Spot

[skybytch 273]

One of my best friends when I was a kid and teenager was my cousin Tim; since his
older brother was known as Mr Bill, we all called Tim "Spot" . Two years younger
than me, Spot and I hung out a lot. We lived in the same small town and attended the
same schools. We played trucks in the dirt, hiked the trails around town, rode our
bikes everyplace, walked our 4H project lambs through downtown... and when we got
older we cruised around in my car and partied together too.
After I graduated we kinda drifted apart and didn't hang out together much, but there
was still a bond; we'd still see each other around town and at holidays and we always
had fun catching up with each other's lives and laughing about the things we'd done.
Spot was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes when he was in second grade. Every day
since then he's had to "shoot up" with insulin one to three times a day and watch
carefully what and when he ate. He got married and had a son 12 years ago; Kyle was
the light of Spot's life, especially after his wife decided that she didn't want to be a wife
or mother anymore and left them.
Spot got tired of the small town we grew up in a few years after I left there. He got a
seasonal job with CalTrans up in the Sierras and was loving what he was doing; being
able to go fishing and skiing and generally enjoy nature. It was snowing and icy one
day when he was headed out to work; he slipped on a patch of ice on his deck and
ended up falling 20 feet or so and breaking both femurs and his pelvis. That sucked,
but his mom took him and Kyle in and took care of them until Spot was back on his
feet six months later.
He tried to get back on with CalTrans after he recovered but there were no positions
left. He ended up moving up to Spokane, Washington to attend a tech school; he'd
gotten a computer while he was recovering from his injuries and decided he wanted to
learn more about them.
He'd been in school, doing well, for a few months when both of his kidneys shut
down. This is pretty common with diabetics. After he got stabilized and on dialysis and
out of the severe depression he went into when his body failed him, he was placed on a
waiting list for two kidneys and a pancreas. Everybody in the family, including my son,
has offered a kidney but we were told it would be better for him to get all three
organs from one person. So he's been getting dialysis three times a week and waiting
for the pager to go off for two years now.
He's now going rapidly downhill. His blood sugar is going all over the place; a couple
days ago he was chatting online with a friend in New York when he started typing
gibberish. Luckily she is a transplant survivor and knew what was up; she got offline
and called 911 in his area code and got paramedics on the way to help him out. They
knocked on the door but he was so out of it he didn't know to answer it. They ended
up calling the cops to break down the door.
When the cops got in the house, first thing they saw was needles all over the
bathroom. So of course they assumed he's a heroin addict. Spot's out of it and
combative, so what do they do? You got it... handcuff him and wrestle him to the
ground. Meanwhile the paramedics are trying to tell them that he's a diabetic, they got
a call and to back off so they could help him. Finally the cops realized what was
happening and let the paramedics give him glucose. Perked Spot right up, but as soon
as he sees all these strangers in his house he got combative again. The paramedics
managed to get more glucose down him and get him stabilized. Cops apologized and
left, the paramedics talked Spot into a trip to his doctor.
It's very likely that my 34 year old cousin isn't going to live long enough to get the
transplant that could save his life. He's not going to see his som graduate from junior
high, much less high school. I'm going to lose one of my best friends someday very
soon. I can't even begin to express how much this hurts.
If you aren't an organ donor, please, please, please, become one now. You may not
be able to save my cousin but your death could mean life, vision, mobility for many
other people. There are thousands and thousands of people waiting for organ
transplants; most of them die before an organ is available. Don't let your death mean
nothing.... you can live on not just in your family and friends hearts and minds, but in
someone you've never met's body.
pull and flare,
lisa
--
What would Scooby Doo?

[MarkM 0]

That sucks Lisa. I hope your cousin gets his tranplants. My father went through heart failure for several years and spent his last 6 months in a hospital. He was never an organ transplant candidate, but did a try test program for a left ventrical pump. Being sick for a long time or being the loved one for someone who has a long term illness is hard.
Best you can do is to be there for them, it may not feel like enough, but really it's the number one thing they need.

[TequilaGirl 0]

Hey guys - at least those who live in Texas...Last time I checked your drivers's license wasn't enough....so please have directives with your immediate family. Even though you are a donor on your license they won't take your organs without a directive...if this has changed please let me know. Thanks - and Lisa I hope all gets better for you and your family.

