Helen Thomas health update

[DFW]

Helen is still hospitalized, but is getting stronger, and is expected
to be moved to a rehab facility (this is good news, as it means they
think she doesn't need intensive care any longer). She has nieces that
are taking care of her personal mail from her home, but, again, please
send stuff to her office if you're going to send anything at all. Believe
me, she knows how many people are concerned about her. It's doubtful but
not impossible she will make the Denver convention, and there is reason to
hope she will be back at work by the fall.

For those of you who have her home address, her nieces are getting the mail
and are pretty much swamped. Hearst at 1850 K is more equipped to handle this
kind of thing, so please send any correspondence there.

Thanks to all who have voiced concern and to all those who are concerned anyway!

[bdamomma]

1. thanks for the update.

fast healing to Helen!!! We need you.

[Esra Star]

44. Here's a recent interview with Helen you may find interesting.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/video/default.htm?program=enoughrope&pres=20080707&story=1

[navarth]

2. Get well soon, Helen

A true hero of journalism.

[gateley]

3. I missed the news that Helen isn't well -

what happened?

I just referenced her in a post the other day -- saying "Helen Thomas would have followed up on that question!" She's one of my heroes.

[DFW]

4. Helen has been seriously ill for about 6 weeks now

Just this past weekend, her voicemail at her home, instead of recording a message,
said the mailbox was full. She has been out for a while before, but never this long
as I remember. I was originally told it was a respiratory ailment, although some have
said it was gastric. I didn't even bother to ask, I just inquired as to her recovery
progress. She keeps insane hours (when healthy and on the job) for someone half her
age, and it probably creeps up on her more often than she thinks.

[gateley]

6. Okay - thanks.

I'll keep her in my heart and thoughts. I know you're close to her - I'm so sorry, the worry must be almost crushing.

[gateley]

7. Helen!

I just googled "Helen Thomas ill" and THIS is what came up!

Helen Thomas: If Cheney runs, I'll kill myself
'All we need is one more liar' in White House, says veteran reporter

:headbang:

[jobycom]

13. Damn! Honest, objective reporting! Gotta love her.

Hey, Helen! :yourock:

[calimary]

73. I LOVE the Lady Helen.

Thanks, DFW, for the update! Please let her know how much we love her!

[DFW]

77. As soon as I can get her on the phone, I will!

I'll just be one of many, and I wouldn't blame her if she took her phone off the hook
for the first two weeks after she gets home, but I will pass it on!

[DFW]

12. Nothing much I can do from Central Europe

But Helen is nothing if not tough, and has beaten everything else thrown at her.
No one lives forever, but there's no rule that says we have to lose her now, either.

Yes, she has been close to our family for many decades now, thanks.
Once more for good measure--

[MuseRider]

21. Great photo

I had not seen it so I am glad you posted it again. I am assuming that is you in the photo.

Give her hugs from us. She is something. I wanna be like her, well I kinda am but not nearly as bright. She is a jewel.

[DFW]

23. Guilty as charged

Three amazing women in the photo and myself as the token mortal.

Left to right:

My younger daughter, grew up in Germany, German native language,
decided to buck the German education system and graduate from an
obscure American boarding school 12 time zones from home (HPA), applied
to college in the USA, got accepted (GW), graduated cum laude in Political
Science/Public policy, got into Law School (15th in her class out of
185, made Law Review), and after her first year there is working this
summer for zero pay for the UN war crimes tribunal in Sierra Leone (as
in Blood Diamond). All this never having had school in English until age 16,
and deciding to work in 3rd world conditions instead of a cushy-paying
summer internship after her first year in Law School.

Me

Helen--88 years old, smarter and tougher than 95% of the people in Washington.
What else is there to say? She was a colleague of my dad's (both were Presidents
of Washington's Gridiron Club), and we have known her for many many decades.

My wife, who was diagnosed with cancer at age 49, went through brutal chemo,
which really wasted her, then radiation, then rehab, and bounced back to
looking about 15 years younger than she is with no artificial ingredients.
She went right back to her thankless social work job of trying to place hopeless
cases of unemployed Germans and immigrants to Germany back into an unwilling workforce.

I keep some pretty rarified company before I even leave my house, and have
a LOT of respect for the other gender. I think they keep me around for entertainment value.

[MuseRider]

26. Don't sell yourself too short

you obviously had major influence on your daughter. Wow, what an accomplished young woman she is. I wish I had been that courageous at that age. My youngest son had a friend in Sierra Leone for a while but I think he was there for a cush exec job for some company that was probably not exactly there for the people. His experience was undoubtedly different than hers was. You and your wife have done a great job providing this planet with another good citizen. How is she doing there? Any interesting insider views about how Sierra Leone is doing?

