I know I am not alone in my shock. I just learned Bill in Portland Maine has been in the hospital for several days. He had an exploratory surgery last week because of persistent abdominal pain that he has been suffering for a long time now. He and Michael (Common Sense Mainer) are now awaiting biopsy results — and as you might expect, it is a very tense time. It will be a few more days until there is any certainty about what exactly is wrong or what to do about it. The good news is that when Bill’s post-surgery bodily plumbing is working as intended, he will be able to go home and sleep in his own bed. On Facebook, Michael wrote:
I am here at the hospital. Bill walked and stood for a bit. He has an epidural numbing the abdomen area. He will be in until he can do 3 things. Pee, poop and ready...fart! We won't know anything conclusive until Tuesday maybe longer. He is in good spirits, I have been coming up here as much as possible. Billeh and I thank each and every one of you for your prayers, thoughts, love, hugs, love. We are 2 very fortunate people.
It goes without saying that Bill, who is absolutely integral to (and truly is a Founding Father of) the community through Cheers & Jeers, Netroots Nation, and through all the smiles and laughter he has brought us through the years, is getting a community quilt to help him get through this. Let’s let him know, in messages that I will transcribe onto muslin, just how much joy he has brought us and what he means to us. Let’s lift up his spirits and tell him that we love him, now and for always.
This brilliant, funny man needs us now and we can be there for him in a blanket of love.
Note: MsSpentyouth is putting together a Google catalogue of resources for Bill and Michael, something to serve as a guide for other means of help that people may want to give — so look for a diary about that very soon.
It takes time and material to make a community quilt and it is a living for me and my sister. If you would like to contribute toward its cost, here is a PayPal link for Bill's quilt— or message me for an address if you prefer a check. $20/message is suggested but no worries if you cannot afford to donate. We still want your message! This is a crowdfunded thing and some always give more to cover messages for those who are short on funds.
Namaste.
UPDATE From Bill…
And now for our final award this evening: What the Hell Does Bill Have That Sent Him To The ER Last Week And Still Has Him There Five Days Later Following Three Hours Of Late-Night Surgery? The biopsy is finally back and the winner is....[opens envelope]....Oh my god it's "La la Land!!!" Congratul.... [Several moments of confusion and chair throwing later]....I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen, there's been a slight mistake. The Price Waters Coopershouse representative apparently mixed up the envelopes, and the correct winner is...[opens new envelope]..."Stage 3 C-word in the Poop Chute." (Memo to world: I call dibs on that name for my future garage band.)
So. Yeah. That's what it is. But, believe me (and not in the Donald Trump way, where when he says believe me you should believe nothing), this is not the catastrophe the surgeon (or anyone else) expected. I will spare you the details (you're welcome), but she said she's never seen anything like what she saw in mah billeh belly Thursday night. She was utterly flummoxed, it looked so bad. I am a human being whose innards have instantly qualified for the "Gack!" Hall of Fame.
So a) a lot of what she feared would come back positive for cancer came back NEGATORY in the biopsy b) she may, in fact, have gotten ALL the cancer removed 3) I'll need to spend some time doing chemo so that I can both kill any remaining cancer and perform amazing glow-in-the-dark human tricks for the neighbor kids 4) I have the cutest little zipper of staples going up my stomach now, but minimal pain (I'm planning to train a hamster in a top hat to climb up and down it while singing "Puttin' on the Ritz" so I can win the top prize on America's Funniest Home Videos) and 5) OMG the mashed potatoes are SO good here and ditto on the French toast. Seriously.
It hurts to laugh. But I've been doing a lot more crying than laughing lately because of the love and support coming from all of you here on Facebook, Daily Kos, here in Maine, and my stalker on twitter (some jerk named Bannon). All of them good tears---none yet, not a one, shed because of my diagnosis or pain or any of that, but because you all reached out so quickly and sincerely.
My partner Michael has been a rock, riding around in a blizzard and going above and beyond to get questions answered, make sure I'm comfortable, and dealing with all the domestic shit while I'm sitting here ordering the chateau briand here at Club Med. {{{{{Hugs}}}}}
As for the doctors, nurses and staff here at Mercy Hospital, I would strip every penny from every worthless fucking hedge fund goon in a second and hand it all over to them. We are paying the wrong professionals the wrong wages. I watched these good-humored professionals with my own eyes come to work during an epic blizzard to drain stuff, relieve pain, and make sure we're all doing okay. But it's something they do every day. These people are gods and goddesses among men and women.
I'll wrap this up now. I'll be going home tomorrow to plan the next stage of my life, which will include lots of hard recuperation, getting an earful from the dog, and physical therapy that involves flipping the bird a minimum of a thousand times a day at Paul Ryan. Thanks again for all your kind thoughts. THINK SPRING.
---Billeh