Last night, both my paternal grandmother and maternal grandfather passed away within a few hours of each other. They were both in reasonably good health (though both in nursing care) a week ago, so it was pretty sudden.

I am currently ensnarled in logistics about how to get to and from the funerals without my students falling miles behind, but I'm sure grief will come soon, so I'd appreciate any ~ma available.

Could I get some ~ma for a coworker? She had a tumor removed from her pituitary gland two years ago and it's come back. It wasn't cancerous last time, but any growth in the brain is not a fun thing to have or to have to treat. She's keeping up a cheery facade, but you can see she's pretty scared underneath. Thanks in advance!

Sorry to add to the ~ma requests, but I need some mother~ma. (Ma~ma?)

In recent weeks a birth defect in her 85-year-old heart started giving her problems. Today at the doctor's office she was told not only does she have atrial fibrillation, but congestive heart failure, and she had to be admitted to Abbott Northwestern Hospital in the Twin Cities tomorrow morning (1/16), 200 miles away.

My brother Jim came down from Fargo, and drove her half way, and tag-teamed with my sister Jean, who brought her down to the twin cities.

Now we wait out her treatment.

Any spare health~ma would be appreciated.

Update:

My Mother will be going into open heart surgery tomorrow morning, they will be doing an Aortic Valve Replacement with a tissue valve.

They say she will be in surgery 8am-11 Am.

She is in good spirits and the doctors say she is an excellent candidate for this type of surgery.

A little surgery~ma for my nephew would be appreciated. He's going into surgery tomorrow morning to get his g-tube installed--it'll be a button style and he'll feed during the day and they will supplement with the tube feeding at night. Hopefully this will help him add the weight he needs. It's not a complicated surgery but I want it to go smoothly for his and my sister's sake.

Mom made it through with what my sister Jeannie said was "flying colors."

Mom now has a bovine-based valve. Apparently my niece Chell says that means mom is, "all beefed up."

Prognosis good.

I'm going to bed.

Thanks for the Ma~ma!

A bit of good interview~ma wouldn't go amiss this afternoon (1-5pm), board time. I could use all the help I can get.

Now I'm off to the wilds of Santa Clara county.

Thanks.

Well, I was laid off. Never had that happen to me before...although I did get one month severance. If anyone knows anyone in the L.A. area who might want a fabulous HR person, let me know.

Can I ask for general -ma, which I don't usually do, but my undergrad prof, who opened my eyes to all kinds of things, who was kind and generous -- he was friends with students, and a mentor. His house parties and dinner parties varied, but often humanities profs would come and...it was important, formative, and a great many of my friends are friends with him still and we are very fond of him.

He's in the ER and it's "very very serious" according to my friend who teaches with him at our undergrad school. And K isn't prone to panic.

ETA: He died of a massive heart attack about an hour ago. Thanks for the good thoughts.

So-- health-ma in the northwestern Missouri area? I would be so very sad if he passed. Thanks.

Can someone give me some info or point me to info on a drug called Effexor?

This was prescribed to me, but I had a very bad reaction to a drug called Wellbutrin, so I'm wary about trying new drugs without some exhaustive research.

I need to get something, soon, I just need to make sure that I'm clear on possible side effects. I have had good experiences with SSRIs, they just stop working after time.

I'm trying, here.