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stargeezer
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Post by stargeezer » Fri May 04, 2007 10:16 am

PurpleKoosh wrote:I was thinking laptop because I suspect it will be some weeks (if not months) before Fishy is actually back in her home, and I don't know that a convalescent facility would have the space in which to set up a desktop system.
I was trying to be subtle because I did not want to generate the negative energy, but now I will make my point.

Small valuable items in a convalescent facility tend to grow legs. Extreme care must be taken not to add to her frustration level, it will be high enough to begin with. I would also expect that a good convalescent facility could provide some kind of internet access as the intent is to go through rehab as fast as possible and get them doing normal activities.

Also, looking at the bigger picture, her home is going to need a major remodel. Long term, a desktop will be better and more cost effective, and any additional funds could get the remodel started, and just possibly accelerate her return home.

Edit add:

It looks like Mozy was posting while I was typing. From the description of her home, the remodel just grew in priority. I have seen ramps for two or three steps, but 6 or 8 steps is a bit much. I fully agree with Mozy, a computer might be nice but mobility is key.

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PurpleKoosh
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Post by PurpleKoosh » Fri May 04, 2007 10:41 am

stargeezer wrote:I was trying to be subtle because I did not want to generate the negative energy...
I totally respect that. I made a rather involved post on my LiveJournal the other day that I kept locked down, because the tone was somewhere between realistic and pessimistic, and I know not everyone is ready for that.
stargeezer wrote:Also, looking at the bigger picture, her home is going to need a major remodel. Long term, a desktop will be better and more cost effective, and any additional funds could get the remodel started, and just possibly accelerate her return home.
You're absolutely right about the remodel, but to be frank, I don't think anything we could collectively contribute would be more than a drop in the bucket. Since Mozy touched on it in his comment above, I'll share my thoughts on the house:
In my LiveJournal, I wrote:I've only been to the house she shares with her mother twice, but I remember two things about it - stairs and clutter, neither of which are good from an accessibility standpoint. There is one bedroom downstairs, which is her mother's; her room and the sewing/guest room are at the top of a narrow switchback flight. I stayed with them the night before we drove up to BRC last year, and getting up those stairs was hard enough for me with two functional legs. I have no idea if Chukka is going to be a candidate for prosthetics (or if her insurance will cover them), but even if she is it's likely to be some time before she's sufficiently ambulatory to actually negotiate through her mother's house.
If it was just a question of decluttering the place, I think we'd be able to handle it amongst ourselves. But just building a ramp to get a chair up to the front door is going to take up most of the front yard in order to get a gentle-enough slope; the rest of the house will pose similar, if not greater, challenges. This is going to need to be handled by professionals.
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MozyBonz
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Post by MozyBonz » Fri May 04, 2007 10:49 am

PurpleKoosh wrote:This is going to need to be handled by professional

I agree it's just where my head is. Don’t let my comments change anything you are doing.

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diane o'thirst
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Post by diane o'thirst » Fri May 04, 2007 11:03 am

My Market boothmate makes heatable herb wraps for soothing muscles. I'm going up to Fabric Depot today and pick up a yard or two of their "Art of Healing" pattern fabric and ask her to make a wrap for Fishy with it.

Not elaborate or pricey, but just nice.

I have a discounted account with UPS so I can send it to her in the hospital when Erin gets finished with it.
[url=http://tinyurl.com/245sagf][img]http://tinyurl.com/2bbr28j/.gif[/img][/url][url=http://tinyurl.com/23753ws][img]http://tinyurl.com/2auqebj/.gif[/img][/url][url=http://tinyurl.com/m4y82q][img]http://tinyurl.com/l56rdn/.gif[/img][/url]

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sputnik
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Post by sputnik » Fri May 04, 2007 11:11 am

My comment on this is to start small with something she needs and grow it from there as she expresses needs. Laptops can be equiped with lockdown cables for a small amount of money. If she is going to be in a facility rather than her home for some time, then perhaps that would make sense. It may be that the flexibilty of using a laptop wherever, whenever will override the niceties of a desktop or deskside computer.
It's going to be alright.

