The Drama Never Ends…
Things here in New Orleans still hasn’t changed very much, we still have a FEMA trailer out in front of the house, just like most of our neighbors, the house itself is still a shambles with all the walls torn out and the roof is still crushed in the rear from the tree falling on it. The Army Corps of Engineers came out months ago and put blue tarps up there to keep the rain from causing further damage to the interior but now most of that has blown away from the high winds we’ve been experiencing here lately. LOL The big thing is still waiting on government approvals and permits, survey results, applications for grants to either raise the house or level it and rebuild from scratch. In other words tons of red tape resulting from bureaucratic foot dragging. And we’re just one of the many thousands in the same boat.
How the hell do they expect people to get their lives back together and rebuild an entire city when you can’t even get one fucking house repaired in a timely fashion? Beats the hell out of me!
Most of you know about my liver transplant, and it’s now getting close to it’s 2 year anniversary, yay me! July 10 will be 2 years which is pretty damn awesome considering I never expected to live long enough to even get the transplant in the first place. But, even that’s not all said and done though, I’ve talked about getting chemotherapy treatment to try to cure the virus that destroyed my liver in the first place, something that I had planned on starting nearly a year ago. They expect the therapy to last 6 to 7 months and because of circumstances out of my control the starting date keeps getting pushed further anmd further back.
One of the biggest obstacles of late has been the aftermath of Katrina. My doctors offices are still closed here in New Orleans from hurricane damage and they are working out of borrowed space 2 days a week up in Baton Rouge. Every trip to see them means a 160 mile round trip for me, what a pain in the ass! They need to be able to monitor me closely to start the chemo which will be impossible from such a long distance so I’m forced to wait till they rebuild their offices in New Orleans. What a mess, and the doctors and staff are in the same boat as everyone else, with heavily damaged or destroyed homes.
I visited my doctor in Baton Rouge last week for a check up and now I’ve found out that there’s a new obstacle to getting the chemo out of the way. I have a small, odd bulge in my upper stomach area just below my ribs along the 14 inch transplant scar line that is apparently a defect from the operation where my stomach muscles have separated and now I’ve got to have surgery to have that shit fixed. LOL They tell me that has to be repaired sooner than later and it will have to be completely healed up before the chemo can begin! The problem is that the chemotherapy can cause your body to heal very slowly from any type of trauma and anything like surgery will be totally out of the question during that 6 to 7 month period. So my life is still in a freakish holding pattern that seems to go on and on and on.
Yeah, the drama never ends…
But hell, I’m in good spirits overall, I’m staying plenty busy, I bury myself in my web work and I’m happy as hell to be alive! And in spite of all the crap there’s shitloads of good things happening that make me laugh and smile everyday. Each day you wake up breathing is a good day! hehe
So, I’m far from whining “woe is me” and I know for a fact that I’ll be fine in the end, life wouldn’t be any fun if it wasn’t hard right? Sometimes you do wonder though, does it have to be this much fun? LOL
Have a great weekend everyone!!
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Drama, hell, that’s what I call a fucked up mess. I hope you get all of the treatment you need. That is more important than any rebuilding. FEMA is a joke. Contact Habitat for Humanity. We are sending scores of teams to your neck of the woods. We bypass permits and get shit done.
Bestest vibes and good luck to you buddy!
Lois Lane
Well, see if you can at least get the surgery done while you’re waiting for the chemo–hopefully you’ll get recovered just as they’re ready to start you on it.
Hugs and love, dude.
Wow, what a story you’ve got. I admire your positive outlook on these circumstances that are extremely difficult. Keeping a sense of humor is key, and it seem’s you’ve got a tight grip on that! Best of luck with the treatment and surgery.
and ps… you are right - Lisa is awesome.
Baby you are a star and I have NO DOUBTS that all the hard stuff in your life will work out. You know I want for only good things for you, now and forever.
You’re a wonder, Buster. Keep smiling….
Wow…sounds like a lot of stuff to deal with. Thinking of you and wishing you the best.
Just happened by. Glad to see your spirits are high given all you must deal with. Makes my life look like roses, so thanks for reminding me that I shouldn’t whine so much.
damn, Sev! having fun? good grief… hey, you should know i’m thinking of you and i’m glad you have such a positive outlook on things… i’d be bitching and whining like a little baby… well maybe not but i could. glad you’re still breathing!
maybe fate is working in your favour… if they found that you needed surgery half way through the chemo… instead theyfind it now, and you can get that sorted and out of the way. See always a silver lining… we hear nothinin the news over here about how you are all doing… and before we know it it’ll be hurricane season again…. the mind boggles
se7en … sounds like you’re tenacious and positive … a great combination … keep it up! I wish you lots ‘o luck and a speedy recovery.
