They're saying they've never seen this before. They've been searching for another case like it with no luck.
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The "what's On Your Mind?" Thread -2019
- Thread starter kashmir64
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It doesn't always turn out good. My children's father left when they were 6, 9, 11 and 12 not to be seen or heard from for over 30 years. Then he was discovered hiding several states away. He never paid child support or anything else. For some incomprehensible reason my older daughter wanted a relationship with him and she actually met him. Big disappointment, there was no meeting ground but she still sends him B-day and X-mas wishes via Facebook. The younger of her brothers also has no bad feelings. The older one wants nothing to do with him. The younger sister passed away 15 years ago at the age of 37 and he was notified. Apparently he shed a few crocodile tears but did not inquire further. She had told me that if he was ever found to go after him for all the years of missed child support payments, that we had been poor long enough (until I could get a good job and provide for my children relatively well although not lavishly) and that it would be time for him to be poor. She wanted no part of him particularly when she had surgery and was in the hospital for two weeks and he had been informed of that and he never even called the hospital. She was 8 and she cried saying "my daddy doesn't love me". After that she never wanted to hear from him and I am certain that if she had still been alive when he was found she would have spit in his face. So don't be too disappointed if it does not work out.
Lose weight? BUT IT DOESN'T SAY HOW MUCH COFFEE! Must drink more...
What a handsome boy he is! OF COURSE...
For Shane, AND the family!
Absolutely! He is being given the best chance possible. I think I'll light another candle for the wisdom and inspiration of these doctors!
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I thought that that might be the case.
In any situation, no matter how bleak it may seem, I have learned to always try to find whatever hope, or light, or good there may be. In this case, I know it has to be harder than hard. I am very upset about it myself, and of course I have never met Shane. But I know he has a good and loving family. And hopefully you all have strong spiritual foundation (I didn't say "religious". Spiritual is different, to me. It is something over and above belonging to an organized religion. It is grounded in Faith, which, to paraphrase one writing, is the hope for things unseen.) and that the medical team entrusted with his care does, too.
I had a surgery a few years ago that, while it was not involving anything like what Shane is facing, could have significantly changed my life for the worse, or very much for the better. I was given a 50/50 chance of success. The alternative was not good enough, so I played what amounts to roulette. Gambling is forbidden to me and I do not do it. Nevertheless, in this life we are all forced to choose many things, or not.
I chose correctly, or shall we say, successfully. The doctors and team working on me were THE BEST. And my beloved Creator undoubtedly had reason for me to continue doing my work, which if I had not had the surgery would have been quite a bit more difficult.
May Shane's team also be the best.
Honestly, I'm just happy to have a chance to meet him. I don't really have any expectations. He wasn't given a chance to be there when I was younger. My mom didn't tell me so he didn't have the opportunity. I just thought he deserved to know and from there, I don't know. And honestly, as exciting and terrifying as it is, I don't even have the energy to think about it right now.
My sister is really impressed with the doctors she's met. She says the main neurosurgeon reminds her of Christina Yang from Grey's Anatomy. She said the woman practically IS her - looks, attitude, everything. We joked that if she is really like Christina Yang, Shane has nothing to worry about.
We're all trying to stay positive and we believe in God, but it's hard right now. My sister said she's angry at God. And I can't blame her. It's hard to understand why He lets things like this happen. It's so easy to say "God has a plan" and to listen to all the reasons and explanations until it's personal. And then those words seem meaningless.
On another note, my first husband was a Marine and I still have some friends from that time. A few of them donated for Shane and he was SOOO excited to have people from the military helping him out. He thought it was just the coolest thing ever. So I'm trying to find as many military as I can - from every branch - to just send him a card or a note. I posted in a military group (with the admins' permission) with almost 10,000 members. I think that boy is gonna be flooded with cards.
If anyone wants to send Shane a card or a letter to lift his spirits, please feel free.
Women's and Children's Hospital
404 N Keene St.
Columbia, MO 65201
A.H. Pediatric ICU
Room #3
Shane Ridinger
At this time, he doesn't know what's going on. My sister and brother in law had a meeting with an advocate this evening to go over how much to tell him and she'll be talking to him tomorrow.