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PurpleKoosh
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Post by PurpleKoosh » Fri May 04, 2007 11:25 am

MozyBonz wrote:
PurpleKoosh wrote:This is going to need to be handled by professionals.
I agree it's just where my head is. Don’t let my comments change anything you are doing.
Oh, you and I are definitely on the same page. I spent most of Monday night as I was (eventually) falling asleep going over what I remembered of the house, trying to think of what - if anything - we'd be able to do to make it more accessable. I just hadn't mentioned anything along those lines here because, as Sputnik alludes to in his comment, I thought it best to focus on the small(er) things we can change (if you'll forgive me for getting a little 12-Steppy on you *grin*), lest we let the Big Picture overwhelm us and not accomplish anything.
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diane o'thirst
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Post by diane o'thirst » Fri May 04, 2007 11:29 am

sputnik wrote:If she is going to be in a facility rather than her home for some time, then perhaps that would make sense. It may be that the flexibilty of using a laptop wherever, whenever will override the niceties of a desktop or deskside computer.
I'll vouch. I had my laptop in the hospital when I had my cancer surgery and it was a lifesaver. And I was only in there for four days; I'm pretty sure FIshy's going to be in a facility for weeks if not <i>months</i>. Even if she gets Medevac'ed from Austria back Stateside as soon as they stabilize her, she won't be coming home for awhile yet.
[url=http://tinyurl.com/245sagf][img]http://tinyurl.com/2bbr28j/.gif[/img][/url][url=http://tinyurl.com/23753ws][img]http://tinyurl.com/2auqebj/.gif[/img][/url][url=http://tinyurl.com/m4y82q][img]http://tinyurl.com/l56rdn/.gif[/img][/url]

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Post by MozyBonz » Fri May 04, 2007 11:50 am

let the Big Picture overwhelm us
the Big Picture is what I'm good at...
It kind of drives me some times as you saw with the eplaya bar.


What logistics are needed to pull it off start running in my head and it’s hard to stop sometimes.


Carry on.

Laptop sound great.

Anyone want a large picture of fishy you can print out?

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click on it for a larger size

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Teo del Fuego
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Post by Teo del Fuego » Fri May 04, 2007 11:53 am

Wow, this is so incredibly sad. I dont know what to say, really.
Man, Im sure its way too soon to know if she will make it to the Playa this year or next, but if she does, I hope we can do something great for her on the Playa...I dunno, maybe a huge welcome back home party, maybe a playa-fied customized electric wheelchair. Just quick-fire thoughts off the top of my head, but I would like to focus on doing something to get her back on the Playa and making her time there as wonderful as possible in addition to the laptop thing.

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Box Burner
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Post by Box Burner » Fri May 04, 2007 11:57 am

I am of the opinion that we should get both a laptop and a desktop.

The ability to take your computer with you everywhere you go will be appreciated by someone bound to a wheelchair far away and beyond what anyone of us can possibly imagine. But as I said notebook systems are not generally upgradeable. so whatever you get is it. Buy the best and it will last several years. but the maximum warranty you can get from any manufacturer is about 3 years and they are fragile and always expensive to repair.

Desktops on the other hand are cheaper and easier to upgrade. They stay connected to the printer and other periferal devices and are generally, IMHO easier to use.. We can upgrade her desktop for a minimal cost every year or two for the cost of a couple micky D combo meals for a few of us. Anyway I already have a desktop system started for her. So there! :P :D :D :D

I am going to look around for a bigger Hard drive because I only have 10 and 20 GB hard drives on hand. I still need an Operating system if it is going to be XP so if anyone has a legal copy it would be much appreciated.


I think I need to stop typing now I am too sad.

boxB
Dance in the heart of chaos. . . . .

ὁ δὲ ἀνεξέταστος βίος οὐ βιωτὸς ἀνθρώπῳ
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --- Σωκράτης

.

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Box Burner
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Post by Box Burner » Fri May 04, 2007 12:07 pm

OK, here is something else we need to think of. If she has no computer she also has no internet access at home. Can anyone find out what it will cost to get broadband cable to her house? Average cost around here is $40. I will spring for a months charges.
Dance in the heart of chaos. . . . .

ὁ δὲ ἀνεξέταστος βίος οὐ βιωτὸς ἀνθρώπῳ
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --- Σωκράτης

.