What a great attitude Sev - and everyday is a good to be here - even if they are hard!
That so sux though about all the beaurocrap you all are having to suffer - travesty that there is still so little sense of urgency placed on “helping” you get your lives back together.
My dear sweet friend you always have a way of reminding most of us even in this fucked up world things are not so bad.
Dang sorry to hear this last news you got when you saw the physicians about the surgery. I hope you are able to go ahead and have it taken care of.
You are in my thoughts often my friend, take care keep smiling and enjoying life for everyday we wake up to a new day…you and I realize we won a battle. You ROCK….Lisa you are lucky, girl
FEMA = Fuckedup Emergency Management Agency
SEVEN = Blessed.
I’d just walk away from NO and move to Baton Rouge. Get on with your life and your treatments first, worry about the house last. I know, easier said than done. You’re an inspiration, I couldn’t be so patient.
I have to laugh at seeing your photo holding a beer and listening to your liver story. Just seems a little contradictory. But I hope everything works out for the best. I was thinking…you still have long hair? Because may be you should just have it all cut off and donate it before you start the chemo.
My sister is going through it now and she seems to be doing ok. I hope yours goes as smoothly. And I hope your other surgery goes well. May be they could just give you a six pack while they are doing the surgery.
Sounds like you have your head up though. So keep smiling.
Sara: If you paid any attention to the story at all you would realize that drinking alcohol has nothing to do with a DISEASE that destroyed my liver. Besides that, the photo is an older one from a couple of years before I was diagnosed.
I’m glad you think it’s funny though, I generally have a hard time seeing the humor in having a liver transplant…
!
Wow Sara, nothing like making a humongous judgement when you don’t know the whole story.
I fail to see the humor as well.
Holy shit you have a good attitude. I’ll have some of what you’re having.
LOL In my experience life is full of fun and just when I think it’s settling down, something else fun comes along.
BUT working on getting real fun is what keeps me going. Gotta keep the good attitude like you have. After all you and all your city has gone through you still have a good attitude. I hope you get over the hurdles and get what you need for the treatments and the bulge (Oh boy, what I could say about that…) isn’t anything to worry about. *HUGS*
Hi, glad to read you again 7, I already had news about the rebuilding of NO, it just won’t start.
If there’s good chances of getting a treatment for your liver(chemo) it’s partly due to the fact that FEMA has nothing to do with it.
Anyway you sound as if you’ve got the spirit to cope with the next bend on the road, I’m proud to join the gang that vouch for you.
‘ll be back for news from U along with all the mothers. GPV
Sometimes bad things happen to good people. But it’s how you deal with it that is most important. And it sounds to me, that you have that philosphy down to a T! Way to go on keeping a smile when all seems lost!
Your ever present positive outlook on life will heal you faster than ANY drug out there! I wish someone would do a study that proves that you can heal yourself through positive thinking! Of course, that would put all the clinical trials in jeopardy, and therefore, my job as well…but what a great thing that would be huh? No more expensive medicines, no need for high priced insurance…it would be fabulous!
Maybe with your attitude, you could be patient zero and prove that you don’t need all that crap to get better!! What a wonderful world this would be!
Keep up the smiling!
dude, what bad luck! were you a hit man in a past life or something? (you know I jest…
Best wishes, se7en!
Your positive attitude never ceases to amaze me, Sev. Sorry to hear about the drama and the adhesions - they suck…I know from personal experience. You know I wish you the best. *hugs*
Wow that sounds like a alot. You seem to have a awesome outlook on it all though which amazes me people can do it.
Will be back to read more.
Goodness! That was quite a post. I’m glad that you are around to make it though. Sure beats the alternative. We should all think of each day as a miracle and appreciate the little things more.
Damn, Seven, that sure is a shitload to have dumped on you at once. You’ve got a great attitude about it that will pull you through, but still, that SUCKS.
Oh well…as my Uncle used to say, “Any day above ground is a good one.”
I wondered how you’re doing with your health. I’m sorry to hear that things just keep going on. That’s usually the way it is though, one thing goes wrong and other things follow.
Like you said, you have to find joy in every day life, otherwise it just isn’t worth it to go on. xox
Sorry to hear about the liver issue, that has to suck dealing with that AND trying to get your world back to normal at the same time. That pisses me off you have to live that way. I can’t believe we in a war for profit and rebuilding a whole country we have blown up (by we I mean our asshole government). Yet we can’t manage to rebuild a city here in our own country with such a wonderful history.
We never see anything about this on the news anymore, they don’t want us to know how miserably they have failed us before the next elections. Bastards!
Damned…. So happy to see you in good spirits despite it all *hugs*