rawbunzel
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posted on July 15, 2002 11:57:24 AM new
Today I am breaking my rule of not posting too much about my personal problems. I'm going to tell you about my friend Eileen.
Please forgive my spelling errors as I am typing this through tears.
When I was in third grade a new girl was brought into our classroom and they sat her next to me. We took one look at each other and became instant and fast friends. 42 years ago. We spent all our school years together.We lived only a few blocks away from one another so we were either at one anothers home or talking on the phone most of our growing up years. We were complete opposites in so many ways. She very light, blonde hair, blue eyes and me nearly black hair and brown eyes . She came from a close family I camefrom a divorced family with no blood relatives in the area. They went to church every week and my family did not. Yet we got along famously and even through the few years when she moved away we remained friends.
For the last few years she has been ill. At first it wasn't too bad she had a couch and asma like symtpoms but they could be scontrolled. Then one day she literaly could not breathe and nearly died and they had to install stents in her trachea to keep it open enough for her to breathe. She hasan auto immune diease that is turning her brochial tubes and her trachea to a gelatin like substance and all they have evr been able to do is add more stents.
She was doing pretty well until the first of this year when she had to have the EMT come and break in to save her not once but 9 times. Then she got pneumonia. She was home for two days before they ahd to rescue her again and she has been in the hospital now for over a week.
Today I called the hospital to talk to her and see if I could go visit. She has been moved to intensive care and is on a ventilator. They are moving her to the University hospital today as they can't care for her anylonger where she is.
The last time I spoke to her she was so tired and was ready to call it quits .I don't blame her. I don't think she will be getting out of the hospital this time.At least not in a positive way. She has always been the most upbeat person, so full of life so energetic.
Anyway, if you could, please send a prayer up for my friend Eileen who I am going to miss more than she will ever know.
[ edited by rawbunzel on Jul 15, 2002 12:03 PM ]
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snowyegret
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posted on July 15, 2002 12:02:54 PM new
Will do.
You have the right to an informed opinion
-Harlan Ellison
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gravid
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posted on July 15, 2002 12:11:10 PM new
And a prayer for for you - she is tired and can accept it perhaps which happens but it is even harder for those around someone in dire straights to accept their friend suffering. So sorry
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stusi
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posted on July 15, 2002 12:13:53 PM new
A life long friend is a blessing. Her passing would be difficult, but if she is suffering as much as it sounds, it would also be a blessing for you both.
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junquemama
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posted on July 15, 2002 12:14:29 PM new
Bunz,One super duper prayer on the way,I know........been there,Not long ago.junque
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antiquary
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posted on July 15, 2002 12:32:58 PM new
Both of you are in my thoughts and hopes for the most positive outcome possible.
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zoomin
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posted on July 15, 2002 12:35:25 PM new
in our thoughts, hearts, and prayers...{{{rawbunz}}}
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Helenjw
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posted on July 15, 2002 12:36:38 PM new
I am so sorry, rawbunzel. You and Eileen must be like sisters.
Helen
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kraftdinner
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posted on July 15, 2002 12:47:51 PM new
Robin, I hope you won't hold back if there's something personal you ever need to talk about. Sad posts are just as important as happy and serious ones I think.
I pray that Eileen isn't suffering. My heart goes out to you both.
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saabsister
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posted on July 15, 2002 01:02:58 PM new
Rawbunzel, I'm sorry to hear about your friend. I wish for the best, most peaceful outcome.
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nycyn
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posted on July 15, 2002 01:42:56 PM new
I'm sorry. Losses hurt.
Just a few hours ago I was thinking about my (now two deceased) best friends in the world and of the irony (for lack of a better term) that they each died as a result of simply falling down the stairs. Either of them would split their income with me if I ever needed them to. It was just that simple. He, Scots; she, Japanese. His was a little harder in that he was at the bottom of those stairs for 9 days, before anyone found him--the day I was expecting him here.
Anyway, there is no higher court to appeal to. When someone is gone, they're just gone.
You might try to go see her. For you. It beats a bad phone call.
