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February 2002
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November 2002
Adirondacks, NY
December 2002
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November 07, 2002 - 12:16 PM
Rampage Explanation
Rampage Explanation
There's been a number of questions regarding the
Diaryland Orgy
and
Murderous Rampage
These questions are of the nature "What happened?" and "Why are there no pictures?" and "Did it happen?" I guess I should explain although I'd rather not.
Firstly, let me say that no, the
Diaryland Orgy
and
Murderous Rampage
did not happen, that is why there are no pictures. I cannot tell you what the actions or excuses of the other Rampagers were but I can tell you why I did not attend the
Diaryland Orgy
and
Murderous Rampage
And I suppose it would be only fair that I explain considering that I had instigated the whole event in the first place.
Before I tell you the reason why, I would like to say that I am not trying to fish for sympathy and I am not making up excuses. Events happened as they happened and I think it would be best to relate them to you from the beginning.
On Wednesday, October 23, 2002 Blandman's father was admitted to the hospital suffering a mild heart attack. Although he was taken to ICU he wasn't doing too badly. His biggest complaints were weakness and feeling hot.
Over the course of the next few days it was decided that he should be transferred to another hospital to have a cardiac catheterization done to determine the exact cause of the heart attack and to facilitate treatment. The doctors suspected that he had a bad valve in his heart, but they needed to confirm that.
Unfortunately Blandman's father started to spike a fever. On the evening of Wednesday, October 30, it had reached 104°F. Before they could do anything regarding his heart, the hospital would have to attempt to reduce the fever. One of the things they needed to do was also determine the cause of the fever.
I went to see my father-in-law the next day Thursday, October 31 (for those of you who do not know, Blandman is my husband). He was largely unresponsive, not talking, not eating and sweating profusely. He couldn't even open his eyes, but he could hear and squeeze a person's hand when asked. That morning they at least had determined the cause of the fever. It was discovered that he was suffering with a blood parasite called Babesia. The disease itself is called Babesiosis and closely resembles malaria and is transmitted by the bite from a deer tick.
The picture above shows the parasite inside red blood cells. The cells that look all spikey have been destroyed. Although the disease is rather rare, it is very dangerous. If you would like to read more about Babesiosis, click on the image.
Once the diagnosis was determined the hospital began to give him medication to fight the parasite. However, the doctors told Blandman's family that it is a very serious disease for a person over 50 (Blandman's father was 78). The doctors did not want to get the family's hopes up and were saying that he might not survive this. Even if he did survive, recovery would take months.
On Saturday, November 2, Blandman and his mother visited his father in the hospital. That evening he was showing improvement. He was eating and speaking; he asked where I was. In fact he was doing well enough to be taken out of he Progressive Care Unit and into a regular room. Blandman helped his father eat dinner. The nurses mentioned that they were going to give his father a shave that night but would wait until his visitors had gone. Around 6:30PM Blandman and his mother left, telling his father they would be back the next day.
That evening around 9:00PM his father's blood pressure began to drop. And drop. And drop. The doctors and nurses were not able to bring his blood pressure up to normal.
On Sunday, November 3 at 12:22AM Blandman's father died. We received a call from the doctor around 1:00AM.
As much as I was looking forward to meeting everyone in NYC for the
Diaryland Orgy
and
Murderous Rampage
there was no way I could go. I was very fond of my father-in-law and his death was and is still a shock. Blandman and I are still dealing with our emotions concerning this. For the most part we are functional and only have periods of sadness. His father has been cremated and his ashes are going to be scattered on the 10 acres of woods that he owned.
The funny part about this is that his father loved the woods and loved the land he had bought almost 50 years ago. The land that he loved is infested with ticks, lots and lots of ticks. And it was the bite of a tick that eventually lead to his death. Ironic that the woods that he loved so much would be the thing that would kill him.
I just want everyone to know also that I would like to plan a
Diaryland Orgy
and
Murderous Rampage
for the spring. We could do it in NYC again and do it on a Saturday. When the time draws closer, I will remind everyone. Please hope that all the other dying people in my family won't spoil my plans then.
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