So many of you have expressed your feelings of hope and sorrow for whats going on right now w/my husband that I have been overwhelmed by the response, from people who only know me as a leftwing nutjob of a bitch that grips daily about how we are getting screwed by those in power.
Its very humbling to say the least, to know so many care, and that many of you care enough to help me financially in my time of utmost need..well, it blows my mind. Thank you my friends, you have helped to take one massive load off my mind, as far as the many I am dealing with right now.
Now..A short update on Jerry, my husband. He was taken off the heart balloon this afternoon and his heart held on. To say it surprised the hell out of me and all his doctors is a huge understatement.
But do not think for one minute this means the worst is over, far from it. He has a limited time left on this earth and the only question is…how long.
They told me today, that even if he manages to overcome all the hurdles and medical issues in front of him, he will never come home. That means making decisions about his ‘quality of life’ which is the most important factor for me…keeping him alive via machines and dozens of medications via tubes is not my idea of a decent life.
The doctors want to see if he hangs on for a couple more days without going downward. They are still keeping him asleep to give his heart a break and see if it will try to heal itself as much as it can after all he went through Saturday night,( the 25+ restarts). He is trying to come down w/pneumonia now and his kidneys are in the beginnings of kidney failure as well. That is probably due to several things, his being diabetic and the blood flow to them is no where near what is considered normal.
So I still hold on, ever so slightly, to the hope of a huge set of miracles for him..but I also am a realist. I have called all the local funeral homes for pricing on a barebones cremation. They say they will work with me on paying for it when the time comes, but it slays me how expensive it is. A lot of it will be covered by all of your donations, so I thank you for that, from the bottom of my soul as we have no savings because of all of my medical issues of late. My cancer treatments begin on the 15th and I have no idea yet what that will cost me..I hate to even call and ask at this point as I don’t need the stress, if you know what I mean. That donation button on my sidebar and the one on Diane G’s site, plus Roundtree7′s writeup has gotten one helluva workout, thanks to YOU GUYS and GALS.
Still..Keep us in your thoughts..and thank you all so very much for all you have given me both emotionally and financially, it means the world to me to know that people like you are out there and so willing to help someone you barely know or to stop by and say a few kind words. You are all wonderful, caring human beings and the world needs more lefties like you, as it would be a far better world for everyone to live in. 
Dusty
I am a..brown Cali bitch that is quite the opinionated,political, pain-in-the-ass, in your face kinda girl that also loves baseball and music to a fault.
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.--Albert Einstein-*18 Responses to “Just a word of thanks…and an update on my husband.”
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I’m stunned. I feel so useless, but please know there’s love and heartfelt concern for you and Jerry.
Try to take care of yourself, get some rest and nutrition. Let us do the worrying for you for a while.
we are with you, in thoughts and the prayers of those of us who pray. Be strong as best as you can, we love you.
I’m all choked up for you, sister-woman,. I have no idea what to say….
I don’t know you, or your husband, so I can’t possibly know if this is something you would even consider, but… You may wish to look into donating his body to a medical school. It is my understanding that his cremains will be returned to you, free of charge, within a year. That is what I would like my family to do with me when the time comes.
Wow! I am so sorry, Dusty. We will pray for a miracle. Please try to take care of yourself. You have a big fight ahead.
We love you.
Hi Dusty~ Hard to find words. Wish you were not going through all you are going through.
What calichef said (previous post) is true. Both in laws bequeathed that their bodies be donated to medial science. Call local medical schools.
It was one final loving act to give their remains to help medial students and perhaps also help figure out more about their medical conditions.
Neither of them wanted to contribute to the funeral industry & if anyone was going to spend money, they would want it donated to help the living.
They could have afforded elaborate funerals, but instead donated the bulk of their estate to the United Nations refugee fund.
Another friend who had her husband pass unexpectedly (in his 40′s) needed to wait a while (several months) before she was even ready to think about a memorial.
Just saying the medical donation can ease the financial burden, when it comes time to cross that bridge. For both grandparents we had memorials without cremains, for closure, and to honor them.
One other thing- most hospitals have a financial liaison, maybe even a medicare specialist- you can’t be expected to deal with all that @ this time.
At some point you might swing by and see who on staff can help guide you through that, or maybe handle the paperwork to let them know the seriousness of Jerry’s condition, and make sure things get coded properly. Linking up w someone who knows how to navigate the medicare maze will help a whole lot.
As much as you can delegate additional stresses or get help, the better.
I’m really sorry you are immersed in such major life changes and crisis right now. Please take good care of yourself. Carry a stash of green tea to help w your own health (hitting the anti oxidants).
For what it’s worth, Celestial seasonings Tension tamer tea has B vitamins & can help take off the edge of stress. I’ve had situations where so much was hitting the fan @ once & it really helped. You could probably use a boatload of it about now.
Holding you in the light.
Dusty, you remember when we talked on the radio? That was so cool. I relayed it about 4 times to get everything I could out of it.
I wish I could do something for you.
Have been somewhat where you are now. In her name I donated to you and your husband.
Dusty,
My heart goes out to you and Jerry.
Wish I could do something more than send you my most healing thoughts and prayers for your continued strength and well-being at this time of great need.
Much love to all. Try to stay in the light.
It will help you heal.
Love,
Suzan
I’ve typed and deleted six things having to do with good thoughts and good wishes. I’m just really glad you got a good donation response. It says a lot about you.
People would donate to me if I promised to shut up and stay off the internet, but I’m not going to.
Thanks for the update. Sorry to read about Jerry’s prognosis, but it’s not too surprising based on your earlier report.
I like Fran’s suggestion about the medicaid specialists. There are bound to be such people on the staff of a large hospital, I’d think.
Wish I could offer something helpful, but my experience in this area has been mercifully limited.
I’m so sorry to hear this. Please let me know if there’s anything you need. Man, life sure hasn’t been boring for you these last coupla years, huh?
Oh, and I’ll tell ya why he didn’t say anything. Because guys would rather be found dead in a putrescent pool of human glop than go for a visit to the doctor. Really.
Dusty keep hope alive….you will always be my thoughts!
Love you, Dusty, and you and Jerry are in my thoughts constantly. Sending you all my strength and love.
All of your comments/thoughts bring me a good feeling and I thank you all for them.
Jerry is getting stronger each hour and I grow more hopeful each hour. In the back of my mind I know it can all change in a nanosecond, but still..I hope now.
A special note to Warm Thoughts. Long time, hell years right?, since we last wrote words to each other, and to see you here and your gift…it was so amazing and appreciated it brought tears to my eyes…the good kind.
Thank you my online friend, you make me realize that friendships are forever, even with the passage of time.
Hi, justa stranger passing through via a Susie Madrak link. My sympathies to you & yours. Also here’s a hard medical lesson I recently learned – if a specialist refuses to give you an honest estimate for their services find another specialist who will. Also a consent form really truly is a blank check, I will never sign another w/o a hard dollar limit initialed & signed by someone in the practice with the authority to do so. Best wishes & good luck is pretty lame but it’s all I got…
Dusty, do you have a P.O. Box for us Paypal leery types?