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Friday Night Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 05:54:54 PM EST
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All I got to say is LET'S GO YANKEES!

This is an Open Thread.

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    Friday Night Open Thread | 52 comments (52 topical)

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    Swine flu now epidemic (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by Cream City on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 07:23:10 PM EST
    here, the CDC says.  And the death toll mounts -- and especially among the young, including now an infant and a college student in my state:

    The number of children who had died from the H1N1 virus has risen to 86, with 43 since August 30. In a regular flu season, which lasts from September to May, 40 to 50 children usually succumb to flu.  
    Nearly half of the children who died in the past month were between the ages of 12 and 17, the CDC said.

    And the vaccine manufacturers now report that production is slower than expected, so most will not get supplies until late November.  Too late?

    I wonder if diet, along with lack (none / 0) (#21)
    by nycstray on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 08:35:45 PM EST
    of strong immune systems is playing in?

    "Although the exact role of obesity is poorly understood at present, obesity and especially morbid obesity have been present in a large portion of severe and fatal cases," Shindo said. "Obesity has not been recognized as a risk factor in either past pandemics or seasonal influenza."

    Link

    We're looking at a whole different type of generation vs past epidemics. Processed foods, lack of fresh air and outdoor activity etc. Most kids would have some fight against seasonal flu via vac, exposure etc, but are they getting the proper nutrients to help their bodies against new flu etc?

    Parent

    I think it's probably (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by Fabian on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 10:32:09 PM EST
    just genetic roulette on the part of the virus.

    Our immune systems are pretty amazing, but they can't deal with every threat uniformly.  It's an eons old biological weapons race, with every pathogen trying to beat our immune system's current defenses and our bodies trying to adapt.  Vaccinations are really our only modern defense.  

    Just looking at past pandemics is illustrative.  The 1918 flu killed millions within just a couple of years.  The Black Death was even worse, in terms of survivability.  This pandemic is notable mostly in our efforts to detect and monitor it, not in its lethality.  It's just a test - it's not the real thing.

    Parent

    I wonder if (none / 0) (#22)
    by BackFromOhio on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 08:38:25 PM EST
    lack of access to healthcare is a factor

    Parent
    Before or after they get sick? (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by nycstray on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 09:05:08 PM EST
    Judging by some of what I've read, people have been pretty pro active about going in for treatment. Our hospitals are prepared with tent set ups etc for admissions. Sounds like school nurses are also seeing many of the kids with first symptoms.

    We're doing vacs at schools, but not all parents want their kids to get them. It really sounds like in NYC, treatment and prevention are readily avail to anyone.

    As far as general lack of health care, I'm sure it plays in. When they say someone died with "no known pre-existing condition", "known" is the op word there. Preventive HC should also reduce the rate of overweight kids and improve their overall health by checking them for immune issues and nutritional issues.  

    Parent

    Before they get sick (none / 0) (#47)
    by BackFromOhio on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 12:38:43 PM EST


    Parent
    No Dollhouse tonight? (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 08:48:53 PM EST
    Sigh.  Just another reason to hate the Yanquee$.

    RE: The Yankees (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by hilts on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 09:28:40 PM EST
    LET'S GO ANGELS.  Rooting for the Yankees is like rooting for the Borg.

    Sure, they are my third tier team (none / 0) (#30)
    by ruffian on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 10:27:05 PM EST
    after the Cubs and the Rockies, but at least they are still in it!  Go Angels!

    Parent
    Josh and I are home now (5.00 / 4) (#33)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 05:52:09 AM EST
    It was a quick evaluation, and not a good one.  His talus removal surgery failed and his bones are fusing together.  We were told there is nothing that can be done and probably nothing would have changed the outcome.  If it was going to happen it was going to happen and nothing we could have done would have changed that.  At some point in the future his feet will likely begin to hurt him a lot, most people with feet like his who have a successful talus surgery end up with very bad arthritis in their feet anyhow.  The doctor really wanted Joshua to begin to consider prosthetic feet.  They did something called a motion study on him.  His new doctor knows he is little yet, and that even thinking about this is horrible.  He was very blunt with his opinions, I'm sure because he has been down this road before and it is full of difficult decisions.  They want us to go back for a limb deficiency clinic in about three weeks so that Joshua can meet other children with prosthetics.  It is hard for Josh's new doctor to see that all of his other joints are very good, but he has a hard time walking and doing things he would want to do because his feet completely fail him.  Because the Shrine doctors have been through this so many times before they have experienced with other patients the freedom and painfree life that prosthetics have given others.  Joshua and I were both mortified though.  We have cried off and on all day, my husband cried when I told him when he was able to reach us.  Some things in life just flat suck.