[DFW]

28. I don't want to distract from a thread about Helen, but...

She is not allowed AT ALL to talk about work, but outside of that,
she says it is another world entirely. The Chinese are all over the
place, as they need Sierra Leone's raw materials, but other than that,
aside from a few development programs, they are two (or more) centuries behind
us. My daughter brought along chocolate, ironically from beans produced
in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, nearby (relatively, anyway) countries, but
who don't process their beans, and re-import the finished product from
Europe, which no one can afford. They also brought along color crayons for
the school kids, many of whom had never seen such a thing. Here is a photo
my daughter sent from a "school," to give you an idea of what constitutes a
school when you get out beyond a 500 meter radius of the center of the capital
city:

[MuseRider]

29. Last post about this

since I too would never want to distract away from Helen.

That is amazing. Good to see lots of kids there though. I hope that was a sizable number for the area.

[ray of light]

60. Helen is an awesome women. I know that from a few pieces of correspondence /w her...regarding

your daughter, I pray that she and her fellow tribunal members are able to kick some war crminals' butts! (Including those in the US!)

Regarding your wife, wow! I'm sorry to hear about the cancer. I have a friend undergoing cancer treatments and I know it's been so rough for her!

[DFW]

61. Thanks for that, so far she is in full remission

With cancer, you never know, of course, but so far so good. We have had over five
years together since her last treatment, and seven since the big chemo/radiation.
That's a gift, as far as we're concerned, especially as I had a dire heart condition
I never knew about, and only found it by pure luck (and a little common sense). Mother
Nature had me slated to check out permanently on April 30, 2004. I beat the Reaper, but
I still remember those ads from the 1970s where they claimed "it's not nice to fool Mother
Nature." I hope she isn't still pissed at me.

The War Crimes Commission removed the biggest fish, Charles Taylor of Liberia, to the
Hague because they couldn't guarantee anyone's safety in Sierra Leone.

Helen is usually very good about replying to correspondence, even from people she doesn't know.
She ignores the hate mail, of course, but replies to friendly correspondence, which is anything
but typical for someone as prominent as she is. She remains one of a kind.

[bear425]

65. You are a lucky man. Please give my love to Helen

and her family. I'm wishing her a speedy and full recovery. Thanks.

[Jazzgirl]

30. DFW!!! My neighbor!!!

Great picture and you have a lovely family. I had not heard anything about Helen being ill. I was wondering a couple of weeks ago why I hadn't seen any articles by her. I miss her and hope all is well.

[DFW]

31. Are you in the Metroplex? n/t

[King Coal]

43. Nice pic. I love that lady.

[Dystopian]

63. Beautiful...

:loveya:

peace~

[tavalon]

66. Wow, you either have a family of Amazons or Helen is very short

I guess because I've always thought of her as a lioness, I think she's taller than she really is. She's such a no nonsense, Grand Dame. I do hope she kicks this ailment to the curb. The world shouldn't need to even out the score. Let's let the lousy ones stay dead and the good ones continue on. And that's all I'll say about that.

I really hope she gets her strength back in time to help hold Barack Obama's feet to the fire. I truly believe he is a good man but a bit too beholden to the powers that be. He needs a feisty woman like Helen to help remind him of the correct path.

[DFW]

68. Helen's stature belies her spirit

My two favorite 80+ ladies are tiny, 5 feet or less, but they both
are impressive individuals. Helen has fought on the political scene
for many decades, and the other one fled the Nazis and fought with
the Jewish Underground in Palestine in the 1940s and now has a totally
different career in the USA.

Good things come in small packages:-)

[tavalon]

75. You'll get no argument from me on that score

I wish her the speediest of recoveries.

[swimmernsecretsea]

74. Sir, if I was in person I'd shake your hand.

You've surrounded yourself with love and good people, and guided a new generation well. What a wonderful family.

[Beacool]

71. I too didn't know that she was ill.

Thanks for the update and here's wishing her a speedy recovery.

[redirish28]

40. Same here. OH, I do wish her a speedy recovery. we need her so much....

[Summer93]

5. Get well Helen

You are a power of example that we need to help us each day.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

8. I love her so much

If only more people were like Helen.

[Imagevision]

9. Helen Thomas we love you darlin... c'mon, get well...

[madfloridian]

10. Thanks, DFW

Been watching for your update.

:hi:

[jannyk]

11. Thanks DFW! K&R for Helen - a Voice of Reason in a Sea of Insanity

[ChazII]

14. Take care and get well soon. n/t

[EFerrari]

15. Kick

[slipslidingaway]

16. K&R thanks for the update n/t

[CatWoman]

17. k&r

:kick:

[pleah]

18. Thank you DFW, K&R, Get well soon Helen!

[FloridaJudy]

19. Get well soon, Ms. Thomas

You're a National Treasure!

