Dear So and So

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear brain, my eyes started hurting from tiredness four days ago. Do you think maybe you could shut down for a solid 8 hours so they can rest instead of staying jumpy, awake and hyperactive, demanding entertainment in the form of reading (anything! As long as it can be read!!) at all hours? I'm sick of sleeping at 3 in the morning because you can't stand the boredom of the period between putting down the ebook and waiting for sleep to come and waking up 4 hours later because you're done sleeping even though the rest of me is still exhausted.

[emily_in_nc]

Dear Facebook,

Thank you for helping my extended family communicate so much more easily during this difficult time. It's terrible to lose a family member under any circumstances, but at least we can all "virtually" be together and share our sadness and love from wherever we are with greater ease now. Technology can indeed bring people together.

[indysteel]

Dear Facebook,

Thank you for helping my extended family communicate so much more easily during this difficult time. It's terrible to lose a family member under any circumstances, but at least we can all "virtually" be together and share our sadness and love from wherever we are with greater ease now. Technology can indeed bring people together.

I'm not sure of the details, Emily, but you and your family have my sympathy.

[emily_in_nc]

I'm not sure of the details, Emily, but you and your family have my sympathy.

Thanks Indy. It's my uncle, my father's brother. He's been in the ICU for two weeks with multiple organ failure, and his immediate family decided yesterday to withdraw life support. He's still alive, but unconscious and receiving only a morphine drip. They don't expect him to live another week. I was holding out hope for a slow recovery for him until just recently, so this is very sad news.

It's been heart-wrenching for his family and even though I hadn't seen him much in recent years, very sad for me as well. He was a good man, and having lost my own dad, I so feel for his son, my cousin; and of course my uncle's wife and siblings (my other uncle and aunt) as well. It has really helped me to be able to keep in touch with them all via Facebook since I am so far away and telephoning is difficult.

It's so awful when things like this happen at the holidays.

[channlluv]

It's really sad when the first sibling of a generation passes, especially if they are close to their brothers and sisters. My thoughts are with your family.

Roxy

[indysteel]

So sorry, Emily. What a gut wrenching decision it must have been to withdraw life support. My prayers are with you and your family.

[Crankin]

Sorry, Emily. It must be hard not to be there.

[spokewench]

(((Emily))) - Sorry to hear about your uncle.

[emily_in_nc]

It's really sad when the first sibling of a generation passes, especially if they are close to their brothers and sisters. My thoughts are with your family.

Roxy

Thanks Roxy. Actually, my uncle is the second sibling of four in his generation to pass away. My dad was the first, back in 2005. It was a very difficult time on all of us, but it did bring our family closer together. This is the second brother of three, and the one sister. So for the two left, they've lost two brothers now. So sad for them!

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts.

[azfiddle]

Emily, just sending another virtual hug. Even when it is the right thing to do, being given the responsibility to decide to end life support Canberra heart-wrenching.