I found out about this from the 'Quest for More Glory' forum.
On Sunday, 9th October, HerrBearen (whom many will know from the GK forum, and he's appeared occasionally in the QfG and KQ forums also) told us this:
Most here know that I'm BEARIC's dad. I've some bad news. Eric/BEARIC has been admitted into the hospital with Leukemia. We found this out yesterday. He can be reached at INOVA/Fairfax General hospital room 566 BLUE Wing at 17037766056
On 10th October, he updated us with the following:
Thanx folks. Eric has what is known as T-Cell Acute Lymphoplastic Leukemia or T-Cell ALL. He'll be undergoing intensive chemo, radiation and an experimental Compound 506U78 treatment in the hospital for the nesxt 2-3 weeks. This type of Leukemia hits 15% of children and adults who have Leukemia. The mortality rate is 1 out of 4.... or 75% live.
His treatments will be going for 2 years.
Tuesday 11th October:
This whole ordeal is beginning to wear me out mentally and emotionally. So much to do to get assistance, traveling here to the hospital, updating people, phone calls, people at the door from church to help prepare the house for Eric's return home, forms to sign and read, conferences with the doctors and nurses, casual conversations with other parents, limited access with this Abominably Old Lifeline of any type of internet access, no IM to work with, concerns about going back to work in 3-4 hours, getting Cathy over here tomorrow morning just so that I CAN go to work, finances.... ad infinitum ad nauseum.
Wednesday, 12th October:
When you've gone through as much as I have, you learn how to react and think when the Winds of Trouble blow your way. The most important thing to do is speak your feelings and be not shy or bashful to ask for a shoulder to cry on, an ear give listen, a voice to speak up, a hand to hold, arms to catch hold and caress, squeeze, hug. The loneliest person, is the one who says nothing and refuses the company of councel. The fool refuseth to hear the wise.
Those who mock sincerity, will soon be shamed.
I only did what I knew to be the most successful weapon and tool in my continuing journey through sobriety. I spoke up and cried for help. What's better, is that those that asked me to bend an ear in their direction and allow them to cry on my shoulder.... are flocking to help comfort THIS BEAR. Thanx for the compliment. (o:3
At 8:00am Eric begins the most intensive week of his treatment.
Friday 14th October:
As for Eric, he's doing great with the chemo thus far and might be allowed to return home Monday, if he doesn't get a fever or infection. As nice as it sounds, though, the house is not ready to receive Eric. Nothing has been cleaned, sanitized or repaired.... let alone, having the first attempts to clean the place up... by Cathy or Sarah (Eric's mom and sister, respectively). I'm not only at Eric's bedside and away from home, but, when I DO get the chance to get home, there is not enough time to do any cleaning or repairs, as I must update through IM's, email, phone and in person. Hit the road to get to work or back here and pick up supplies on the way. I wouldn't want to wish a fever to force him to stay here for the original 2-3 week stay... but, going back to that unsanitized house in his condition could prove fatal.
This also applies to camping or even visiting Eric here at the hospital. This is the 7th night I'm camping with him and the last time Cathy came here to visit him was on Tuesday. I'm sorry, but, there is only ONE "Robert The BEAR Beatty". There aren't any clones to do multiple tasks, be everywhere ALL of the time, fully charged with energy from food and rest... to do what is necessary for Eric's health and recovery. I'm speading myself way too thin and am really getting stressed out. I'm going to ask the nurses to check my blood pressure.... who cares if it's added to the bill. It would be better than dying from stroke or heart attack, in the hospital, right under their noses, yes?
Thursday 20th October:
As of this moment, "Home" is the Ronald McDonald House here in Falls Church, Va right behind the hospital. It's a relief to be out of the 5th floor stockade, but, I'm required to stay with Eric until someone comes to relieve me.... so that I can go back to work, clean house, meet with DSS and other authorities. Eric is sleeping soundly. He looks like he's glad to be out of that 15x15 pillbox.
The situation is really tough for Robert (aka HerrBearen) and his son Eric (aka Bearic). It seems that no one in his town is helping him - people promise to help or say things like, "If there's anything we can do...", but balk at actually DOING anything.
Added to that is the financial situation. On 23rd October:
Also, some of the first statements are coming in. This one was for 14xx.00 with 950.00 allowable claim and 550.00 not allowed. This was only for the 8th of October. I'm going to dread seeing the other bills/statements.
Since I don't think any of us live close enough to HerrBearen to help with the sanitising of the house, etc.,
I ask that you do what you can practically. Of course give prayers and good thoughts, but to be honest, he's got lots of those happening already. And so far the practical help has been very, very short.
If you can help by donating - even if it's just a little bit of money - I think that will be a validation of prayer and good thoughts. "Faith without works is dead"... so please, I'm serious.
If you can only afford a couple of dollars, that's something. I know that HerrBearen cannot even begin to express how devastating this is for him - the emotional beating he and his son are taking, and then all of the practical nitty-gritties they've got to take care of.
HerrBearen has a Paypal account. If you also have a Paypal account (and most of us have), you can donate just by going
here, logging in to your account, clicking on to Send Money, and entering the email address of the person to whom you're sending money as:
rrbeatty@starpower.netIf you'd like to email HerrBearen, you can do so at that email address, too. Just email him at
rrbeatty@starpower.net to send him an email and find out how Eric's doing.
Thank you.
Please help out in any way that you can. Thank you.
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