So today was to be a day of reflection, a time to consider where my

[WCGreen]

spike in COPED had taken me and, perhaps more important, where would that spike be when it settled back down into my new set of baselines.

Each time a new episode exploded upon a Fellow Copter such as myself, we are all acutely aware that loss of lung function has to be determined or, at the very least, considered.

If we had a lucky quick and relatively harmless incident, then old patterns would re-emerge and life would go on with only the nagging thought that something bad could have happened and the more optimistic outcome that shows a negligible downward pattern prevailed.

Either way, as Holly Hunter let Nick Cage know in Raising Arizona, things have Changgggeeeeddddd.

The whole point of all this is to make those of us who are threatened by change at almost every step along the way to find a way to deal, assimilate ad adapt while those who love us and can't, no matter how empathetic, ever really realize how much our lives can change.

14 days in the hospital this time. More narcotics introduced to me in order to deal with increased levels of pain are just two ares of change I will have to deal with from now on.

My advice to those who love us is simple; gives us the space to assimilate all the new new aspects of life and continue to love us unconditionally because we do try hard to love you in the same way we always have even though things have, indeed, changed.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Time to reflect is time well spent...

Thank you for sharing that with us!

Unconditional love is tough, but necessary...

I know that well from my own life...

I know you will come through this, even though things have changed.

[Suich]

2. ...

[nolabear]

3. I have such respect for you.

I don't mean I think you're a superman or anything, but you are facing your own form of what we will all eventually face, real sickness and doubt about the future, and are taking the trouble and have the care to share it with people here. I'm pulling for that transplant, which will be a trip all its own, won't it? But right now thanks for staying close. I've gotten to know you just a little over the past year and I like your presence here. I hope we're around to read each other's posts for a long time. Wouldn't it be cool to see how this passion play of a government will turn out, at least as much as we can?

[grasswire]

4. best wishes to you

....and thank you for sharing your feelings. We are with you, as you know.