'Sanctuary city' no haven for San Francisco family's grief'

http://www.latimes.com/news...

BOSTON - A cancerous brain tumor caused the seizure Sen. Edward M. Kennedy suffered over the weekend, doctors said Tuesday in a grim diagnosis for one of American politics' most enduring figures. "He remains in good spirits and full of energy," the doctors for the 76-year-old Massachusetts Democrat said in a statement.

They said tests conducted after the seizure showed a tumor in Kennedy's left parietal lobe. Preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma, they said.

His treatment will be decided after more tests but the usual course includes combinations of radiation and chemotherapy.

Kennedy has been hospitalized in Boston since Saturday, when he was airlifted from Cape Cod after a seizure at his home.

"He has had no further seizures, remains in good overall condition, and is up and walking around the hospital," said the statement by Dr. Lee Schwamm, vice chairman of the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Larry Ronan, Kennedy's primary care physician.

They said Kennedy will remain in the hospital "for the next couple of days according to routine protocol."

Kennedy's wife and children have been with him each day since he was hospitalized. Senator Kennedy's son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., plans to stay at the hospital for the time being.

"Obviously it's tough news for any son to hear," said spokeswoman Robin Costello. "He's comforted by the fact that his dad is such a fighter, and if anyone can get through something as challenging as this, it would be his father. So he's optimistic, he's hopeful, but obviously he's concerned."

President Bush was notified by his staff of Kennedy's diagnosis at 1:20 p.m.

"He said he was deeply saddened and would keep Senator Kennedy in his prayers," spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

Malignant gliomas are a type of brain cancer diagnosed in about 9,000 Americans a year — and the most common type among adults. It's an initial diagnosis: How well patients fare depends on what specific tumor type is determined by further testing.

Average survival can range from less than a year for very advanced and aggressive types — such as glioblastomas — or to about five years for different types that are slower growing.

News of the diagnosis hit hard for colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

"I'm really sad," former Sen. Bob Kerrey, D-Neb., said when told in a Senate hallway about Kennedy's condition. "He's the one politician who brings tears to my eyes when he speaks."

"I am so deeply saddened I have lost the words," Sen. John Warner, R-Va., said in a Senate hallway. Warner said he and Kennedy had been friends for 40 years. Both served on the Senate Armed Services Committee together.

Kennedy, the second-longest serving member of the Senate and a dominant figure in national Democratic Party politics, was elected in 1962, filling out the term won by his brother, John F. Kennedy.

His eldest brother, Joseph, was killed in a World War II airplane crash. President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and his brother Robert was assassinated in 1968.

Kennedy is active for his age, maintaining an aggressive schedule on Capitol Hill and across Massachusetts. He has made several campaign appearances for Sen. Barack Obama in February, and most recently last month.

Kennedy, the senior senator from Massachusetts and the Senate's second-longest serving member, was re-elected in 2006 and is not up for election again until 2012.

Were he to resign or die in office, state law requires a special election for the seat no sooner than 145 days and no later than 160 days after the vacancy occurs.

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This story begins June 23, 2007 while getting ready to run errands and prepare for my cousins wedding reception that evening.  I knew I would be in a rush, so I decided to shave my legs during my morning shower, rather than later when I'd be pressed for time.

My first stop was a local Nail Spa where I had a pedicure in one of those relaxing massage chairs with the whirlpool foot baths.  I'd been there many times.  I had even taken my granddaughters there on their birthdays for our girls day out.

In September I had my annual checkup with my dermatologist.  I had a few spots on my face frozen, then I remembered a spot on my ankle I'd noticed while on vacation in Cancun.  Doc removed it and sent it in for biopsy.  It was melanoma.

When diagnosed with melanoma, margins must be taken, or put simply, more tissue around the cancerous area must be taken to insure all the cancer is removed.  I had this done on December 5. 

Doc took about a quarter size piece of tissue around the cancerous area, then made a zig-zag incision and pulled the skin together to give me a nice lightning bolt scar.

After a few weeks, the incision stopped healing.  It was apparent something had gone terribly wrong.  It became infected and culture after culture was done. 

Finally after a month, a fungus culture grew something other than fungus.  It was identified as a mycobacterium.  It was then sent to the health department for classification.  We now knew that what I had was Mycobacterium Fortuitum and Chelonae.  The mycrobacterium that was beginning to pop up in the whirlpool foot baths at Nail Spas. 

I was put on Minocycline for the next three months.  After a three months course, the wound has closed, but not completely healed.  The culture has been sent to the Jewish Hospital in Denver for sensitivity studies, and I'm now going to see an infectious diseases specialist. 

