I got home this morning after a short day stop in Chicago to see my honorary nephew Sam and to thank Kim Schilling and Dr. Susan Brown for their attention and care at the symposium. If it wasn't for them, I would not have made it through the symposium and would have been in hospital much sooner and perhaps longer. Kim went so far as to buy chicken broth from the hotel room service (say goodbye to $10) and never peeped a sound when I largely wasted it later. The two checked on me throughout the symposium, giggled at the sounds I was making in the bathroom, made sure I had something to drink, that I wasn't actually dying, and would tell me jokes to help cheer me up during a horrific weekend. Kim Schilling and Dr. Susan Brown were not the only people who conspired to keep me functioning. The entire speaker staff allowed themselves to be shifted in speaking order so that I could rest and rehydrate before my presentations (and other things I will never speak of again). Dr. Bruce Williams was extremely kind and was also instrumental in keeping me on my feet in ways I cannot adequatey explain but deeply appreciate. Dr. Sari Kanfer was a continuous source of support and cheerfulness. There were others involved but because I was so ill, I did not keep track of them. Some may have helped and I never heard or found out about the assistance. Nonetheless, I appreciate all help from everyone. I also want to thank the participants of the symposium. Switching speaking schedules impacts people negatively, and yet I did not hear a single person complain. In fact, most of the symposium attendees made a point to speak kindly to me and wish me better. It was quite moving actually, but maybe I'm just becoming sentimental in my old age. Seriously, I was very touched from all the concern and positive support. I also thank those who called me at the hospital to cheer me up. Someone sent a basket of spam with silver mirror balloons, but there was no card and I don't know who you were. Whoever sent it, thank you! I suspect it was from someone who knew of my love of the chopped pork product (I actually love the stuff!) or from someone who knew of my fondness for Monty Python. I thank all of you. The IFC committee was wonderful. My concern was to insure the participants would hear my presentations, but I had the distinct feeling their concern was solely my health. They were extremely helpful and understanding. Bill Gruber was most helpful, never complaining that he should have had my presentation long before he recieved it at the last moment. Linda Iroff, Julie Fossa, and Francine Prager all made me feel like I wasn't letting anyone down, which I continuously felt I was doing. I thank all of you. Thanks to Joel Vanderbush who stepped in for me to lead the zoo trip Sunday afternoon. Although I have not heard anything about the trip, I know Joel did a wonderful job. I also know he would love the job of leading the zoo trip for all future symposiums and the IFC would do well to use him for that purpose. Thanks for the help, Joel. My medical problem is a lesson for all who place too much emphasis on creditials rather than knowledge. I was in the hospital from Sunday to Thursday and each day my doctors got together and pronounced a new diagnosis. First, it was food poisoning. Then pancreatitis. Then it was food posioning again. Then it was a viral gastroenteritis. The last day in hospital I was told it was originally a food posioning that caused sudden acute pancreatitis, BUT, it could have been a nasty nasty virus, OR, maybe both. I teased the gaggle of doctors by putting up a paper listing the "Diagnosis of the Day." I told them a veterinarian could have it figured out in a single visit. They were amused, as was I, but then I was living on intraveinous morphine. All those creditials and not one degreed professional knew better than the old guy in the ER waiting room who told me I had the "Ups and Downs". It took about twice as long as usual to drive home. It will take some time to write notes to all those who have sent kind words. Please be patient. Again, thanks to all during this recent illness. Thank you. Bob C [log in to unmask] [Moderator's note: Yeah, a veterinarian could have figured it out and dispensed some medication... but if it didn't work, of course they'd have to put you down ;-) BIG] [Posted in FML 5661]