[nws01 0]

Lisa,
Words can not express the emotional feelings you have right now. I have lost my mother and my best friend before I was 21 and I can not express the feelings I had when I knew they were sick and there was very little I could do. These times have made me who I am today at 26 years of age.
These are times when your you are very aware of your feelings and wishes.
I can only send good vibes your way and hope that he gets the transplants he needs to overcome this.
If there is anything any of us can do please do not hesitate to let us know.
A.ll F.orever F.riends,
Nathan

[tigra 0]

So sorry to hear about this Lisa. My thoughts and prayers are with him. I hope he hangs on and gets the transplants he needs. He sounds like a great guy.
This may sound kind of morbid, but I've made it pretty clear to anyone who is close to me if I should die..... harvest what you can, burn the rest, drop my ashes out of a plane and have a big party.
Blue ones,
maura

[Kris 0]

Lisa,
You don't know how close to home this hits. I lost my fiance a couple of years back due to complications with her juvenile diabetes. She was on the transplant list for kidneys and a pancreas as well. Her heart finally gave out during the operation to amputate her other leg.
I am a card-carrying organ doner and I give generously to diabetes charities. The problem is that 90% of the people out there don't understand diabetes and don't understand the staggering amount of complications that are caused by it.
Kris

[Zennie 0]

My thoughts and best wishes go out to you & Tim. Try to keep a positive spirit. It's the best medicine at times like this.
I know all too well the life of a diabetic. My wife Liz is a MODY (adult onset insulin dependent type II) diabetic. We have a very good friend who is a brittle type I and had to have a kidney transplant. She thought she was going to die as well but is fine now. So things can work out.
Lia & I had a scare in Las Vegas about 2 years ago. We were at dinner and she started showing signs that she was low. First she started staring blankly, not responding to anything. Then she went into convulsions. We called the paramedics and it took them about 5 minutes to show up. Felt like and eternity to me and all I could think of was "She can't die now. Not like this." I honestly have never been that scared and felt that helpless in all my life. It's a sickening feeling.
I feel for both of you.
"Zero Tolerance: the politically correct term for zero thought, zero common sense."

[Jessica 0]

Quote

Last time I checked your drivers's license wasn't enough....so please have directives with your immediate family.

This is true...it's an uncomfortable conversation but it's so important.
I'm sorry, Lisa....

[ltdiver 3]

So sorry, Lisa, for your family's present challenge. I work with diabetics all the time in my profession and the angst they and their families go through pulls at my heart everytime.
In CA, at least last time I renewed my D/L, they had a little pink sticker that you put on the front of your card and a place to sign on the back for organ donor permission. I've carried this with me since I was 16. If there is other paperwork to be submitted please let me know.
ltdiver
__________________________________________
http://www.discover.net/~ltdiver

[fred 0]

Quote

I've carried this with me since I was 16. If there is other paperwork to be submitted please let me know.

I'm not familiar with the state laws that might ask for paperwork, but I'd like to stress that it is far more important to let your family and friends know what your wishes are. The license is a step in the right direction, but if your family steps forward and says that you would not want your organs donated, the word of your family will likely override what you might have on your license.
It can be a morbid conversation, but let them know that you want to donate. That in the unfortunate possibility of your death, you want to try and help others continue to live.
There is other paperwork you can fill out, including a "living will". Here in Michigan, a living will is not accepted, but we have another form (and unfortunately I can't think of the name of it), that I have on file with all the local hospitals stating that I do want to be removed from life support if diagnosed with "Persistent Vegitative State" or "Braindeath". It also says that I want to be given narcotics, even addictive ones, if it will help ease my pain. And lastly, it declares my wishes in the case of my death. Primarily, I want to donate any organs that can help somebody. It also states that, in the event that my organs can't help anybody, I want to donate my body to science (read: left for medical students to train with). I'm glad I have this information on file, and I think I've thoroughly expressed my views to all of my current friends and my close family. A lot of them don't understand, or agree, which makes me sad, but they know and will respect my wishes.

[skymedic 0]

Not likely...but will.....I work for an organ bank...and will when I move back to chicago....you need to have all your family agree...if there is one dissenting opinion....we wont take anything.....dont just give your organs...give your tissue too!!!!
please...we need that also...
marc
"...a mind stretched with new idea's will never regain its shape"

[SkyDekker 1,465]

Lisa,
Not sure what to say, but I am sorry and I am a organ donator..
bsbd
SkyDekker
"We cannot do great things, only small things with great love" Mother Theresa

[Muenkel 0]

My prayers are with you and your cousin.
Thanks for taking the time to think of others right now.
"I am a victim of my environment."
Chris

[TheMarshMan1 0]

Sorry to hear that Lisa. My thoughts are with you both. If it helps (and someday I hope it does), I've been an organ donor since I was 16....

[Beachbum 0]

My deepest sympathy ... one of my best friends just lost a 21 yr. old nephew in very similar circumstances. He got a virus they just couldn't get rid of because of the other complications ... so sad to lose one that young.