Back in a day or two

By Kevin C. Tofel | Sunday, August 17, 2008 | 1:21 PM CT | 72 comments |


Just a brief, personal note to pass along. I’ll likely be a little scarce around these parts for at least the next day or two. Barb, my fiancée, woke up early Thursday morning with a headache that brought her to tears. After a few days of trying to manage the pain unsuccessfully, we hit the E.R. of our local hospital yesterday afternoon. After a CAT scan and blood tests didn’t turn anything up, a lumbar puncture did. We’re working through viral meningitis and will likely be here in the hospital until Tuesday.If you can spare a warm thought for Barbara, I would appreciate it. Oh, before anyone thinks this is a totally off-topic post: I wrote this using the TypePad client in my iPhone. The hospital is pretty protective of their air-space and won’t let me fire up my EV-DO modem for the UMPC. Now it’s back to figuring put how to drink my WaWa coffee with this goofy surgical mask on. My most humble thanks in advance for your thoughts and understanding.

Comments (72)

  • Keeping Barbara and you in my thoughts and prayers Kevin—all the best and if you need anything give a shout.

    Dave

    Dave Rakowski — 7:33 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Rich blessing and a quick recovery! You’re in my prayers.

    Dion Forster7:39 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Kevin,

    My thoughts and prayres are with you and your fiance. I hope all goes well and she recovers quickly.

    David aka DaveTN

    David — 7:46 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • I had a family member down last week with viral meningitis and I have no idea why you’d need to stay at the hospital so long. Best of wishes towards a fast recovery though. ;)

    Bryan7:48 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • I’m here for you dude. Get well Barb!

    JK7:50 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Prayers and warm thoughts for Barb, and for you too, Kevin.

    Warner Crocker7:52 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • good luck, and maybe find a box of straws for the coffee…

    turn.self.off — 8:04 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Hoping for the best and a quick recovery!

    maceyr (of Palmdiscovery.com)8:06 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Best wishes for a qucik recovery!

    playcentric — 8:18 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Take care Kevin, the blogging can wait!

    Gavin Miller8:28 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Wishing Barb a speedy recovery! Also, take care of yourself.

    Jezlyn — 8:31 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Barb, Kevin and family, my thoughts and prayers are with you for a speedy recovery.

    Steve Simmons8:32 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Oh no! Best wishes…. I really enjoy the site and wish you and your family well :-)

    Ryan — 8:33 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Best wishes Barbara… looking forward to a post real soon that everything is fine.

    Stephen Feger8:37 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Best wishes and hope everything works out. Stay close and ask many questions, and don’t feel bad about it one bit, hospitals are not like they used to be unfortunately. Keep track of everything and I say that due to some of the advocacy advice I tell all. Hope Barbara is out of the hospital soon!

    Barbara Duck8:43 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Hey Kevin and Barb,
    My thoughts and warm wishes are with you – I hope that you both take the time that you need to get Barb better, and to stop Kevin from getting sick/stressed out himself!

    Take care.

    Patrick — 8:53 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Best to your fiancee, Kevin – my prayers are with both of you. BTW, was that you disembarking with the US track cycling team in Bejing? Hmmmm…..

    Richard Garrett — 8:56 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • I wish you both the best.

    Charles — 8:58 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Best wishes. You might want to bring her fresh food from outside. Hospital “food” is lethal.

    Mike Cane9:05 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Barb, you are in my prayers (you were before for having to put up with Kev).

    I wish you the speediest of recoveries and I know that Kev will be doing all he can to keep you comfortable in the meantime.

    Philip Ferris9:16 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Best wishes for a painless speedy recovery for Barb. All of us here in the JKONTHERUN community recognize that her support of your blogging has improved our lives.

    Having spent way too much time visiting parents in the hospital, I echo the suggestions that you must be both an emotional advocate for Barb but also an administrative advocate to make sure the proper meds are given, at the proper time, etc, etc, etc.

    The folks who were there at generally good hearted folks who are spread too thin by our corporate and government attempts to ’save money’ with health care.

    Regular Reader — 9:24 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Hope Barb gets well soon!

    PJE — 9:31 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Kevin

    Best wishes for Barb and you. Your priorities are right. Work and coffee can wait.

    Lee, regular reader — 9:40 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Best wishes to both of you, hoping for a speedy recovery. JG.

    jg — 9:48 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Barb,

    Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Sounds painful and distressing, but it also sounds like you’re in good hands.

    Kevin,

    keeping the faith with you.

    Steve

    bluespapa — 9:59 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Get well soon! Speedy recovery.

