is a FAMILY FRIENDLY web publication featuring an eclectic mix of (hopefully) humorous stories, answers to (mostly children's) questions, interesting news topics and odd or eccentric viewpoints and opinions. Basically we cover anything that interests me (aka Grandpa Oddball). If you have a question or topic you'd like to see covered click on our ask or suggest links. If you have a news item you'd like to share or if you have alternate viewpoints or opposing views to our opinion pieces that you'd like to submit click on our submit link. We're not proud and will consider any family friendly inquiry.

ENJOY your EXPERIENCE

My Medical Condition

Unfortunately I have a number of medical conditions starting with Multiple Sclerosis with I have had to deal with for over twenty years. Having a wheelchair helps somewhat but essentially I only have the use of one hand and that hand is becoming less useful every day. On top of that about five years ago my pancreas exploded and the pancreatic digestive juices started gushing into my central body cavity where they proceeded to eat or digest my internal organs! As you might imagine this produced a number of complications - far too many to list here. Suffice it to say that I nearly died several times and currently am still fighting for my life.

Important 2010 Update: Good news !!!

I appear to have won my pancreas fight. The Doctors have removed the last drain tube in my back and have stopped day to day supervision of my condition. It looks like the experimental radiation treatments I had earlier this summer finally did the trick. Finally, after six long years, I am no longer constrained to hospitals, nursing homes or even to our local geographic area. In short I'm free !!

We still need to monitor my condition in case of a relapse and I still need some expensive drugs to survive but all in all things are looking up. I do get tired very easily since the radiation treatments but I'm slowly recovering from them too.

I'm leaving the rest of this page intact for historical reasons and because people have requested the information but we (Grandma Oddball and me) are doing much better.

Thanks for all your support.

Of course all these medical bills were expensive and effectively depleted our savings. So far we've had insurance to help cover our expenses but it is still a strain. We're not sure what we will do when our savings run out and we lose our medical insurance. Even with insurance my medical condition is expensive with hospital or nursing home costs running upwards of $500./day, home heath care greater than $100./day, and more than $600./month for medicines plus expenses incurred during my frequent surgeries and subsequent recovery periods.

That's why this web site, while it is effective mental therapy, is also a luxury item for us. Hopefully you'll find it interesting enough to help support the effort. If not, well I guess it will just die.