Just so you know...

[Rami]

Hey guys,

As of tomorrow morning, I am going to be in the hospital for several days. To prevent my leg from deteriorating further and to get it on the road to healing again, I am going to be hospitalized and immobilized for several days with my leg elevated, while having the compression bandage changed frequently and receiving IV antibiotics.

I still plan on approving uploads and working on CFS2 during that time, but the bandwith will undoubtedly be slower. I'm looking forward to even modest healing; as of now the pain is near-constant, and I'm not sleeping well as a result. The skin ulcers on my left leg are also large and very uncomfortable.

I frequently work on CFS2 as a way of keeping my mind off the pain and to have something else to focus on. While in the hospital, I also have a book on the Battle of Britain and another on Teddy Roosevelt (my hero) which I intend to read. I will use this opportunity to pull all of my doctors and nurses together and get them all on the same page, so that we can devise a plan of action to get things moving forward. Amputation still looks to be the best way forward, but every scenario of treatment has considerable risk.

At 38, I refuse to throw in the towel, sit at home, and collect disability. I told my students today that I may not be able to continue teaching until my physical condition improves, and right now no one seems to know how to make that possible. Seeing their faces upon hearing this news, and knowing my own passion to teach, was very hard for me. When you do something you love and its getting ripped away from you due to forces beyond your control, not only does it feel grossly unfair, it also feels like you're having part of your soul torn out.

I've known for some time this was coming up, it's one of the reasons I pushed hard to get Leader and BoB uploaded before admitting day.

I have all the current files for the Battle of France loaded on my laptop...so I'll work on that tomorrow once I'm in the hospital and settled, while focusing on getting much-needed rest and relief. Rest is paramount right now.

[Blood_Hawk23]

My prayers are with you.

My hope is that the amp isn't needed. In the end it didn't save my Grandfather. Actually it compounded the problem. Though as you said you're only 38 and not 74. Still, rest up and do what you're told. -- Just to clarify this, No racing the kiddies with the wheelchairs. The nurses get mad when you do that. Trust me.

'til Later,
John

[Captain Kurt]

Keep that positive attitude Andrew. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[Fibber]

...just relax and concentrate on getting well. Remember what I had written you. The amp. is the LAST option! Just "NEVER give up, NEVER give in!!!!" Best wishes for you there guy.

[Allen]

Best of luck!

[p14u2nv]

Good luck to you Rami, I wish you the best.

[grover1]

All the very best to you, Rami! Really hoping for a speedy recovery and you'll be in my prayers.

Chris

(I'm over at the CFS3 Forum)

[simtech]

Rami, it's always been a pleasure to read a page or two and see at least one of your posts. You're an inspiration and the grease that keeps SOH running smoothly.
My heartfelt prayers to you and yours and may God speed you in your recovery. Looking forward to reading many more of your posts. Get well soon.

[SSI01]

Thank you Rami for all you do to keep things together on this site. My best wishes and prayers for your well-being and quick and complete recovery are with you.

[Shessi]

Yes, best of luck Andrew,

Hope all goes well, and it gives you a better quality of life.

Cheers

Shessi

[Rami]

Fibber et al,

If it makes you feel any better, amputation may not be the best option now either, because it's too dangerous to do anything with the veins because of my body's adaptation of making collateral veins to get around the clots. They don't want to make my venous flow worse.

But without improving my venous flow, amputation is really risky, even if it's the best long-term option. So while I'm laid up, we are gonna get a huge think tank going between my doctors and nurses, and figure out what to do. What everyone seems to agree on is that spending seven hours a day or more on my feet frequently is the crux of my current episode, and so that's why I'm likely going to have to throw in the towel at my school. I have a lot of options...I could teach online, tutor, do historical research, or write, since I have considerable skills in all these areas. But it's not the same as having about one hundred and twenty students and faculty who consider you an awesome, caring, geeky, tough, and fair teacher, and a colleague who will scorch the earth to help anyone make their own lessons better.

But whatever I decide to do, I need to keep my leg elevated as much as possible. So we'll see where this all leads.

Oh, and thanks to everyone so far for responding, you all are awesome!

[huub vink]

Rami,

Good luck, take care and make sure to be back soon!

Cheers,
Huub

[Killer Svend]

Rami,

I am really sorry to hear about your painful disease, I don't know how we got our portion of diseases, I am now twice as old as you are and has never suffered of any serious disease, Thanks God for that.

Unfortunately,I can't do anything to help you Rami, I can only wish you a quick recovery and be relieved from your paine and be back here as soon as possible.We need you badly. Also thank you and the team for the new BoB, it took me 20 minutes to install and now are we flying again over England.

All the best to you from Killer Svend

[glh]

Best wishes to you, sir. I trust your medical people will find a workable solution.

[No Dice]

Hang in there Rami,

If prayers and best wishes help..You have hundreds from around the world, all in your favor.

Focus on getting some rest.

[Robert John]

Godspeed.

RJ

[The B24 Guy]

Best wishes Rami. Our thoughts are with you.

Regards,

B24Guy

[Cody Coyote]

You're in my prayers Andrew.

[Rami]

Hi,

Well, some good news. Looks like I'm going to be admitted. I look quite fetching in a hospital gown, n'est pas?

[Captain Kurt]

Just glad you're showing us the front side of the gown and not the back.

[Rami]

Kurt,

Nothing like laughing out loud in the emergency room. Thanks!

[Finn]

Do get well my friend. All the best wishes from Denmark.

Finn

[Jenova]

Best wishes Rami, I hope you have a speedy recovery and everything turns out well.

Jenova

[Worthless]

Hate to read this Rami. Keep the faith. I'm pullin' for you.

[The_Editor]

Best wishes from me.