I've written about experiencing internal bleeding off and on for the past 3 months. Well, after filling my toilet bowl with blood this weekend, this coward finally followed my family doctor's advice and checked myself into the hospital for tests. They performed an upper and lower GI series on my bowels and an ultrasound of my heart and couldn't find anything in my bowels or heart leaking blood. When I got to the hospital they told me my hemoglobin, platelets, and red and white blood cells were dangereously low to the point that I was within one hour of death without a blood transfusion. The Red Cross had to go all over the US to find my blood type, which is A positive with certain rare, permanent antibodies I had acquired from several other emergency transfusions from past surgical procedures. This meant they had a terrible time typing and matching the exact blood type I needed. Thank God for the American Red Cross! They were able to find-just in the nick of time, 6 units in the entire US, happened to be just what I needed to live.
Follow me under the fold...
Before they could give me the blood, they gave me a 25mg shot of benadryl in case I had an allergic reaction to the new blood.
Thank God there was no adverse allergic reaction. I even had them page the hospital clergyman on duty to administer me my last rites. I overheard the doctors tell each other that my bone marrow had stopped making my blood supply. I couldn't help but think how much progress stem cell research could've made had Mister Bush found it in his heart to federally finance the stem cell research that holds so much promise for folks like me who have severe diabetes, and now this heavy hitter with my bone marrow.
Anyway, they somehow managed to stop the internal bleeding for now, with some new miracle drug the FDA just approved. They asked me what I wanted to do. I told them, "just send me home to die, I don't want to die in a hospital or a nursing home. I want to die with dignity".
So this is a tearful and heartfelt farewell, for now. I may not get to live to realize my last wish, that George W. Bush and all of his war criminal cohorts get to face the Constitution's sword of justice. My last wish then,must be that there are some of my brothers and sisters here on Daily Kos, will pick-up the torch and carry on in my name, and all the rest of us in the Anti-war wing of the Democratic Party, who fought so hard to bring these criminals to the justice they so richly deserve in the worst way.
I will continue to post here as long as I still have the strength, but I want to give a special hug and all my love, respect, and admiration to all of the Kossacks that have meant so much to me all these many months and years.
First, I want to thank Markos for granting me the literary license to express my opinions here without so much as the slightest hint of censorship. I thank all of the Front Pagers who helped make this site what it is today. Especially, Meteor Blades, BillfromPortland Maine, Darksyde, Devilstower, KagroX, DHinMH, BarbnMD, Hunter, and Mcjoan, just to name a few. I've grown fond of other many contributers, and forgive me for leaving some of you out. LandofEnchantment, Teacherken, Dallasdoc, Pastordan, Nyceve, noweasels, eternal hope, majorflaw, NBNYC, OPOL, NonnyB, Lava20, Seneca Joan, FishoutofWater, Angry Mouse, Shiplk, Budhydharma, Lithium Cola, Jerome a paris, and many, many more fantastic writers.
As everyone who's ever known me here knows, I'm a devout follower of Jesus Christ since childhood. I've cheated death 7 times in these 56 years. I've committed my soul to him, "as unto a faithful creator"in this final test of my faith. I don't fear what the afterlife may bring and I'm really looking forward to setting my eyes upon, and placing my hands on the one who took my place on the cross and died for a multitude of sins on my behalf.
So I'm going to try and gather enough strength in the following days and weeks that the Lord gives me the privilege to stay here among all of beloved kossacks. I'm going to share with you some of the revelations God has shown me over the years, and some of the wisdom I've learned the hard way in this life. As long as I still have my right mind and my strength.
To all of you "my peace I give to you, not as the world brings, But I give to you".