health -- mine and others
Apr. 25th, 2009 07:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lauraanne_gilmanHealth of the meerkat update: At the moment, I feel like I've got a head cold/moderately annoying allergies, which is pretty much where I was before the Thursday melt-down. I suspect so long as I keep to early nights and lots of sleep, I'll be able to knock this back before too long. But man, that was an unhappy 36 hours...
This afternoon, I and the source-o-flu-bug (my mom) and dad [and The Puppy] attended the Parkinson's Unity Walk in Central Park. Because my mom and I were in recovery, we didn't actually do the two mile walk*, but were there to hear the speeches and browse the information booths. Sadly, Michael J Fox wasn't there this year -- he apparently gives kick-ass speeches, and I'm sorry to have missed him.
[aside: while browsing the booths my dad looks at a brochure and says "what is ideopathic Parkinson's?" We all know we've heard the damn word a thousand times, but are drawing a blank. I pull out my phone and google** it. "It means 'doctors don't know what causes it." "Sort of redundant, then," my dad says. Too true.]
While at the Walk, I had the sad pleasure of meeting Dylan Hartung, a young Australian boy*** who has been living in NYC with his folks for the past four years, after being diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma in 2004. Dylan and Mei-mei formed a quick bond, and I got to hear about the dog he had to leave home in Australia, and the 'angels on leashes' (therapy dogs) he has met. Lovely kid, well-spoken and a pleasure to meet. His web site is called "Everything's Possible" and he really is proof of that. And if you ever have the chance to support the Ronald McDonald House, please do so. It's that foundation that's enabled Dylan and his parents to stay here and get the treatment that has given him a fighting chance.
Afterward, retired to the folks' abode, where I ate lunch and then collapsed for a recuperative nap on the sofa -- it was way too hot outside for poor little recovering me! Now home, still wiped out, but with work ahead of me -- some writing, and then working on the FLESH & FIRE proofs. I have to say -- this book? Looks sooooo preeeeeety. *pets proofs*
Oh, and for those of you who have to use the evil things called 'alarm clocks' may I offer a more soothing (and amusing) alternative? http://www.voco.uk.com/?gclid=CO7PurWxiJoCFRo-awodMk4oLQ
* the irony of my dad the Parkinson's patient being in better shape that either of us was not missed, trust me.
** if they're going to strip-mine copyrights, I will use the damn noun as a verb until it enters the public lexicon, same as xerox. It's petty but it feels good.
*** yeah, I know. I really do meet Australians everywhere. It's sorta scary...
This afternoon, I and the source-o-flu-bug (my mom) and dad [and The Puppy] attended the Parkinson's Unity Walk in Central Park. Because my mom and I were in recovery, we didn't actually do the two mile walk*, but were there to hear the speeches and browse the information booths. Sadly, Michael J Fox wasn't there this year -- he apparently gives kick-ass speeches, and I'm sorry to have missed him.
[aside: while browsing the booths my dad looks at a brochure and says "what is ideopathic Parkinson's?" We all know we've heard the damn word a thousand times, but are drawing a blank. I pull out my phone and google** it. "It means 'doctors don't know what causes it." "Sort of redundant, then," my dad says. Too true.]
While at the Walk, I had the sad pleasure of meeting Dylan Hartung, a young Australian boy*** who has been living in NYC with his folks for the past four years, after being diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma in 2004. Dylan and Mei-mei formed a quick bond, and I got to hear about the dog he had to leave home in Australia, and the 'angels on leashes' (therapy dogs) he has met. Lovely kid, well-spoken and a pleasure to meet. His web site is called "Everything's Possible" and he really is proof of that. And if you ever have the chance to support the Ronald McDonald House, please do so. It's that foundation that's enabled Dylan and his parents to stay here and get the treatment that has given him a fighting chance.
Afterward, retired to the folks' abode, where I ate lunch and then collapsed for a recuperative nap on the sofa -- it was way too hot outside for poor little recovering me! Now home, still wiped out, but with work ahead of me -- some writing, and then working on the FLESH & FIRE proofs. I have to say -- this book? Looks sooooo preeeeeety. *pets proofs*
Oh, and for those of you who have to use the evil things called 'alarm clocks' may I offer a more soothing (and amusing) alternative? http://www.voco.uk.com/?gclid=CO7PurWxiJoCFRo-awodMk4oLQ
* the irony of my dad the Parkinson's patient being in better shape that either of us was not missed, trust me.
** if they're going to strip-mine copyrights, I will use the damn noun as a verb until it enters the public lexicon, same as xerox. It's petty but it feels good.
*** yeah, I know. I really do meet Australians everywhere. It's sorta scary...
