|
Terry Heaton's PoMo Blog   yourself for the 21st century or die! Some would rather die than change." Leonard Sweet, cultural historian. 10/19/2005 Entry: "Facing surgery with friends" This is another deeply personal post, and I don't really know where to begin. I have experienced an outpouring of love so profound that it cannot be fairly articulated. When I posted on Sunday that I was facing surgery to remove a tumor, and that I didn't have health insurance, I did so because I thought my knowledge of health care in such a predicament might benefit others. Jeff Jarvis urged me to put a tip jar on my site, and what followed was truly astonishing to me. Like the closing scenes of It's a Wonderful Life, friends I both knew and didn't know came to my rescue, and my understanding of love reached a new level. While I don't have all the money yet, I've always found it easier to give than receive, so this is quite overwhelming to me. How does one repay such a gift? I think the reality is that you don't; you just repeat the kindness when you can. One of the commenters to that original post, Britt Blaser, wrote:
This is an interesting challenge, and one to which I shall give considerable thought. One thing I've learned about the concept of tribes since I began studying a postmodern culture is that we all have our own tribes, consisting of those we choose to invite in. I know my own tribes, but one never really knows the tribes to which one belongs, because they are choices of others, not our own. The experience this week leads me to believe that I'm a part of many more tribes than I've ever expected, and that is a very humbling proposition. I've learned that facing surgery without insurance is nothing compared to facing surgery with friends.
Replies: 7 comments Very touching post. Now you must get through the surgery, and take good care of yourself as you recover. Someone as loved as you are must not be sick for long! :) Posted by Holly @ 10/19/2005 11:17 AM CST
A lucky man. Posted by Alyssa @ 10/19/2005 02:36 PM CST Don't obsess about how to pay it back -- figure out how to spread it around. But first, get better. I'll light a candle for you. Posted by cehwiedel @ 10/20/2005 07:05 PM CST Terry: you have one really important job now: get through this and get better. I love the idea of a tribe and am glad to be part of yours. Posted by B.L. Ochman @ 10/20/2005 08:52 PM CST I just heard the news from Bob Cox at MBA. Best of luck with the surgery and a full and speedy recovery, Terry. Posted by James Joyner @ 10/21/2005 10:16 AM CST Believe it or not there are other options besides surgery. I would recommend checking out my cancer site. There is a link to tumors. I'm sure your doctor mentioned about anti tumorogenic substances. Yeah right. lol I don't expect anyone to believe me but perhaps you could at least believe Linus Pauling a nobel proze winner. MySearchisover.com links to him. Posted by webmaster@mysearchisover.com @ 10/21/2005 10:55 AM CST Terry, Best wishes on a successful recovery. We all wish you well! Regards, Tom Posted by Tom @ 10/21/2005 12:25 PM CST
Leonard Sweet |