Women's and Children's Hospital
404 N Keene St.
Columbia, MO 65201
A.H. Pediatric ICU
Room #3
Shane Ridinger
At this time, he doesn't know what's going on. My sister and brother in law had a meeting with an advocate this evening to go over how much to tell him and she'll be talking to him tomorrow.
That was actually postponed. Something came up so I'm meeting him tomorrow.
That's really great,
Alicia88
-- both re: the military and the cards. I'm not sure about sending him one, as a person he's never met -- would he figure out that there must be something really serious going on with his health, for that to occur?
Best wishes and *PRAYERS* continue for him, and for you in your meeting with your dad. May that end up being a really good thing.
Mia6
If you sign up on The Gap's (or Old Navy's) listserv, you get maybe too many emails, but you also get info about all of their great sales.
Alicia88
-- both re: the military and the cards. I'm not sure about sending him one, as a person he's never met -- would he figure out that there must be something really serious going on with his health, for that to occur? Best wishes and *PRAYERS* continue for him, and for you in your meeting with your dad. May that end up being a really good thing.
Mia6
If you sign up on The Gap's (or Old Navy's) listserv, you get maybe too many emails, but you also get info about all of their great sales.
He's definitely aware that there's something serious. And now I'm in a bind. I've already posted in a military Facebook group - with my sister's permission - and today, they're moving him to St. Louis. It's a bigger hospital and they have more experienced neurosurgeons on staff. If some people have already stuck cards in the mail, will they forward those?
Tough call. IDK, honestly. It might be an idea, if his family okays it, to change the address to his home address, and then his family can take them to him when they visit him. I sent a card to a little guy who was a fellow burn survivor one time, and it came back from the hospital address I had for him.
Home is actually a 5 hour drive from where he's going to be, so visits will be few and far between.
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That's too bad. Trying to figure something out where he'll get the cards. If he'll be at that location, I guess updating the contact info to there would be the best way.
Is he going to have access to any IT devices (phone, tablet, computer?) Could people just send him ecards? That way he'd at least be sure to get them?
Christi is asking if things will be forwarded. She thinks they will. Everyone adores Shane. His doctors and nurses got very attached to him - which they're not supposed to do, but it's impossible not to love this kid. And the children's hospital in Columbia let him use tablets; I have no idea if St. Louis has them for kids. And I'm pretty sure he doesn't have an e-mail.
And this isn't common knowledge, so it's not posted on Facebook. Christi doesn't want to tell everyone until she knows more, but no one here personally knows my family. They're wanting to try a form of radiation on him that's only available in 10 hospitals in the country and one of them is St. Louis.
And this isn't common knowledge, so it's not posted on Facebook. Christi doesn't want to tell everyone until she knows more, but no one here personally knows my family. They're wanting to try a form of radiation on him that's only available in 10 hospitals in the country and one of them is St. Louis.
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I don't know. My sister refuses to leave his side. She's been sleeping in his room. But he would probably enjoy video chatting with his siblings and other family.
Honestly, I doubt they'd deny this kid anything. But my sister doesn't have a laptop. I would give him mine, but I need it for school.
Honestly, I doubt they'd deny this kid anything. But my sister doesn't have a laptop. I would give him mine, but I need it for school.
Tablets are fairly inexpensive and can do almost anything a laptop can (for casual purposes). I haven't touched my laptop in over a year, lol. Keep an eye on Facebook Marketplace for a used one, or try to find a good price on a new one, if that hospital doesn't have any for the kids to use.
Most hospitals will forward cards but if they get hundreds or thousands they might get tired of it, or not be able to keep up. I think most people who want to get a lot of cards for a sick kid will rent a PO Box for that purpose.
Most hospitals will forward cards but if they get hundreds or thousands they might get tired of it, or not be able to keep up. I think most people who want to get a lot of cards for a sick kid will rent a PO Box for that purpose.
Maybe do an online fundraiser for a little laptop or tablet? I'd think the funds could be raised very quickly for something like that. It would really solve a lot of logistical problems re: the cards and visits.
I just got some good news about Shane. They've decided against a big, major surgery for now. They're gonna put in a shunt to drain the fluid and then try to shrink the tumor with medication and radiation. They said there was a low chance of survival with the surgery. And they found a doctor who has seen this before. So they're not flying blind anymore.
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