Debutaunt-are you OK?

Debutaunt- Please tell us if you can. If Theo will do so, he has my permission to give you my e-mail address.

I hope you find only good news next week. One day at a time, my peep-friend.

I was in a study at MD Anderson with about 25 other people with leukemia. Only 2 of us are left.

Now I think I may have lymphoma. I hopefully will find some answers next week.

vonvon- I am very happy for you, but I do know that it can get scary, too.

Every day that you live any kind of day is a gift, that is true for everyone- I know that some people are just a whole lot more aware of it than others.

I wish you all the best and it is my personal opinion that a day spent experiencing happiness, even at the sight of a fuzzy bunny is time well used. Hence, we are peeps! Shalom, Katrina

As a three-time survivor of non-Hodgkins lymphoma I thank you from the bottom of my heart. My oncologist tells me that the cancer will recur in a more virulent form; it can’t be cured–at least not yet–only managed. I share the hope that one day a cure will be found, and I take comfort that there are dedicated people and organizations like the LLS working zealously toward that goal. Perhaps one day I’ll succumb to the ravages of cancer but I’m going to fight until I can’t anymore.

I’m torn by the fact that I’ve benefited from the suffering of other living beings, both animal and human. Have I deserved the 15 additional years of life I’ve been granted? I don’t think that I (or anybody else) can answer that question. Am I grateful for it? You betcha, every single awful/beautiful/mundane day of it. Thanks again LLS and CO.

May I please share a very personal story? My sister has Aplastic Anemmia-her blood-making cells shut down, from Gold Salts she was taking for a particularly virulent Rheumatoid Arthritis. The place she went, that I won’t name for fear of the crazies, was a research hospital. There were three floors-the dogs on floor one, the monkeys on floor two and the people on floor three. We spent 17 weeks trying to get her well-enough for transport back to her original hospital. She was the only survivor of a 10-person experimental trial. May I ask that no one denigrate or lessen the suffering of the people and their families who participate in these trials. My sister WAS an experimental animal. She WAS dying and we lost her three times,had the rescuing nurses and doctors been unsuccessful in bringing her back. A fever of 108 almost claimed her, too.
For the people who say they have ‘a viewpoint’ on animal testing just sit back and take 10 minutes out of your lives and think of what it would be to BE an experimental animal and have no choice in the illness but A CHANCE at a cure or something that at least helps to prolong your life. My sister suffered nothing less that a WRATH of illness for the next 16 years, until her body finally just couldn’t take any more of being assaulted by illness upon illness. To watch that is Hell. To watch one’s family member go through that was agony. So, please, the experiment in which she participated has helped increase the medical field’s knowledge of not only her disease but AIDS and Leukemias and Lymphomas- it was an experiment with T cells, and one of the very first ever. Hey “Animal Rights” people- go volunteer in a hospital and help the sick, dying and mourning- then I’ll KNOW that you care. I know I could have used a friend. After 30 years, our family thinks that the experiment was worth it.
DAMN YOU WHO DON’T THINK BEFORE ACTING. There was no buzz to kill here, so I went for the throat, I’m sorry if I have offended peeps. But we all must learn from each other. Humbly, and now in tears, for my brave sister and everyone who is in an experiment, most lovingly, Katrina

Why do I suspect that the ‘people’ making a stink are all one and the same?

Or have I just been jaded by the Pinkfuzzyslippers blowout?

Bottom line, I am a pet owner who loves her cats. I do love animals. I eat meat. I don’t believe in testing cosmetics and personal care items on animals. I do approve of some kinds of animal testing for valid medical research. Call me a horrible, evil person if you want, but I know the truth about myself.

Self righteousness doesn’t exactly turn other people to your side of any given debate.

Vegan, where are you? You don’t have that much time left to prevent me from bidding again! See my post above (Jul 20, 2008 at 09:29 PM) for details.

thanks, mike. i had to look away, or i was gonna start bidding my rent!

If that happened, BAP, I guess Meg would have to post pictures of Golden Retrievers and Golden Hamsters?