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PurpleKoosh
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Post by PurpleKoosh » Fri May 04, 2007 12:10 pm

Box Burner wrote:Desktops on the other hand are cheaper and easier to upgrade. They stay connected to the printer and other periferal devices and are generally, IMHO easier to use.. We can upgrade her desktop for a minimal cost every year or two for the cost of a couple micky D combo meals for a few of us. Anyway I already have a desktop system started for her. So there! :P :D :D :D
You rock in stereo, BoxB.

Getting both machines has the added bonus of Sally (theMamaFishist) being able to use the desktop while Fishy and the lappy are elsewhere.
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PurpleKoosh
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Post by PurpleKoosh » Fri May 04, 2007 12:17 pm

Box Burner wrote:OK, here is something else we need to think of. If she has no computer she also has no internet access at home. Can anyone find out what it will cost to get broadband cable to her house? Average cost around here is $40. I will spring for a months charges.
Since she lives in the Bay Area, she's got an absurd number of options available to her. I'll poll my local geeks and see if they have recommendations for service providers that cover her particular corner of the East Bay.
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technopatra
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Post by technopatra » Fri May 04, 2007 12:40 pm

My comment on this is to start small with something she needs and grow it from there as she expresses needs. Laptops can be equiped with lockdown cables for a small amount of money. If she is going to be in a facility rather than her home for some time, then perhaps that would make sense. It may be that the flexibilty of using a laptop wherever, whenever will override the niceties of a desktop or deskside computer.
Word, Sputnik. I think it's awesome that this group is so creative and thinking long-term. The fact is we don't know when & where she will return, or what she will be up for.

I think someone should be talking (for real, like on the phone) with her family sometime in the near, but not too near, future to validate some of the assumptions we are making about what she will need/want. I nominate Koosh.

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PurpleKoosh
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Post by PurpleKoosh » Fri May 04, 2007 1:06 pm

technopatra wrote:I think some should be talking (for real, like on the phoe) with her family sometime in the near, but not too near, future to validate some of the assumptions we are making about what she will need/want. I nominate Koosh.
I thank you for the vote of confidence, sweetie, but I must decline the nomination. Much as I would love to dive into this head-first, I've got two major events I'm volunteering at (one of which I've just become a department head for) that have literally taken all my free time between now and the 4th of July.
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Rabbi Dali Rick
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My Darling Fishy........

Post by Rabbi Dali Rick » Fri May 04, 2007 1:16 pm

All my prayers and Love come your Way Fishy. And if you promise to make it to the Burn this year I will be your push-bitch all day on Thursday....



the rebbi

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EspressoDude
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Post by EspressoDude » Fri May 04, 2007 3:55 pm

Just mailed a care package to fishy:

8 1/2 x 11 print of her fave tank,
another of BM2007 ticket,
one of EspressoCamp Poster
and Mozy's 3 eye fish...

Along with lots of hugs, love, and tears..

edit to add: 2ea personalized Terminal city dog tags

6 oz package $4.80



(btw the u.s.p.o. wants Austria not Osterreich)
Is 4 shots enuff? no foo-foo drinks; just naked Espresso
Tactical Espresso Service http://home.comcast.net/~espressocamp/
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karine
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Post by karine » Fri May 04, 2007 9:31 pm

EspressoDude- that is awesome.

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karine
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Post by karine » Fri May 04, 2007 9:38 pm

Thank you Euroburners for coming through!

Stefan in Munich has stepped up to the plate and I (and many others) will be forever grateful!
He's helping "Mom" en route to Crypto's bed side.

MoisturePup
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Post by MoisturePup » Fri May 04, 2007 10:25 pm

I have a wireless DSL router which she can have for free if she'd like it. That means no contract obligation I believe.

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Post by MoisturePup » Fri May 04, 2007 10:28 pm

MoisturePup wrote:I have a wireless DSL router which she can have for free if she'd like it. That means no contract obligation I believe.
http://www.att.com/gen/general?pid=6431

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Bambi of Finland
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Post by Bambi of Finland » Fri May 04, 2007 10:33 pm

This has been an awe-inspiring past hour, reading about Fishy. I'm just getting clued in. I have'nt been around enough to post much and am hoping that I can be of help in some way without being in the way.
Love to you Fishy,
Bambi
Lost in the Forest

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Eric
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Post by Eric » Fri May 04, 2007 11:21 pm

I just found out about this, and am crushed for poor Fishy.