    Robt10:00 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Kevin, you don’t need to worry about being OT on an issue like this. Not to be corny, but we are a community, so your issue touches us all.

    Genghis Khent10:33 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • My prayers go out to you both, for a speedy & safe recovery!

    Paul S, UK

    Paul Schofield — 10:37 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • My prayers go out to you both, for a speedy & safe recovery!

    Paul S, UK

    Paul Schofield — 10:37 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Please tell Barb I’m thinking about her and wishing her a quick recovery from this.

    Dave Zatz10:39 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Get well Barb, we’ll pray for you ;)

    Jose — 10:46 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Channeling happy thoughts and good karma Barb’s way. And yours. And the kids. And the pets.

    Woadan

    Woadan — 10:48 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Kevin I will keep both Barb and you in my thoughts and prayers. Let’s hope for a quick and full recovery for Barb.
    Best Regards,
    Tony

    Tony Estes — 11:04 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Being sick is almost harder on the loved ones who can only sit by and watch. My prayers for a speedy recovery are for both of you.

    Pam T. — 11:10 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Sending warm thoughts and big hugs to both of you; I hope Barb is better soon!!

    Judie11:16 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Man … best wishes, from this side of the pound.
    It will turn out ok, since it’s virical (bacteria would be problematic, if I’m not mistaked).

    Mal, Portugal

    Mal, Portugal — 11:26 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • A speedy and full recovery to your wife. And I hope the hospital has a good cafe for you.

    Gordon

    Gordon Cahill — 11:32 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Best wishes for a quick and painless recovery. Take care!

    Jenn11:53 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Best wishes to you and Barbara.

    Xavier11:58 AM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • What there’s no Starbucks in the hospital? ;) Get well soon!

    jasen — 12:37 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Best wishes to you both

    scottyb — 12:46 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Here’s another get well wish for your fiancee, hope she gets home soon! And don’t worry about being OT, that is what makes jkontherun different and interesting to read.

    Jalapeno — 12:48 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Get well soon, Barbara!

    Somename — 12:58 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • My thought are with Barbara and you, Kevin.

    tnkgrl1:17 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • My thoughts and prayers are with Barbara and you Kevin. Hope the recovers soon and all is well.

    tyorkca2:07 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Kevin,

    Just focus now on taking care of Barb and yourself.

    All the best for a speedy recovery!

    ArchiMark — 2:32 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Barb and your family will be in my prayers. Thanks for sharing during this tough time.

    Demetri — 2:42 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Hi Kevin,

    I’m sending good thoughts and wishing Barb a speedy recovery.

    Linda

    Linda A. Epstein5:18 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Here’s to a speedy recovery for your significant other. Get well soon Barbara.

    Andy Petty — 5:21 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • My best wishes to the both of you.

    Jenniffer — 6:39 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Well, like everybody I wish to Barbara a speedy recovering, and I will say it in french (as I am french) : Je souhaite à Barbara un prompt rétablissement ! Bisous à vous deux. Cordialement,
    Yann

    xnnc — 8:44 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • ~ get well soon ~

    monkey2nut — 10:05 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Get well soon Barbara – thinking of you both :O)

    Jon Dee — 10:45 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Yes, get well soon and all the best of luck!! good job in catching it early too as Menengitis is not good stuff :(

    CDNRower11:12 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Wow, just saw this post this morning. I hope Barbara is doing well soon. Hang tight, Kevin, it sounds like you caught it soon enough.

    Nitin Badjatia11:53 PM on August 17, 2008 Reply

  • Kevin, take good care of Barbara. Our best wishes for a speedy recovery, and don’t worry about a thing. We’ll be waiting for you to tell us all about it afterwards.

    Fernando — 12:14 AM on August 18, 2008 Reply

  • I hope Barbara gets well soon. Keep us posted on her progress Kevin.

    JR — 1:01 AM on August 18, 2008 Reply

  • Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.

    Between you and the Rushway’s, blogging it looking a little dangerous. Is it from hanging out in Starbucks?! Sorry for the levity – I do wish everything turns out well.

    D.

    David Zeller — 1:14 AM on August 18, 2008 Reply

  • Best wishes for Barbara’s recovery but you know how Women are just before they get married: she’s probably just testing you. ;-)

    I’m amazed they’re letting you use your iPhone. When I was in the hospital with my ticker problem the nurse would come find me 30 seconds after I turned the iPhone on (jamming the EKG). I had to buy a Virgin Mobile $10 prepaid phone: CDMA doesn’t jam the medical equipment.

    Scotty — 1:23 AM on August 18, 2008 Reply

  • Hey, wishing you a speedy recovery from this side of the ocean.

