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The thread of hope.

Posted: 25 Dec 2011, 05:07
by the_lone_bard
So, I just realised something, we have a thread of lols, and a thread of win and for venting yet, we don't have a thread for hope!

I'm not talking about "Oh, there's new signs they can cure cancer!" hope, i'm talking the small things that happen occasionally, that make you think maybe someone, something, or some time isn't going to be so bad. Let me start off.



A few days ago my mother dropped my little brother off, and left a bag and card for me, the bag contained about $5 worth of cheapo (Read, the imperfect) lolly bags, and the card was basically a gigantic way of trying to guilt me for not talking to her anymore and saying how she forgives me. She has years of horrible times to TRY and make up for, yet come christmas, she can afford to buy herself a $60,000 car, yet can't even spend the traditional $20 on a random mens shavers pack.

Today, I went to my Dads place for christmas lunch, I've always felt kinda awkward around his "new" family, on account of not knowing most of them, yet he knows everyone like he's known them for years. (Well, to be fair, he has known them for years.)
Yet, appart from my grandparents constantly snapping at eachother about whatever they could, it was a good day.
Then came the presents, I've grown to not expect anything, but I was anxious to see what my little brother got. He got about $400 worth of stuff today, from a father who only see's him a few days a year. Then, out of nowhere I got called up, for a whole pile of gifts, my fathers family, most of which I speak to maybe once a year, provided they show up to christmas lunch/dinner had gotten me a bunch of cards and your standard "I don't know you very well, here's some deoderant/chocolates" gifts. And my father had given me $100 and some very expensive mens deoderant (Think the stuff that costs about $80, still not as much as most womens perfume, but alot more expensive than your typical deoderant.)
This was from a man, whom both him and his wife work full time to live comfortably, but are unable to afford big things like new cars or TV's, and who has nothing at all to make up for.


So in conclusion, I've been sitting here for the last few hours, since we got home thinking, maybe my mothers entire family despises me, and maybe my grandmother is incapable of having a civil conversation with me, but the people who I never expected anything from, my father and Linda, whom don't owe me anything, Linda's Daughters, their boyfriends/husbands, brothers in law etc, they managed to give me this year, more than i've gotten on christmas in the last 9 years combined. Maybe I should start looking into this whole family concept, before today i'd always written it off as something society just guilted people into...

So share your storys of hope people, I know you all have them!

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 25 Dec 2011, 05:16
by Elomin Sha
That for one day the customers at my store don't smell of disappoint.

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 28 Dec 2011, 17:10
by tak197
Well here's the long story.

I've been going to the doctor regularly about twice a year for check ups. The most recent visit in November, she said that I've lost weight and I'm doing well with my triglycerides and my Thyroid hormones. So she starts doing the normal check up stuff, feeling my lymph nodes in my neck. She then asks if I ever noticed this lump in my neck on my thyroid.

I never did notice anything (likely because I lost weight, it showed up), so she rights up a lab slip for blood work and another one for an ultrasound. I get the blood work done and it comes back clear. Then I go for my ultrasound, and they get the images of the lump. It measures in at about 3 cm, which is pretty big. So I am referred to a specialist for a fine needle aspiration, which is a form of biopsy. The specialist is a surgical oncologist.

Yesterday morning I had the FNA and the oncologist said that we would know what the results are by the end of this week. Basically, the 7 needles' worth of cells are going to be tested and one of three things will come up. It will either be benign, which means that I can wait on removal, suspicious, which means surgery will be somewhat urgent, or malignant. Malignant means immediate surgery, because it would mean a cancer diagnosis. I know right? CANCER.

So I am hoping that it's all good, but I am also hoping I will be at peace with whatever happens.

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 28 Dec 2011, 17:28
by Tim
Oh man, tak. I'm praying that things turn out all right.

There have been lots of little blessings coming our way lately. We were given a free stroller and a free change table, and selling my writing has so far paid for the cloth diapers we're going to buy.

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 28 Dec 2011, 17:31
by gcninja
Hypothetically could that be whats caused the messed up thyroid if it was on top?

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 28 Dec 2011, 17:32
by JustAName
Jeebus, tak. <3<3<3<3<3 *crosses fingers that you'll be okay*

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 28 Dec 2011, 18:53
by tak197
Hypothetically, ninja, it's possible. But my family also has a history of thyroid issues, so it could also be something else.

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 29 Dec 2011, 10:33
by Psyclone
Eek, tak, I hope it's nothing bad.

