Al's Well That Ends Well

[louis33705]

I know this forum is about us to be able to share our life experiences. I feel comfortable sharing the following story with you about what has transpired with my friend and neighbor, Rich, over the past year.

A year ago this month, Rich came knocking at my door. He asked me if I had some bay leaves. He said he was sure he had food poisoning and read on the internet that bay tea could sooth the symptoms. The poor man was doubled over in severe pain. When I asked him how long he had been sick he told me it had been going on for 3-4 days. I explained I had had food poisoning twice and never experienced the pain he was having. I gave him the bay leaves and he went back to his trailer. In the meantime, I called Linda (who our family refers to her as Dr. Grandma). She was concerned over what I told her and said she needed to talk to Rich. I walked over to Rich's and handed him my phone and waited outside while they spoke. Rich eventually came out and said that Linda insisted he go to the Emergency Room immediately. I drove Rich to the nearest hospital and sat with him while they did all kinds of test and scans. Rich had a ruptured intestine and they did emergency surgery that night. After a little over a week he finally came home but with a colostomy bag attached to his lower abdomen. A few months ago he was readmitted to the hospitall to have the procedure reversed. Before his second admission, he filled out papers listing me and Linda as surrogates that in the event things did not go right and he wound up on life support, we had the power of attorney to have the equipment turned off. I drove him for his second surgery to Tampa, 50 miles away from where we live. I stayed with him for a few hours and then returned home. Late that afternoon I got a call from his doctor telling me Rich had had major complications and needed to return to surgery. He wanted my permission to do so. Of course, I said yes. He eventually came home but with a second bag attached to his belly.

This morning I drove Rich back to the hospital at 5 am for his third surgery. I was able to talk to him at 2 pm this afternoon and he told me everything went well. He he will able to return home in about a week and without a bag hanging off his side.

My purpose for sharing this story is to show that friends do for each other what friends do, without thought or hesitation. We are not creatures who when we get sick or wounded merely go into the forest and die. There is always someone there beside us, whether is be a family member, friend, or even a stranger who will not abandon us in the forest.

That is the power of the human Spirit

Thank you for allowing me to post my story..

Love,
Louis

 

[joninliverton]

That's a great story Louis and judging by the other posts that you have written, it doesn't surprise me one iota what lengths you went to to help your friend. You are indeed a truly great person and someone I would love to have living next door to me. No sex though ok x lol

 

[mtfrc81]

This is a fantastic story and I'm glad you shared it with us! I wish your friend continued success and hope he is done with the surgeries. We often to not appreciate our amazing bodies until things don't work. It's great that you didn't just let him return home because he surely would have died soon afterwards. Stomach and intestinal contents loose in the abdomen will result in a terrible death.

Your message is a valuable lesson that we all need to be reminded of... probably every day. I had a talk with a co-worker today. His mother passed away 11 months ago today from cancer. He talked a lot about learning to appreciate the opportunities we are given by the people in our lives. He has really struggled with establishing/maintaining friendships with people. He and I have a lot in common and he's someone I could have been close to, but he wasn't willing to let it happen because of his "issues". I kind of backed off, but tried to give him time and space to grow. But still it wasn't going to happen. So eventually I gave up. When his mom was dying I drove the ambulance 125 miles to pick his mom up from hospital to take her home to die. Honestly, I thought she might not even make it the 8 miles drive home. I made her son drive the medic with me in the back. I didn't want him to remember her passing in the back of the medic he has to work in. Thankfully she made it home and lived for 36 hours. I got to know this woman very well. She believed very deeply in a lot of Lakota Spiritual beliefs. She had much to teach me! During the transport I held her hand and cried. She was so weak she could hardly speak. She kept trying to say something to me. I had to lean in with my ear right over her mouth so I could hear her. She whispered to me, "watch over my son, guide and keep him safe." Her son is probably one of the most stubborn and difficult people I have ever met, but he's got a big heart and can be an amazing person. Her request can be very challenging! Firefighters (myself included) are very difficult sometimes. A couple of weeks after she died I told her son what she said. I am honored that his mom was trusting enough of me to make such a request. I honor this woman and her untimely death from breast cancer (she was only 52) by doing what I can to guide and keep her son safe on the job.

 

[another1]

your story touched me. thank you for sharing it.

 

[joninliverton]

This is a fantastic story and I'm glad you shared it with us! I wish your friend continued success and hope he is done with the surgeries. We often to not appreciate our amazing bodies until things don't work. It's great that you didn't just let him return home because he surely would have died soon afterwards. Stomach and intestinal contents loose in the abdomen will result in a terrible death.