If this doesn't scare you out of going to Nail Spas, (you know which ones I'm talking about) at least take precautions.  DO NOT SHAVE YOUR LEGS PRIOR TO GOING!  This leaves the hair follicle exposed.  The mycobacterium attaches to the hair follicle.  When the margins were done for the melanoma, and the hair follicle was cut, it released the mycobacterium into my system.

I hope no one else has to endure this.  I now have a hideous scar on my ankle.  It could have been worse.  Google it.  See what you come up with.  It's an eye opener.

As I finished my first and only cup of coffee this morning, my mother called me, crying.  (Bless her heart)  The stray cat she'd been trying to trap and domesticate had been hit by a car.  She brought it out of the street, thinking it would die immediately, but it was holding on.  I told her I'd be right there to take it to the vet.

When we put the cat in my truck, it had some fight left in it, but it was so seriously injured, it was obvious it needed to be euthanized.  I had already telephoned my vet so I would be expected.  On the less than three mile drive to the vet, I heard the cat cough several times.  By the time I got there, he had already passed.

I took him inside and he was pronounced dead.  They asked if I wanted to take him home to bury him.  I said No, he was a stray.  Then I was presented with a $48.00 disposal bill.  I paid it and went on my way.

What would someone else in that situation do?  I could pay the $48.00 disposal fee.  Others can't.  Do you drop a dead animal in a garbage, take it to the dump. what?  I've always buried my own animals in my back yard.  It's a joke in my family about my "Pet Cemetery" in my backyard.  But if this situation arises again, what are my options?

This was emailed to me by my good friend Candy.  If you've seen it before, I apologize for the re-run, if you haven't, I hope you enjoy it as much as I.

I've mentioned before that my son recently moved out.  He left behind some of his belongings, including a beautiful 4 year old Vizsla.  For those who don't know, a Vizsla is a Hungarian hunting dog.  They are red in color and can capture your heart in an instant.

The reason for leaving "Scout" is that there is a pit bull where he has moved, and she isn't "dog friendly".

Since my son's move, Scout has found many ingenious ways of escaping.  On a few of these occasions, he's managed to loose his tag.  I've posted a Lost Ad in the Californian and much to my amazement, have come in contact with some of the nicest people I've ever met. 

There is Sherry, whose son found Scout at Liberty Park.  Scout had managed to loose his tag, so there was no way of identifying his owner.  Sherry also owns Vizslas, so she called Kathy, her breeder, who recalled seeing Scout's ad in an earlier escape.  Kathy found the ad and contacted me, and Scout was returned home by Sherry.

That same night, Scout escaped again.  I placed another ad in the Californian, and both Sherry and Kathy called, concerned about our boy, Scout.  My hubby checked the County and City shelters, and was unable to locate Scout at either.

I received a call from Kathy on Friday, inquiring about Scout.  I told her we hadn't located him yet, but I was still hopeful.  She said she lived near the County shelter, and would check there when she picked her son up from school. 

I was blown over by her kindness.  I was planning to re check there myself, but she said she was much closer and it was no trouble.

Later that day, I received another call from Kathy, informing me that she had located Scout at the City Shelter.  She had telephoned there after checking the County Shelter and spoke with another Vizsla Person, Karen.

The SPCA had mistakenly listed Scout as a hound.  After speaking with Kathy on the phone, Karen took a walk through the pens, and discovered our boy.  She called Kathy back and was able to describe him down to his camo collar.

Saturday morning, Kathy met my son and me at the SPCA where she gave us some tips on keeping Scout home.   She was also able to convince my son that Neutering Scout would not hurt his hunting ability.  Something I'd been trying to do for a very long time.

So, I'd like to thank Sherry, Kathy and Karen for their help with my wondering dog.  And I'd like to thank Scout, because, without him, I would have never met these three wonderful ladies.

There has been a war waged on these blogs against Christians.  It is not surprising to the Christian Community, nor the Christians on these blogs who endure personal attacks.  It has gone on for as long as I have been here and I'm sure will continue whether or not I like it. 

Some Christians have posted their personal points of view based on Biblical teachings which goes a long way in raising the personal indignation of those who disagree.  But, whether I agree or not, my Christian Brothers and Sisters have a right to their beliefs, just as you have a right to yours. 

I have been careful in the past about entering the religious wars on these blogs.  But the Lord put it on my heart this morning that when He Who Is In Me is attacked, I am attacked.  As a Christian, I am saved by One Who Shed His Blood For Me.  What little He asks that I speak up when others speak against Him. 

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;” (John 11:25)

With all the recent controversy over what constitutes racism, I felt this article by Jason Whitlock was timely and right on target.  You be the judge. 

http://msn.foxsports.com/nf... 

Sorry, here's the link.