24.2.11

Sometimes when I should be working...

I have email conversations like this with my friends....

________________________________________

From: Alison Choi
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 3:51 PM
To: Shin, Sue Jean
Subject: Re: Re:

OMG - I just saw a HUGE RAT RUN ACROSS IN FRONT OF ME. I THINK I'M GOING TO PASS OUT

From: Shin, Sue Jean
To: Alison Choi
Sent: Thu Feb 24 15:54:45 2011
Subject: RE: Re:

OMG GET OUT OF CHINA TOWN.

Sue Jean Shin CFA
Underwriter
Executive Liability Canada

From: Alison Choi
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 3:57 PM
To: Shin, Sue Jean
Subject: Re: Re:

I just saw it as I was FINISHING EATING IN A RESTAURANT


From: Shin, Sue Jean
To: Alison Choi
Sent: Thu Feb 24 15:59:10 2011
Subject: RE: Re:

I don’t endorse bulimia but go stick your fingers down your throat in the bathroom…..OMG not the bathroom in that restaurant though….OMG why are you eating in a restaurant in China town????

Sue Jean Shin CFA
Underwriter
Executive Liability Canada

From: Alison Choi
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 4:17 PM
To: Shin, Sue Jean
Subject: Re: Re:

I WANT TO MOVE TO ANOTHER CITY. I NEED THERAPY.

From: Shin, Sue Jean
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 4:18 PM
To: 'Alison Choi'
Subject: RE: Re:

GO GET PIE

Sue Jean Shin CFA
Underwriter
Executive Liability Canada

21.2.11

If I could, I would do it for you, would you do it for me?

I used to do it regularly, but I can't anymore.

I used to donate blood every three months.  I did this for around 3 years I think.  Then, I can't remember what year it was, 1999 or 2000, I think,  when Canadian blood services implemented a rule that you can't give blood if you lived for 3 months or more in the UK during a certain time period.  I did my masters degree in the UK and lived there for 10 months.  I would send Dave as my proxy, and let them tap his veins but he also lived in the UK for 5 months for a work placement.  So it totally sucks that neither of us are eligible.

I'm a very squeamish person in general, but I really felt like blood donation was something everyone who could should do, even if it's just once ever.  I would come out of the clinic and feel great and slightly superior to the people I passed on the street.  "I saved a life today, what have YOU done?".

In Canada, it's really easy to donate, you set up an appointment at one of the 41 permanent collection sites that the Canadian Blood Services operates.  Before you do that it's a good idea to see if you are eligible to donate here.  There is also a page that gives you an idea of what to expect.    It barely hurts when they put the needle in and from there you just wait for your bag to fill.  I was always on the slow side, some of the bigger guys would be done in like 20 minutes.  From start to finish, including questionnaire, hemoglobin check and donation, we're talking about an hour.  AND they give you cookies and a sugary drink like Tang afterwards.  YUM!  I'm not sure what the procedure is in the US but you can find the information here.

During my dad's surgery, he needed 2 units of blood and he needed another 2 units while he was in the ICU.  I'm very grateful to all the people who made those donations which helped save my father's life.  And I like to think that the donations that I made in the past helped to save someone else's parent or child or grandparent or friend.

Will you think about donating?  You would want it to be available if someone you loved needed it.

Leave me a message if you have any questions.  It's been a while since I've been able to do it, but I'll try and find you the answer if I don't know it.

6.2.11

Was it the prayers or the swears?

How to summarize the last two and a half weeks.....

It sucked.  And then it got better.

After the surgery my dad was in the ICU for 3 days, hooked up to bunch of machines, he had 4 or 5 IV needles in his arm, giving him blood, drugs and whatever they give you when you're not eating.   My mom and I would stay in the room during the day and have a mini heart attack whenever the machines would start beeping.  It was pretty scary, my dad was really weak and in so much pain after the surgery.  But by the 3rd day, he was eating regular food (well hospital food) and able to sit up, and moved to the regular ward.  And from there he could slowly get out of bed and sit up in a chair on his own (doesn't sound like much but it was a big deal).  When he could get up and walk a little on his own, we were able to go home and it was exactly a week from his surgery.

Now he is at home and a nurse comes by twice a week.  He still has to take painkillers but he is mobile and getting better, and getting adjusted to the new him.

Things I've learned in the past couple of weeks:
  • hospitals smell
  • I think they put bleach in the hand soap
  • some nurses are super nice and some nurses are super mean, most fall in the middle where they kind of don't give a shit
  • living with no internet at my parents house is like living in the land before time
  • after almost a week with no television or outside news, I turned on the TV and the first thing I found out was that Oprah has a half sister
  • doctors do have crazy bad handwriting--at our last appointment with my dad's doctor he handed me a piece of paper with some scribble scrabble on it:
    • DR:  Give this note to the nurse the next time she comes to see your dad
    • Me:  Sure, what should I tell her it says?

Thank you again to everyone.  I don't know if it was the prayers or the swears but it looks like we are on the road to being cancer survivors.

Take that Cancer.