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krs
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posted on July 15, 2002 07:08:18 PM new
Remember the good, bunz. Go remind her. Tell her how happy you are to be able to know her all these years.
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twinsoft
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posted on July 15, 2002 07:12:48 PM new
Sorry to hear about it Bunzel. You're one of the nicest posters I know.
Take some time and spend it thinking about the good times you shared with your friend. In that way you can intercede for her and maybe the Great Spirit or whatever is up there will help her along on her journey. She will live on in your memories.
I guess I'm not being very comforting so {{{hugz}}}
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rawbunzel
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posted on July 15, 2002 08:01:01 PM new
Yes, Helen, we have always been much like sisters. We both have sisters of our own but we were much closer to each other than them when we were young.
Yes, I'm trying to get myself to go see her if they will let me..a lot of time in the ICU they only let family in so I will have to talk to her family to see what I can do. She has nearly died several times and even though she has asked that they call me they never have so I will have to track them down myself.
All your words really help me so much. You have no idea what it means to me that you are all here for me now when I really need you. Thank you.
Twinsoft, that was very kind of you to say and you do just fine at comforting. 
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chococake
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posted on July 15, 2002 10:38:11 PM new
Bunz, I hope they'll let you see her. If it's time to say goodbye I know you would want to at least hold her hand. Please know that I'm thinking about you and hoping the best for Eileen.
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calamity49
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posted on July 15, 2002 11:04:29 PM new
Rawbunz,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I wish you both peace and a and a big hug.
Calamity
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Linda_K
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posted on July 16, 2002 11:57:07 AM new
rawbunzel - I'm so very sorry to hear about your close, life-long friend being so ill. I hope you're somehow able to be by her side.
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rawbunzel
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posted on July 18, 2002 01:00:37 PM new
Update since Krafty asked in another thread how Eileen is.
She had a procedure yesterday to try to open up her trachea some. They found a lot of polyps growing around the area where the stents are and removed them.The swelling is too much in there right now for them to take her off the ventilaor but they are thinking they will try to do it later today or tomorrow. She is hanging in there. She said [she writes notes fast and furiously]she just wants to get out of there so we can have some fun.
Anyway, I am glad that the doctors decided to try to do something and they may have patched her up for another month or so.We'll see.
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kraftdinner
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posted on July 18, 2002 01:08:58 PM new
Thanks for the update rawbunzel. She sounds like she's been though so much and if she can get out of the hospital, that'll be such a plus! That's great news.
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stockticker
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posted on July 18, 2002 01:36:27 PM new
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saabsister
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posted on July 18, 2002 04:06:01 PM new
Good news.
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junquemama
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posted on July 18, 2002 08:01:37 PM new
Bunz,A gift of more time.That is wonderful.
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calamity49
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posted on July 18, 2002 10:28:39 PM new
Glad to read that you got to see her Rawbunz. Sounds like she has alot of spirit. Good for both of you.
Calamity
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rawbunzel
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posted on July 20, 2002 12:39:12 AM new
The fix didn't work and they can't remove the tube. They are going to try to give her one that doesn't go through her mouth but she will have a tube for the time she has left.
We took my son to the emergency room in the same hospital tonight so I went to visit her before visiting hours were over and she really looked terrible. So drugged up..I am sure that has a lot to do with it. She couldn't write any notes tonight. Her family hadn't let me know she had gone downhill so I was surprised to see her worse.My son is ok, just has a kidney infection.Took them four hours to figure it out and then another hour to get the meds to leave with.
Today really was a sucky day. Looks like the rug got pulled out from under that little miracle we thought we had.
[ edited by rawbunzel on Jul 20, 2002 12:39 AM ]
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Helenjw
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posted on July 20, 2002 07:24:26 AM new
She couldn't write any notes tonight.
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Linda_K
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posted on July 20, 2002 07:46:39 AM new
Hang in there, rawbunzel....when it rains it pours...[your friend, dog and son] BUT the sun will come out again.
Happy belated Anniversary too.
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junquemama
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posted on July 20, 2002 09:29:13 AM new
Bless your hearts.
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