Jabberwocky for 2006 January 10 (entry 0)

(4) Tue Jan 10 2006 17:40 Changes: I have a colleague at work who has been sick with Valley fever for oh, about two months, I guess. Now, today when I went in, I found out that it has gone into her bones. I'm afraid she is going to die. It seems a very high price to pay for just being in this town.

We had a puppy once--Jake--who died of it. That disease just sucked all life and energy out of him. I was very upset because he was a good dog, and then my vet told me he probably could have saved him. The vet was out of town and we had a substitute who came from Orange County and had no idea what to do.

In other news, I found out that another colleague died of cancer just before Christmas. That's what I get for not checking my email--not that I was in any shape to check email. I hate cancer, and I think we should not have it. Vote it off the planet. I figured she wouldn't last long because I asked Brenda while we were grading exams if she had heard how Karen was doing, and Brenda said, "She's just about as bad as anyone can possibly be."

I think anyone who hasn't taken care of someone with cancer has no idea of how bad it can possibly be. (I'm not talking about Brenda here.) It's bad, no two ways about it.

I also got a phone call from one of my freshman year roommates, who told me that her sister, of whom I am very fond, is dying of liver cancer. She's in Salt Lake City, and being cared for by her five children. I wish, I wish, I wish that I could do something.

Like I said, vote it off the planet.

Comments:

Posted by Brendan at Wed Jan 11 2006 06:59

Motion seconded.

Posted by John at Wed Jan 11 2006 09:06

What, exactly, is valley fever? And does living in B-town make one more inclined to die of it than say, living coastal in Orange County (hence the OC doctor's incompetence toward it)?

Posted by Frances at Wed Jan 11 2006 12:13

Valley fever is caused by a fungus that is in the soil here. And only here, apparently.

Posted by Susie at Wed Jan 11 2006 15:36

boo! I vote Down with Cancer.