    So sorry to hear that. (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by Fabian on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 06:45:58 AM EST
    I'm glad the doctor didn't sugar coat it though.

    Working at a children's hospital was tough.  I think I saw everything that can happen to a child.  The best part was seeing kids just being kids - a little girl riding a tricycle on the burn ward with a pressure mask on her face - it could break your heart and inspire you at the same time.  

    This will be a tough time for all of you, but you'll make it.  Hugs to everyone.

    Parent

    Thanks Fabian (5.00 / 2) (#38)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 11:50:06 AM EST
    One day at a time.  I really respected the doctor for his candor.  There was no easy way to say everything that needed to be said if I was going to ask the questions I was asking.  I told Joshua that he was never going to HAVE to do this if he didn't want to.  But the doctor knows that his feet are going to hurt a lot and he wants him to have quality of life, so we will travel in this direction, meet the other kids, prepare for the day when Josh will likely decide to them...probably in his teens.  Thank God we went to Shriners.  Where else am I going to find a large group of kids wearing prosthetics in the neighborhood?

    Parent
    Don't know what to say (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 09:45:51 AM EST
    Sorry does not express it.

    Parent
    Thanks BTD (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 11:50:26 AM EST


    Parent
    Tracy (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 11:07:40 AM EST
    Josh, you and your husband are in my prayers.

    Parent
    Thank you Jim (none / 0) (#40)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 11:52:59 AM EST
    It is a time for courage for us.

    Parent
    Roll with them punches Tracy... (5.00 / 3) (#42)
    by kdog on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 12:13:33 PM EST
    and keep lovin' and supportin' the sh*t outta the little man...what else can ya do.

    I send you all the love to be mustered in this cruel unfair world.

    Parent

    Thanks kdog (5.00 / 4) (#45)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 12:33:46 PM EST
    Yup, that's the only game plan worth playing.  God we both cried at the hospital.  On the road back home though I sat there feeling very sad, grieving....Josh told me to stop.  He says, "Mom, we have to live our lives until that day comes."  He is a little Buddha sometimes.

    Parent
    Now I'm crying. (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 12:37:43 PM EST


    Parent
    Yeah.. (5.00 / 2) (#48)
    by kdog on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 12:53:46 PM EST
    all banged up myself over here...what a brave boy.  

    Tell him he's a hero to people he'll never even know, will ya Tracy?

    Parent

    I will (none / 0) (#49)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 12:55:04 PM EST


    Parent
    You've shared much of Josh with us (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 03:33:13 PM EST
    which certainly showed him as a young man who has incredible strength. And, there's no doubt he is in the best hands he can be in with his family.

    If you don't have to make a decision quickly it will give you time to talk with other young people who live with prosthetics and can give Josh a much clearer picture of what he can expect if that's what he chooses to do.

    My dad wore a prosthetic right arm from 18 years old until he retired.  

    Parent

    You and Josh are in my thoughts. (none / 0) (#36)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 09:54:48 AM EST
    Especially bad timing with newly-deployed husband/father.  

    Parent
    Mostly for him (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 12:04:39 PM EST
    I'm surrounded by doctors, children (my own and others), Shriners, friends (including you guys)....he doesn't have similar support for hearing this.  I told him that I worry about him dealing with this while he is deployed in a hot zone, and I do.  If I get to speak to him tonight I think the thing to remember is that this is not something that is going to go down tomorrow or even in the next 12 months.  This was news, and only in the case of an emergency would anything be done without his physical presence.  I considered not telling him, but that is not who we have ever been together.  The few times that one of us has tried this, the one attempting to spare the other always gets into trouble for it.

    Parent
    i admire your grit and stamina. Josh is (none / 0) (#43)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 12:13:34 PM EST
    fortunate in having you as his Mom.

