I don't know if anyone noticed. but I've been gone for about five or six days. I haven't been online since Thursday last week because my mother took ill suddenly. Her cancer seemed to have abated somewhat, but she developed some serious breathing problems and when we took her to the doctor he found that her left lung was fluid-filled. She was admitted directly to the hospital.

Up until this time she was doing well enough that surgery to cut out the tumor on her lung was being considered provided she was strong enough. It was touchy surgery at best, but since the cancer had been encapsulated it was a serious consideration provided she was well enough to survive the surgery. Unfortunately, this obviously set her back.

Also unfortunately, a more minor surgery was required to drain her lung of the fluid. The oncologist also couldn't determine where the fluid was coming from and the worst was suspected (MRSA). Needless to say, I immediately blamed myself as I am still medically tagged as a MRSA carrier. I suppose the good news is that no infectious lesions were found in her lung so MRSA was ruled out. She did well through the surgery and they drained 1,200 ml from the lung. She remains in the hospital, although she hopes they will release her today.

I'm afraid I won't have time to comment on the 172 deviations and 149 comments I've received in my absence. It's just too much for me to go through every single one. I will, however, try to at least look at them and answer as many of the comments as possible, although I will likely not comment on journal entries.

I hope I find you all well and free of sadness, illness or injury as I delve into the pile. And I'd like to thank you all in advance for your well-wishes which I know will inevitably pour in (I don't make friends with people who wouldn't be concerned).

I would like to say it's great to be back, but I'll wait on that depending on further news from my mother's doctors. If I disappear again suddenly, it's likely because I'll be too busy helping out my Mom.