We found out last night that Bob is just going to have to have surgery as treatment for his cancer, rather than radiation/chemo and then surgery. This is very good news. The doctors think the cancer is at an early enough stage that surgery alone will take care of it. There's a chance he'll have to receive some radiation/chemo after the surgery but it's low enough that the doctors are confident that it's worth taking the risk. Thank you all for your good thoughts and support. It really does help!

Ugh. I'm back with an even greater need for ~ma.

Niki, my surrogate mom, has been heavily sedated and intubated, from the 5th, until yesterday. Today, she is conscious, weak and laughing, at the same time, wondering aloud if her 'accident' (having to call the paramedics when she couldn't breathe) is connected to Gordon's death. She misses him so much. She is also fairly certain she won't have the strength to do any of the things she was planning for at this stage of her life.

I'm not even sure what to pray for at this point. I don't want her to suffer, but I selfishly want her to live and be her jolly self again.

She has had a good life...and has saved mine in so many ways, I couldn't even tell you. I'm okay, whichever way it goes but would appreciate whatever good thoughts for 'non-suffering, as it should be, outcomes.' She is so dear.

Not that anyone here needs such a reminder, but seriously, hug the ones you love.

Louie, my beloved 10 year old dog, will have a CT in a few hours to determine if what he has is a treatable tumor in his head or not. If so, he'll be operated on spot to remove whatever it is (we're crossing fingers for abscess in his eye - but the vet thinks it's more likely to be a tumor).

Anyhow, your ~mas would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

Would appreciate health-ma for the SO; he has a doctor`s appointment this morning for some heartbeat irregularity and mild pain.

Thanks for the -ma! EKG and everything came back clean. He has to be back for a little bloodwork later. He`s a little frustrated because essentially they told him, yup, you have mild chest pain. But he is overall relieved that it looks like nothing major is wrong.

some dog-ma requested for Betsy's dental work tomorrow.

Hi all,

My mom and her boyfriend Ray have known each other since before she met my father, who died 12 years ago.

They started dating 9/12/2001, a few months after Ray lost his wife.

Two weeks ago 80+ year old Ray was adjudged to not be cognitive enough to drive.

Last week he started having small strokes and was put in the hospital for pneumonia.

At the same time, mom has developed a bad cough and is taking a course of antibiotics to prevent Pneumonia herself.

Today Ray was unplugged, and is unresponsive. His passing is expected soon.

Please send healing~ma to my mom, both physical and emotional.

If we could get some job~ma sent Seattle way about 11AM our time, it would seriously rock. Lewis has got a phone interview with some bigwigs at a company he'd LOVE to work at.

May I request some home ~~ ma? My uncle is basically booting us out of our house so he can live in it. We have 6 weeks to move and as yet, no where to move to.

We have applied for a great condo to rent. I have just sent my credit, two letters from prior landlords, proof of salary, and a letter from us basically begging this dude to take us. He hasn't met us as we have been working with a realtor.

So, I am requesting some home ~~ ma and also a little bit of gives-us-a-break ~~ ma and doesn't want to charge us a million for a security deposit or ask for a co-signer. Hopefully we'll know something soon.

Thanks!!

Updating the power of Buffista ~ma:

For those who frequent Bitches, I related this note I found on FB from my sister on Tuesday:

WOW!I just talked to Mom and she is feeling so much better for two reasons.One, medication is working for her severe cold, and two, Ray became alert and even ate, plus, is doing some talking and joking!

So, an update on that: Not only has Ray gotten better, but Thursday they moved him to the Pioneed Home Short Term Care facility in their town, where he will be for a few weeks of therapy and recovery before being sent home for home care.

I just now talked to my mom, and the improvement and lightness in her voice is noticeable, and her incipient Pneumonia is down to a single short cough while we were talking. I could even hear Ray respond to her when she mentioned that it was me on the phone.

One again thanks to Buffistas and the great and powerful ~ma!