    Parent
    I was talking to the social worker (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 12:22:09 PM EST
    at Shriners about how having the priviledge of mothering a challenged child causes many of us to find aspects of our personality that we had never developed.  I was always a pill about authority, but more underhanded before Joshua.  I wasn't sure that authority was often wrong as much as I was certain that authority got too high on itself?  Then Joshua came along and I was forced to acknowledge that often the powers that be really aren't giving us their best effort :)  They are at times even WRONG.  When my daughter picked us up at the Shrine last night she said that she had had contractions for about 4 hours on Thursday night.  So Naomi will be here soon.  We all gathered together to hug and I remembered that Zoey thinks Joshua is a God and copies everything that he does.  Soon Naomi will too.  He will always be the grand fabulous magical Uncle Josh to two little girls come what may.

    Parent
    Tracy, my thoughts are with you (5.00 / 4) (#50)
    by Cream City on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 01:01:26 PM EST
    as the mother of a child who had different challenges.  I remember the times we were told what could be ahead.  The times we were told to subject her to brain surgery.  The terrible times in the hospitals that were not good.  I still get those flashbacks.  And it meant many times over many years when the "cure," the meds, were as bad as the condition -- and caused so many problems in school.

    And yes, I learned to be a better mother and person and teacher because of all that.  And my child sure learned to be a great person, so giving because she became so aware in all those visits to hospitals that there are so many others who have it harder.

    And so, hold hope -- because her mom kept up on the new medical studies, sometimes telling the docs about studies they didn't know about yet, etc.  And because her mom kept pushing for a second opinion, Mayo Clinic recommended against brain surgery.  And today?  My child is off the meds, and got setbacks in her career, and got laid off . . . so she is back in college -- and just called last night with her midterm grades.  She was upset by her lowest grade, a B, so I had to laugh and remind her that would have been cause for rejoicing when she was in college before.  And that her GPA puts her on Dean's List!

    Of course, we know we have not beat a chronic condition that could come back.  But we also know that medical science is moving so fast -- after all, with a different condition that I have, I was not supposed to live to have children.  So hang in there, and keep being a mom who keeps looking and learning and fighting the good fights.  And taking a day at a time, to deal with the days far ahead when they get here -- because who knows what we may know by then?  And keep taking care of yourself, too, so you can keep being there for the better days.


    Parent

    Isn't it the truth? (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 01:53:20 PM EST
    He should have died five years ago from a failing spinal cord.  They have many things in study right now.  I have no idea where we will be in five years, and you do have to keep up with everything being developed so that you know where to go and who to commune with when the time comes.  And he has been a teacher to the Gods of medicine. Joshua even was yesterday at the SC Shrine hospital because he is a titanium rib kid.  They don't do any of that there.  He is also a titanium rib hybrid, the fourth one in the whole world.  They photographed all of him yesterday for his record with them and for the understanding of all those who will come after him :)  It is a wild wild ride on the edge of science and the life of a child.  Isn't the brain an amazing organ too?  It can be rewired if you want to rewire yours.  You know this if you've sat in the waiting rooms for physical therapy with the parents of CP children, and if you haven't you may not even believe it can be done.

    Parent
    Query: is the Obama administration's (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 06:04:29 PM EST
    promise to make any HCR deficit neutral necessary?  Appeasement of GOP senators?  

    It would be nice to have at least half of (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 06:34:10 PM EST
    the HRC-type requirement  for the war in Afghanistan, such as just the ten-year expense estimate. No budget neutral expectation at all, although it would be very  nice if the other half, the financing, were set forth.  Such as, year one: borrow $36 billion from China, year two borrow $60 billion .and on out to year 10 with, maybe,  a progressive war surtax started at year 5, at incomes of $50,000.  

    Parent
    It wasn't before he made it (none / 0) (#29)
    by ruffian on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 10:22:43 PM EST
    But now that he's spent 6 months saying it,  he's stuck with it. Stupid move IMO.

    Parent
    Go Phillies! (I really can't express how much (none / 0) (#2)
    by andgarden on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 06:13:10 PM EST
    I don't care, but. . .)

    Well, it won't be four straight. (none / 0) (#3)
    by oculus on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 06:14:27 PM EST


    Parent
    They were just playing now, weren't they? (none / 0) (#4)
    by andgarden on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 06:22:35 PM EST
    ;-)

    Parent
    Wonder why the losing manager feels (none / 0) (#7)
    by oculus on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 06:28:28 PM EST
    obliged to appear before the press?  MLB rules maybe.

    Parent
    Hey, I'm out of my element (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by andgarden on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 06:37:44 PM EST