Your message is a valuable lesson that we all need to be reminded of... probably every day. I had a talk with a co-worker today. His mother passed away 11 months ago today from cancer. He talked a lot about learning to appreciate the opportunities we are given by the people in our lives. He has really struggled with establishing/maintaining friendships with people. He and I have a lot in common and he's someone I could have been close to, but he wasn't willing to let it happen because of his "issues". I kind of backed off, but tried to give him time and space to grow. But still it wasn't going to happen. So eventually I gave up. When his mom was dying I drove the ambulance 125 miles to pick his mom up from hospital to take her home to die. Honestly, I thought she might not even make it the 8 miles drive home. I made her son drive the medic with me in the back. I didn't want him to remember her passing in the back of the medic he has to work in. Thankfully she made it home and lived for 36 hours. I got to know this woman very well. She believed very deeply in a lot of Lakota Spiritual beliefs. She had much to teach me! During the transport I held her hand and cried. She was so weak she could hardly speak. She kept trying to say something to me. I had to lean in with my ear right over her mouth so I could hear her. She whispered to me, "watch over my son, guide and keep him safe." Her son is probably one of the most stubborn and difficult people I have ever met, but he's got a big heart and can be an amazing person. Her request can be very challenging! Firefighters (myself included) are very difficult sometimes. A couple of weeks after she died I told her son what she said. I am honored that his mom was trusting enough of me to make such a request. I honor this woman and her untimely death from breast cancer (she was only 52) by doing what I can to guide and keep her son safe on the job.

Like Louis said it is very touching. I hope one day I can emulate both your actions - I do contribute £15 a month to the McMillan Cancer and also a few bob to the uk cancer research programme. It's not a great amount but I suppose it all helps.

 

[mikeyank]

Dear Louis,

Thanks so much for sharing your story with us. You are so right about the importance of friends, particularly as we age and especially if we live alone. You did a fine deed, as you are such a quality person. I have lived in my apartment building since 1976 and the one person who had lived here longer than me is an 82 year old single woman who lived upstairs. She was going though the early stages of dementia and she had a bad wine drinking habit. Unfortunately she fell and called me and luckily I was home, and I called 911 and she was taken to the emergency room. She asked me to tend to her cat, and not being a cat person, I asked another neighbor who is a 50 year old single woman, and she taught me how to feed and change the litter box for a cat.

The bottom line is that my older neighbor had financial problems that I did not know about, but my other neighbor adopted the cat and she was admitted to a local nursing home, and both her and I have power of attorney and medical decisions for her, and regularly visit her. I hope if I am alone in my 80's that I will have someone to look after me too.

Which brings me to this forum. I joined Broke Straight Boys to jerk off to straight young guys doing "the nasty" on video, but I stayed for the forum for I was amazed that I found real, true friends through this site, some of whom I've lost contact with. But I am still in touch with former forumites, Ms. Kianna, Buckeye1, Grace, Cumrag27, RRHill, JLipps, Raysvq, and probably others who I can't think of at this moment. I am also "off site friends" with current members, Stowe, Peter, johnny, Tampa, Jon and betudidntknow among others.

In fact, in October, Peter is coming to visit New York for the first time, and we are planning a visit with Betu too. I've already met Tampa, and I hope to meet more of you in the future. As a man in my 60's, it is not easy to find new friends and so many of you folks here are so cool, and I am so appreciative to have you all in my life. And I look forward to getting to know more of you both on the forum and off. With whatever complaints I've had about the site, over the years, I am very thankful to Mark for providing the forum, and for the most part letting us conduct business here, as we see fit, with minimal interference by management. Love live the forum.

Lots of love to everyone!!!

 

[johnny]

Dear Louis,

Thanks so much for sharing your story with us. You are so right about the importance of friends, particularly as we age and especially if we live alone. You did a fine deed, as you are such a quality person. I have lived in my apartment building since 1976 and the one person who had lived here longer than me is an 82 year old single woman who lived upstairs. She was going though the early stages of dementia and she had a bad wine drinking habit. Unfortunately she fell and called me and luckily I was home, and I called 911 and she was taken to the emergency room. She asked me to tend to her cat, and not being a cat person, I asked another neighbor who is a 50 year old single woman, and she taught me how to feed and change the litter box for a cat.

The bottom line is that my older neighbor had financial problems that I did not know about, but my other neighbor adopted the cat and she was admitted to a local nursing home, and both her and I have power of attorney and medical decisions for her, and regularly visit her. I hope if I am alone in my 80's that I will have someone to look after me too.

Which brings me to this forum. I joined Broke Straight Boys to jerk off to straight young guys doing "the nasty" on video, but I stayed for the forum for I was amazed that I found real, true friends through this site, some of whom I've lost contact with. But I am still in touch with former forumites, Ms. Kianna, Buckeye1, Grace, Cumrag27, RRHill, JLipps, Raysvq, and probably others who I can't think of at this moment. I am also "off site friends" with current members, Stowe, Peter, johnny, Tampa, Jon and betudidntknow among others.

