Do NOT begrudge yourself asking for help, venting or whatever, damnit! And missy, this does not qualify as drama. This is stupid life. We all share it here, good and bad. And the collective experience can work for you, and anyone else who has to go through this or the annoyance of stepping in cat barf.

Please call me if you need to. If I'm home and see the CID, will definitely answer. (Yeah, PITA me and not using the cell.)

I am airing my dirty laundry in public. It's like I can't hold water. I just don't want anyone to think that I'm craving this attention.

I'm the wrong kind of energy monster.

Wherever I need to take him to get the best treatment, I will. I'm so grateful that there will be friends just about anywhere we'd possibly be going.

Plei, I know. I'm being childish. I'd love to be able to wish this all away.

Because you're the one going through it now. And I can tell you, from experience, that this is one place - maybe *the* one place - where you can say what you need to and let go of being the strong one, even if it's just for a minute. So rage if you need to, weep if you need to. You won't hurt us.

Soak the love up, Maria. Absorb us. And call me again if you need to.

It's all so goddamned unfair. And I can't get past my sense of justice to understand that bad things can happen to good people. Sure, everyone makes mistakes, but what mistake deserves this?

I'm so tired. I try to do everything right, and this is what I get?

Maria, this place exists to be here for you. Use us any way you need to.

Maria, we're in Philly if you end up at Penn. Lots of room here.

Also, my DH has some resources in the melanoma research community - I'm sending you an email this weekend.

{{Maria}}

Oh, Maria. I'm so sorry.

Yes, it is unfair. Cosmically so.

And if you need a safe place to just melt down, you've got it. Not just on the board, but here at my house. I suspect right now you might want the cocooning comfort of the familiar home, family and pets, but know the option is there should you want it.

Oh Maria. Oh sweetheart. I hate this. I’m so incredibly sorry for the pain and the fear. Just to offer one more shoulder, remember that I went through a doctor telling me my husband might not make it through the week almost exactly a year ago, so I know how deep that fear goes and can text or email or whatever you need. You are in no way taking over the board, and this isn’t drama. This is crisis, and friends are there for you when crisis rears its ugly, misshapen head.

Also?

I know people who deal with the universe. JPL and Caltech is on it, Maria. We're going to go kick the universe for you.

Lean on us. We are part of your support system.