I'm in for a donation, regardless of what the project is (computer, ramp, what-ever)- she's given so much with her energy and compassion that I have no problem giving back to her.

Technopatra (or whoever is in charge of the donations), please PM me & let me know where to paypal funds to. I may be poor, but I am never to poor to help a friend in need.
It's a camping trip in the desert, not the redemption of the fallen world - Cryptofishist

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Box Burner
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Post by Box Burner » Sat May 05, 2007 2:54 am

MoisturePup wrote:I have a wireless DSL router which she can have for free if she'd like it. That means no contract obligation I believe.
Awsome.MoisturePup! Thank you!

That router can be set up close to the desktop on the main floor and the notebook will have access from most places in the house. I do not know who we are shipping this all to. Someone in the Bay area.

I will have the system ready in a couple of weeks. I just added a dvd burner to it. Still looking for a bigger HDD. I will let you know what I find about mid-week. And I will post Ram specs soon. this system only has 256mb of ram. I would like to boost it to 512mb at minimum. 1gb if possible.
Dance in the heart of chaos. . . . .

ὁ δὲ ἀνεξέταστος βίος οὐ βιωτὸς ἀνθρώπῳ
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --- Σωκράτης

.

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pinemom
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Post by pinemom » Sat May 05, 2007 6:10 am

this all so warms my heart, what a wonderful family we all are!
and its so nice to finally speak with "family over in Austria".
Stefan has answered everyone of my emails, within so quik a manner its head spinning, he is her Gardian angel so to speak. Being in a foreign country alone is one thing, severly injured is another.
Im so scared, they might be waking her today.............

Tips her glass to Stefan! toast!
Names pinemom, but my friends call me "Piney".

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BigCock
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Post by BigCock » Sat May 05, 2007 7:19 am

Image
PL-72 (Maximum platform lifting height 72")
$3295
That's doable.

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ibdave
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Post by ibdave » Sat May 05, 2007 8:23 am

BigCock wrote:Image
PL-72 (Maximum platform lifting height 72")
$3295
That's doable.
I'm in..... 8) 8)
I was Born OK the 1st Time....

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Lorgasm
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Post by Lorgasm » Sat May 05, 2007 8:34 am

Oh how my heart sings reading the posts and feeling the vibe. Such love coming together from all over. Its a beautiful thing. This is Burningman!! Not what do you want but what do YOU NEED. You all deserve good Karma for this. I want to do whatever I can. PM me an address to mail something; donation, etc.

Fishy, you are blessed!!!

Peace,
Lorgasm
BOOBIES!!!

spectabillis
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Post by spectabillis » Sat May 05, 2007 9:35 am

re: family communications

i guess someone or somehow being able to talk with the family would be really helpful. they dont really have to take on much responsibility like decision making or such, but can be a simple liasion for q&a's while not being too invasive.

re: laptop

having a transferable warrenty would be nice for future support needs. dont know about transfer of ownership through euro/us, but would imagine its not as difficult to bring back since thats what most people on business trips carry. never had a prob to/from england or anywhere in s.america. i guess a desktop could be nice, but many laptops are as powerful and can be mounted to a wheelchair.

re: wheelchair lift

i was going to buy a mini-bus for bman, it has a fully functional lift that i wouldnt need so i could donate that and same everyone some $. but depends on being able to fit whatever vehicle, then shipping and installing to wherever needed... or her med insurance my already cover one.

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PurpleKoosh
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Post by PurpleKoosh » Sat May 05, 2007 12:49 pm

in http://chukkasupport.blogspot.com/ Chukka's sister Eliza wrote:There are no cards allowed in the ICU, Mum will have to find out where exactly they have been sent to and keep them at the hotel. No stuffed animals either! Also, do not send too much to Austria, because it will be hard for Mum to bring home. I expect for as long as sheis in the ICU, Chukka will be very tired and weak and will not have energy even for reading cards. She will also be on a lot of medication for the pain. Chukka will be here quite soon and then we can all send her everything we want.
So hang onto anything you have for her; once she's Stateside, we should be able to send things to her mom.
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