[melody]

20. She's far too precious to lose

I'm sure she'll be back nipping at their heels soon.

[Raven]

22. A national treasure! I want to live that long and be that honest! n/t

[Overseas]

24. I wish her well too. Always glad to see her. /nt

[tbyg52]

25. Best thoughts and wishes, Helen! nt

[Flying Dream Blues]

27. Thanks, DFW...get well soon, Helen! We love you! nt

[rosesaylavee]

32. Get well Helen!

Rest up for the convention! It wouldn't be the same without you!

[awoke_in_2003]

33. One of the last good ones.

She remind me of my fathers mother. 4 ft 11 inch (both her boys were over six foot, don't know how that happened), maybe 85 lbs soaking wet. But she was one woman not to be trifled with (raising a couple of boys will make you tough).

[windbreeze]

34. Best Wishes to Helen...an National Treasure..

I will never forget how she answered an email from me...I was so surprised she would take the time...Thank you Helen...waiting for your return...wb

[madmax]

35. Get Well Helen

We love you!!

[emilyg]

36. Thank you for the update.

She's a great lady.

[MasonJar]

37. Get well, Helen!!!!!!!!! Hey, gang, is not it rose time for Helen soon?

[Monk06]

38. Love that women. I sent her an email around 2006 commplenting her

on one of her articles. I got a personal thank you
from her within 48 hrs. She is one of a kind. There
are going to be tears shed in this household when she
passes.

[DFW]

55. Let's hope THAT'S not any time soon!

Actually four of the most interesting people I know are 80 or older,
and have been somewhat-to-very famous in their fields for half their
lives or longer. They are a pretty diverse group, two men and two women,
and the only features they have in common is that both women are very small
and both men are somewhat tall.

Helen may be diminutive in physical stature, but she is a giant otherwise.

[malaise]

39. Thanks a lot

I love Helen Thomas - tell her for me. :grouphug:

[bonito]

41. K&R n/t

[Booster]

42. Helen, I hope your're well and strong enough in January to watch

the Uhaul trailer pull up in front of the White House and load that bastard out of there. Now, you know you don't want to miss that. Thanks for the update DFW. K&R

[JNelson6563]

45. I am glad to hear she's improving!

Truly a grand lady. I wrote her an e-mail once and she sent such a warm reply. She's a brave and principled soul. I wish her a smooth and quick recovery.

Many thanks for the update! :hi:

Julie

[Blue Diadem]

46. Thanks so much for the update. We love Helen.

That's great news that she is getting stronger.

Sending good thoughts and wishing her a full recovery.

[Diane R]

47. A national treasure, for sure. I want Pres. Obama to call on Helen in the 1st row @ his 1st presser

[1776Forever]

48. I Love You Helen! Blessings sent your way! Take care & get strong!

We need you!

[Lugnut]

49. Thank you DFW.

Get well soon, Ms Thomas.

[lonestarnot]

50. HELEN WE LOVE YOU!

Get well soon! :loveya:

[Jefferson23]

51. Hang in there Helen! See you in Denver

[jeff30997]

52. Get well!

We need you !There's almost no real Journalists lefts.Only entertainers and buttkissers.

[SeattleGirl]

53. Helen......

....Get well soon!

[Iwillnevergiveup]

54. High hopes for Helen

There will never be another one like her. Thank you so much for the great photo and update.
Here's a K&R for her indomintable spirit.:kick:
And a long distance hug.:hug:

[happygoluckytoyou]

56. she gotta get well for 2009.... time to appreciate the fruits of her labors

[DarthDem]

57. Best Wishes to a Great Lady!

Thanks for this update. Glad to hear she's doing very well.

[Biscottiii]

58. I wish for her speedy recovery. She's the ONLY Columnist I have found 100% honest and believable!

We in the USA and the rest of the World desperately need her. Helen Thomas has been the ONLY Journalist to hold Bush and his ilk accountable for the nightmare they have inflicted, all along! I've been wondering why I haven't been finding her columns in my newspaper, always search that out first.

Get better Helen, we're counting on you.

[MiniMe]

59. Get well soon Helen! Here are some roses for you

[Dystopian]

62. prayers for Helen...

Keeping her in my thoughts and prayers....

peace~

[Callalily]

64. Please get well soon Helen!

Praying for a swift and complete recovery.

[helderheid]

67. Thanks for the update! I need to send her something

[DFW]

69. PM me if it's urgent and personal, OK?

[Strawman]

70. Get well Helen!

You're a true patriot and one of Detroit's best!

I emailed Helen once with a question for a research paper and she was generous enough to email me right back with a lengthy response.

[bleever]

72. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Helen.

We love and respect you immensely.

[Pastiche423]

76. You are loved and very much appreciated, Helen!