In fact, in October, Peter is coming to visit New York for the first time, and we are planning a visit with Betu too. I've already met Tampa, and I hope to meet more of you in the future. As a man in my 60's, it is not easy to find new friends and so many of you folks here are so cool, and I am so appreciative to have you all in my life. And I look forward to getting to know more of you both on the forum and off. With whatever complaints I've had about the site, over the years, I am very thankful to Mark for providing the forum, and for the most part letting us conduct business here, as we see fit, with minimal interference by management. Love live the forum.

Lots of love to everyone!!!

Thank You mike
Another Beautiful post by a ..Very Beautiful Man.
I am very Grateful,Honored,and Proud to be included in such a fine group of people. You mike have become very important too me.
I feel so Blessed.
Love...
johnny....A Proud yenta.
And Louis . . You Are A Good Man. Just Saying...

 

[Beth]

I just think sometimes we forget that doing the right thing...is just the right thing to do. Thank you Louis for reminding me.

 

[tampa24]

Dear Louis,

Thanks so much for sharing your story with us. You are so right about the importance of friends, particularly as we age and especially if we live alone. You did a fine deed, as you are such a quality person. I have lived in my apartment building since 1976 and the one person who had lived here longer than me is an 82 year old single woman who lived upstairs. She was going though the early stages of dementia and she had a bad wine drinking habit. Unfortunately she fell and called me and luckily I was home, and I called 911 and she was taken to the emergency room. She asked me to tend to her cat, and not being a cat person, I asked another neighbor who is a 50 year old single woman, and she taught me how to feed and change the litter box for a cat.

The bottom line is that my older neighbor had financial problems that I did not know about, but my other neighbor adopted the cat and she was admitted to a local nursing home, and both her and I have power of attorney and medical decisions for her, and regularly visit her. I hope if I am alone in my 80's that I will have someone to look after me too.

Which brings me to this forum. I joined Broke Straight Boys to jerk off to straight young guys doing "the nasty" on video, but I stayed for the forum for I was amazed that I found real, true friends through this site, some of whom I've lost contact with. But I am still in touch with former forumites, Ms. Kianna, Buckeye1, Grace, Cumrag27, RRHill, JLipps, Raysvq, and probably others who I can't think of at this moment. I am also "off site friends" with current members, Stowe, Peter, johnny, Tampa, Jon and betudidntknow among others.

In fact, in October, Peter is coming to visit New York for the first time, and we are planning a visit with Betu too. I've already met Tampa, and I hope to meet more of you in the future. As a man in my 60's, it is not easy to find new friends and so many of you folks here are so cool, and I am so appreciative to have you all in my life. And I look forward to getting to know more of you both on the forum and off. With whatever complaints I've had about the site, over the years, I am very thankful to Mark for providing the forum, and for the most part letting us conduct business here, as we see fit, with minimal interference by management. Love live the forum.

Lots of love to everyone!!!

I also want to thank Louis and Mtfrc for sharing their stories. We do need to look out for each other on this earth. With us gay people especially there may come a time when we are sick, older and alone and we need help with certain health issues or doctor appointments or just getting to the grocery store. So why not be paying it forward now? It's the right thing to do.

 

[johnny]

Mtfrc .. Can I thank you for your story too? Sometimes I forget my manners.Thank you tampa..johnny

 

[mikeyank]

I also want to thank Louis and Mtfrc for sharing their stories. We do need to look out for each other on this earth. With us gay people especially there may come a time when we are sick, older and alone and we need help with certain health issues or doctor appointments or just getting to the grocery store. So why not be paying it forward now? It's the right thing to do.

I know that you do exactly that with many of your older friends in your area Tampa, and although you do not do it for any kind of payback, it does show that you live by the "golden rule". Do to others as you would have them do to you. I do believe in karma and it is the right thing to do on many levels.

 

[mikeyank]

Thank You mike
Another Beautiful post by a ..Very Beautiful Man.
I am very Grateful,Honored,and Proud to be included in such a fine group of people. You mike have become very important too me.
I feel so Blessed.
Love...
johnny....A Proud yenta.
And Louis . . You Are A Good Man. Just Saying...

Thanks very much johnny, (my fellow yenta). You are a blessing to me, having you in my life.

 

[joeychuck2]

We need more people to be " a friend " and do what's right. Thanks for reminding us. In my life I have been "a friend" more that once so I know how it is while it is happening. It's like loving someone more then yourself. You just do what's best for the friend and don't worry about yourself. Years later when you look back you will feel so good that you were there and did what you did. BTW It keeps happening over the years and you'll be there for others too.

 

[tampa24]

We need more people to be " a friend " and do what's right. Thanks for reminding us. In my life I have been "a friend" more that once so I know how it is while it is happening. It's like loving someone more then yourself. You just do what's best for the friend and don't worry about yourself. Years later when you look back you will feel so good that you were there and did what you did. BTW It keeps happening over the years and you'll be there for others too.

Well said, Joey!