" is? You imply it has substance, which it does not
To accept a 'blessing' would be to accept the validity of the religion behind it - which is something that I think is utterly unacceptable, particularly when impressionalbe children are present. I will not have my grand children indoctrinated in fairy tales as if there was something valid about them or the rituals associated with them.
Dreamer Tatum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Jul-30-08 10:12 AM
Response to Original message
202. No, you did GREAT, making the decisions for everyone in someone else's home
GIANT high-five for you, you beacon of liberal tolerance.
ThomWV Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Jul-28-08 08:30 PM
Response to Reply #126
129. Would you mind telling me just what a "Blessing" is? You imply it has substance, which it does not
To accept a 'blessing' would be to accept the validity of the religion behind it - which is something that I think is utterly unacceptable, particularly when impressionalbe children are present. I will not have my grand children indoctrinated in fairy tales as if there was something valid about them or the rituals associated with them.
He doesn't want his grandchildren indoctrinated in "fairy tales", and yet he preaches about the virtues of an all encompassing government "god". :mental:
Welcome back from the dead, Thom. Hope your recovery is quick and complete.
I WILL be praying for you.
Actually, the old grump the mountain man primitive can go **** himself.(http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g419/Eferrari/nr.jpg)
The pic of what they cut out of him is damn nasty, and cancer is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, but I couldn't help thinking thatDUmmies equate that big, nasty, malignant tumor with an unborn child.
ThomWV Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Jul-28-08 08:27 PM
Response to Reply #113
128. All I said was "Yes", the 'babble christian nonsense' was in my mind
I find prayer offensive in general but when there are children around I think it is unacceptable. There is no excuse for indoctrinating children with rubbish like prayer
ThomWV Donating Member (1000+ posts) Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Sat Nov-19-11 10:44 AM
Original message
I'm back now - and thank you all very much again. (warning - horrible photo attached)
This is sort of a personal post; a thanks to all those who wished me well and offered up their thoughts and prayers to me
I don't believe in prayer at all, but something dam sure worked. I'm not kidding one single bit about this.
How times change!
Maybe you won't be so quick to judge anymore, and realize that a majority of Christians are good people.
Atheists need to ask themselves, would they only do that at a table where a Christian made that request? would they say that to a Muslim? a Buddhist?
No, I doubt it. I looked at the old thread and I noted that his Hindu daughter in law is likely more then considered when she puts idols of Vishnu around or wants to make dedications in the spirit of her faith to the same. Make no mistake, most American non-believers who behave as he does have a gripe with Christianity ONLY. They really reveal their own personal demons by their behavior as well as their own personal grudges. An example of the opposite of that behavior are the non-Christians on this board. They do no believe, however the fact that someone else does and asserts their rights to show that faith does not bother them. Too many liberals like ThomWV forget that the 1st amendment protects believers from people like HIM, not the other way around. And he is wlecome to be a flagrant asshole, but he shouldn't sweat it then when someone decides to mirror his own intolerance back to him when it comes to personal gatherings.