Man, that's some powerful stuff, and highly efficacious! Thank you, and we release it to the benefit of whoever may need it next.

I'm on my way to the first physical exam in longer than I can remember, to try and figure out what has been plaguing me for the last few years. Please, could I have both 'manage that needle phobia well' ma and 'whatever it is, let it be easily and inexpensively dealt with' ma?

And before I even get there, I want to thank the doctor for being an angel. He's charging me a fraction of what the insurance I don't have would have paid. Bless him.

About 1 PM, could you all send some surgery-ma to my Mom? She's getting a kyphoplasty for her vertebral compression fractures, which is basically inflating the bones back to where they should be and then gluing them together. It's supposedly very safe surgery, but she's 86. If it works, she'll be able to walk without pain again, which makes the prospect of 87, et cetera much more fun.

My grandfather had complications from a UTI and was admitted to the hospital last night unable to breathe. He's on a ventilator in the ICU right now. My mom and aunt are trying to fly up tomorrow. Please send some ~ma toward Kaiser Redwood City.

To add to the bad string of family health...

My sister just called. My Dad's in the hospital and his health is failing. He's on a breathing apparatus, on morphine. His kidneys are failing. He's received his Last Rites. He's not expected to make it through the night.

Spare a kind thought for him to send him on his way.

eta: And he's passed on. Neal Smay: 1939 - 2009. He would've been 70 on May 3rd.

Mom came through the operation just fine, and reports that her pain is gone -- according to my brother she was VERY pleased -- but was still held overnight in the hospital, being 86 and not robust. I'll have more details, soon, but that's the very important gist that I'll bother you-all with. :-)

Speaking of which, my 81-year-young mother is now cast-free after her ankle break in early January. Yay for still healing after all these years.

I am so very blessed to have been the recipient of all the Buffista love and prayers this week. The biopsy results came back that the right growth had no cancer and the left growth was inconclusive, but looked good. I see the endocrinologist on Monday for a plan on how to treat the lumpy bumpy thyroid. Probably removal, which I'm fine with.

Thank you all so much. Truly. I release the health~~ma to those who need it.

Building on the trend...my blood work came back super quick and with good results.

I'm confused, to be honest, but I guess is it because I've been dwelling in the 'something is wrong' world for so long (two years) that I'm having trouble reconciling how I feel with how I am.

The doc thinks the left side swelling may be due to varicose veins...which I can't see, but which my father had. He also says my cholesterol is bad...for the first time in my life. But no thyroid, diabetes or other such problems.

Now to make a new plan to get back in shape and quit worrying.

Let me add to the positive health news: my grandfather woke up today. The antibiotics seem to have worked, and his kidneys have improved to the point where he doesn't need dialysis already. He's got some of his breathing back, but he still needs the ventilator. Tomorrow, they'll see if he's good enough to have the tubes removed. But it looks like he'll be okay, I think. Thanks for the ~ma.