Dear Susan,
Words cannot express to you how I feel at the moment as I write bleary eyed from tears.
Perhaps it is my own fear and unwllingness to accept the fact that I am probably headed down the same road as your beloved Jack.
This disease has been described as insidious which is defined by Encarta as "gradual and harmful: slowly and subtly harmful or destructive".
I think that this definition is without merit when used to describe AMY.
I don't know what other word there is to describe it, but if there is one, it is still not strong enough to describe the devastation caused and left behind by AMY.
At this point, the word amyloidosis should have more than a medical definition attached to it. Just the word itself should be enough to strike fear in the hearts of men and women.
I have watched people go through various cancers and as crazy as this may sound, they are a walk in the park compared to amyloidosis.
This damn disease just lingers, gives you hope and then steals everything in one fell swoop.
My heart aches (and not just from the amyloid) when I try to imagine the nightmare that you and Jack are living through right now.
AMY just won't let go, she has to squeeze out every last electron of life in order to be satisfied.
I have to close here, this is just too painful to keep discussing (one sided as it is).
Obviously, there is nothing I can do for you guys except offer moral support, so if you need any, my shoulders are still fairly broad, I haven't lost weight everywhere yet.
Please give Jack (and you too) our love and thoughts.
Keep him comfortable and above all else, let him have his dignity in these dark hours.
Doug and Jo Ann
Words cannot express to you how I feel at the moment as I write bleary eyed from tears.
Perhaps it is my own fear and unwllingness to accept the fact that I am probably headed down the same road as your beloved Jack.
This disease has been described as insidious which is defined by Encarta as "gradual and harmful: slowly and subtly harmful or destructive".
I think that this definition is without merit when used to describe AMY.
I don't know what other word there is to describe it, but if there is one, it is still not strong enough to describe the devastation caused and left behind by AMY.
At this point, the word amyloidosis should have more than a medical definition attached to it. Just the word itself should be enough to strike fear in the hearts of men and women.
I have watched people go through various cancers and as crazy as this may sound, they are a walk in the park compared to amyloidosis.
This damn disease just lingers, gives you hope and then steals everything in one fell swoop.
My heart aches (and not just from the amyloid) when I try to imagine the nightmare that you and Jack are living through right now.
AMY just won't let go, she has to squeeze out every last electron of life in order to be satisfied.
I have to close here, this is just too painful to keep discussing (one sided as it is).
Obviously, there is nothing I can do for you guys except offer moral support, so if you need any, my shoulders are still fairly broad, I haven't lost weight everywhere yet.
Please give Jack (and you too) our love and thoughts.
Keep him comfortable and above all else, let him have his dignity in these dark hours.
Doug and Jo Ann