As Cindy and Maura clang away in the kitchen, organizing and cooking a meal for a close friend who recently had surgery, I’ve been hammering away at the dasher keyboard, attempting to clean up this site a bit…hoping someone notices. In addition to a cleaner look, I’ve added a link submission form, and began the tedious process of adding link category descriptions. Still on the fence about the links page appearance and formatting, but without being a css expert, my hands are kind of tied by the Link Library Wordpress plug-in. As always, link suggestions and other constructive input is really appreciated.
Had a really bad night-time cough for about the last two weeks of January. Not too bothersome during the day, but couldn’t get a word in without coughing through the night. Seemed like it took forever to get through and get over it. I’m sure my weakened diaphragm didn’t help matters much. Gotta give Cindy credit for keeping my vaporizer going, heat-packs, Vicks etc. Just can’t say it enough, I’m an extremely blessed man to have her, and I just couldn’t be happier!
Had a PFT (pulmonary function test) done at the VA here this past week. Should’ve had it two weeks prior, but I would’ve had to cough through it, so had to reschedule. Met with the pulmonologist after waiting about two hours. I blew 41% volume, and overall 49%. This is the time when PALS begin to consider setting up the trach/vent procedure, rather than having it done unexpectedly after respiratory emergency. Bottom line is that I’m not at all confident in having it done by the VA, and the private pulmo at Duke is booked until June. Waiting to see if Dr. B can come up with something at the ALS clinic Tuesday.
I’ve found a simple way to raise money, every time I shop online or search the web, and I think you should check it out!
I’m using iGive.com to raise money for The ALS Association of NC, every time I shop online at any of their 774 participating stores. And when I search the web through iSearchiGive.com [...]
Looking forward to this new show on CBS tonight at 9:00. “Live for the Moment”, hosted by Jeff Probst of “Survivor”. Hopefully they’ll put enough emphasis on the real-life cruelty that ALS puts on about 30,000 American families at any given time to finally make a difference!
Sleep Apnea | EasyLife. Philips Respironics has just introduced this new CPAP/BiPAP mask that they claim “readily adapts to facial contours to create an instant and self-adjusting seal, nearly eliminating the need for nose bridge and forehead pad adjustments“. That’s an uncomfortable pill to swallow Philips, but I’d be perfectly willing to review the product [...]
It’s been one of those weeks. Started feeling a little throat irritation Tuesday night. Not too bothersome Wednesday, but by the time Thursday morning came, and time for my trip to the VA for a pulmonary function test, my throat was inflamed, which made me think it was my lungs, so I began thinking it [...]
This upcoming new show portrays normal people with a reason to “Live for the Moment”. This one has ALS…but how can we adopt such an attitude without having received such a disturbing wake-up call as is a most-feared diagnosis?
Just as the days begin to grow longer, as sure as the morning dew on a cool Carolina morning, hope springs forth from this amazing new love sent from the heavens in Cindy, my new wife of all of 21 hours now. I shall be eternally greatful, my cup doth overflow with all the blessing [...]
…through the ALS jungle.
Why is my tail-bone hurting? Less cushion back there? Need more air in my roho cushion? Where’s the morning headache coming from? Is the bipap no longer sufficient for proper respiration? (GULP!) How long will I be able to effectively use my chair’s foot control without putting anymore holes or marks on [...]
How do you feel about the holiday season here in the states? While it’s certainly true about the US being a “melting pot”, I believe a more accurate description would be “pressure cooker”. Today’s commercialization of the Christmas holiday, along with the liberal left’s paganistic bent on removing religion from the schools, banning Christian displays [...]
Just ran across this in a google alert. So many things in life that just don’t make sense…especially in these most recent years, for me anyway. I just wonder if each generation has always said the same thing. This handsome young man lost his life just yesterday at the tender age of 21…in six short [...]