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 29 Dec 2011, 11:15
by The Jester
Wow, Tak, I hope it's benign. Be well, man.

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 29 Dec 2011, 11:37
by Master Gunner
*hugs Tak*

I hope it turns out well.

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 29 Dec 2011, 12:39
by Metcarfre
Hey - prayers.

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 29 Dec 2011, 12:53
by Dutch guy
Tak, I really hope it turns out to be benign.

Remember, whatever it is, just let it happen. There is no use worrying about what-if's

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 29 Dec 2011, 21:22
by empath
*focuses good mojo in tak's direction*


Also, in a more general direction:
Image

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 30 Dec 2011, 14:17
by Tally
Hope is a good thing. I have never been a big fan (or a fan at all, really) of the great Ms. Dickinson, but I do love her line, "Hope is the thing with feathers."

Tak, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope the news from the doctor is good.

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 01 Jan 2012, 04:41
by the_lone_bard
And i'm back again! copied (Mostly) from my Facebook!

oday was... awesome but ended in tears of pain.

Got up early, went to barwon heads with the family (The good family... +Grandmother.) Spent 5 hours at the beach swimming, jumping off the pier into the RIDICULOUSLY strong current. Got my left arm slightly burnt because for some reason sun-screen just doesn't work on my left arm, no matter how much or how often i use it.

Then went up the river at spent 4 and a half hours fishing, my arm getting steadily worse, caught a TINY salmon... And alot of lost lines to the giant weed-bed infront of us. Then the mozzies came. So quick, nobody noticed them coming then within 2 minutes they were everywhere, think of what happens when you attack a bee-hive, but with mozzies. My feet and ancles are just red, completely red and covered in more than 50 bites. My sunburn kept getting worse.

Right now it's starting to blister, hurts so badly. But if that's the price of todays experience, then so be it. I'll do it again, a million times over.

This having a family thing, joking and playing and doing things together... I think I like it :)

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 01 Jan 2012, 07:55
by Lord Hosk
congrats on the good day and the first degree burns! I have a similar problem with my nose.

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 01 Jan 2012, 09:21
by Tim
Good to hear, bard! I hope you have many more of those days.

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 04 Jan 2012, 20:43
by Ahlir
My life is, for once, looking quite good. While I'm still a broke uni student some of my bills have been lowered and my books wont cost too much. The phone is under my name so now I'll know exactly when it's paid etc. I only have one intensive school this semester and it's for Paleo so it will be awesome field work. There are rumours of upstairs moving or getting kicked out, and while they are only rumours it's still a nice thought. I've got an awesome boyfriend and I'm looking forward to starting uni again. Plus I have managed to drop my anti-depressants to half a tablet a day. So just waiting for the catch really... but hoping it wont come.

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 04 Jan 2012, 21:16
by Kirkygirl
Aww, best wishes to everyone who is reading this or has posted!

I'm hoping for myself that I manage to finally finish my diploma at school, but get a job in the mean time. Too bad the job market sucks right now. But, I have to have hope that it will get better, even if I have to make it better myself.

-Kirkygirl

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 05 Jan 2012, 15:36
by Tim
I have something to be hopeful about: I've been more productive than ever with my fiction over the past few weeks, and I was offered a deal to write for pay for an online publisher whose founder I met once and have worked with before.

So I still don't have a "real job", but at least I'm going to be bringing in something on a regular basis over the next several months.

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 05 Jan 2012, 16:04
by Metcarfre
Oh, that is boss. That is Boss Hogg.

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 05 Jan 2012, 16:11
by Geoff_B
You're doing something you really enjoy and you get paid money for it. As far as I can see this is a perfect situation :D

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 07 Jan 2012, 16:53
by Lord Hosk
My wife woke up this morning with a throbbing pain in her eye which was swollen quite noticeably. After a quick inspection we packed up the kids and went to the emergency room. Almost 5 hours later they came out, she has a corneal ulcer potentially in both eyes we have to go into see the ophthalmologist on Monday morning. She might loose sight in both eyes over the next year.

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 08 Jan 2012, 11:25
by Kirkygirl
*hugs Lord Hosk* I'm sorry dude, that sucks big time. I really hope that your wife does well and that she has minimal interruption of her eyesight.

-Kirkygirl

Re: The thread of hope.

Posted: 08 Jan 2012, 14:22
by Lord Hosk
We are back in the er its getting worse and im trying not to show her or the girls im terrified.