    Be well.

    Jan — 2:19 AM on August 18, 2008 Reply

  • Hey Kevin,

    Just heard from a note at work. Best Wishes to Barb for a speedy recovery. If you need anything let me know.

    Nate from Barb’s workplace.

    Nate — 3:21 AM on August 18, 2008 Reply

  • Wishing you the all the best for a quick recovery. Get well soon!

    tabletenvy — 4:01 AM on August 18, 2008 Reply

  • Thinking good thoughts for Barb and for you, Kevin. Scary stuff – hope all is well soon for both of you.

    asiriusgeek — 4:19 AM on August 18, 2008 Reply

  • Whoa, hang in there, thinking about both of you. Hospitals generally suck, so here’s hoping the matter is resolved very quickly !

    borax99 (Alain C.) — 6:53 AM on August 18, 2008 Reply

  • That must be so hard to deal with. I can only imagine the stress and worry you must be going through. Here’s wishing you courage and fortitude.

    Paul — 9:28 AM on August 18, 2008 Reply

  • My online time is very limited, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you all how much we appreciate your heartfelt support. While Barb is still on IV antibiotics, things are looking up and we hope to be back home tomorrow or Wednesday. We should have a better feel for things in the morning and I’m glad to see that Barb is finally getting some needed sleep this very moment. We’ll still have to take things slowly once she’s released, but things are looking up. I have no doubt that the positive energy from this community has played a part. You know as well as I do that without Barb’s support for the last few years, I wouldn’t be sharing my passion for mobile tech with you. Thanks again for the support and patience!

    Kevin C. Tofel2:30 PM on August 18, 2008 Reply

  • Kevin, glad to hear that Barb is doing much better and hang in their, she will be better and you guys will soon be at home doing what you guys doing best. Enjoying life together. My prayers for both of you guys and soon will see you posting.

    HG — 3:50 PM on August 18, 2008 Reply

  • Kevin,
    I am late in seeing this. I am so sorry to see that you are having this issue with Barb. I wish her well and know that all we be well. Just hang tough. Things are going to well for you guys to let a little Virus rain on this parade. Look forward to the Email that you are home and all is well
    Ron P

    Ron P — 10:57 PM on August 18, 2008 Reply

  • Thank you so much everyone for your support and prayers. It means the world to me to know this community is out there as part of our family. I’m doing better and so glad to be home. I’m extremely tired and weak but getting by.

    James and Sherri thank you for the flowers they are perfect.

    Most importantly thank you Kevin for being by my side the entire time. I can be a tough patient. My love for you grows stronger every day.

    Yes the hospital was tough and we did have some strange schedules to watch and the food well that might have been the reason why I didn’t eat anything – yuck food. At least Kev could get his Wawa.

    Thanks again everyone. Take care.

    Barb — 2:46 AM on August 20, 2008 Reply

  • Great to hear from you Barb and that you are home again,

    Philip Ferris5:53 AM on August 21, 2008 Reply

  • The Meningitis Foundation of America (MFA), a national organization, would like the public and media to know that information is available regarding the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of meningitis. MFA was founded by parents whose children were affected by meningitis. In addition to supporting vaccines and other means of preventing meningitis, the MFA provides information to educate the public and medical professionals so that the early diagnosis, treatment and, most important, prevention of meningitis, will save lives. Meningitis is a dangerous and sometimes fatal inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord that can leave survivors with serious life-long physical problems such as deafness, brain damage and other disabilities, meningitis can sometimes result in loss of limbs. MFA would like to be considered as a news resource for the disease. For further information, visit the MFA website at http://www.musa.org.

    MFA is proud to announce the new C.I.S.S. Container Identification Scratch System
    When we participate in sporting events or mingle at social gatherings it is possible to lose track of our water bottles and/or beverage cans, especially those served in containers that are very similar or identical to a container from which you are drinking. This carries the risk of transmitting an illness, such as meningitis or the common cold or flu. The Container Identification Scratch System, or C.I.S.S., is a fun way to make sure you always know your drink from others. Use it at sporting events or at a family gatherings and reduce the waste from forgotten drinks. Simply scratch your number from the C.I.S.S. label and identify your drink. For more information please contact Bob Gold at Ciss.bob@gmail.com and http://www.musa.org

    Thank you,

    Ms. Jamie Callahan, General Manager
    Meningitis Foundation of America
    212 W 10th Street, Suite B-330
    Indianapolis, IN 46202
    (800) 668-1129
    http://www.musa.org

    MUSAorg1:20 PM on August 23, 2008 Reply

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