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Welcome to the Just Plain Folks forums! You are currently viewing our forums as a Guest which gives you limited access to most of our discussions and to other features.
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Nothing
by JAPOV - 05/01/26 04:06 PM
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For Dom
by JAPOV - 04/30/26 09:52 PM
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Al, So sorry to hear about your situation... Sending you nothing but the best from up here. No worries about our collab... take care of what's most important first...
Greg
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HIDee SideGuy & Mz Helen!
I'll add to the Prayers, & keep my fingers crossed. As I search for more words of hope, all that spills out this AM is you two've been a Stellar Example of what Marriage is All-About...& when ya said "I Do"..you Did. All a Guy & Gal can Do.
Your love for each other remains Inspirational. So sorry this is such a tough time for yas...but I know your love will carry ya through it.
Big Prayerful Hugs & Best Wishes, Stan
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Alan & Helen,
My thoughts are with you from across the world! Love
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When trials and troubles come your way The best thing you can do is pray For the Father knows and He cares In His wisdom He will answer prayers
Sorry to hear about Helen's sickness, I will remember you both in my prayers.
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Hi Alan, So sorry to hear about it. Prayers going out to Helen now. Be comforted.
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Gosh Alan
Kind of all stunned by this news.... so sorry --- My Hugs to you -- I hope there's some good news coming for you.
Thinking of you both jm
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Hi Al,
Prayers and well wishes being sent your way.
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Dear Sweet Alan, You have been taking care of your lovely wife for so very long. She has been enduring the ups and downs of ill health for so long. I know that it is always a question to God during these moments of "Why this?" or "Why Helen?" There are answers to these questions, but they often not readily seen.
What is readily seen is your love and devotion to each other. That is a precious gift which springs eternally from two souls.
In these most difficult times, it is that very love which lifts us up. It is that very love which endures.
I am praying for you both. There is nothing more difficult to face than these times when our loved ones go through pain and despair. You have always been a champion in these many battles. You are a most stellar husband.
Keep us informed.
Blessings, Heidi
"And, in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." Paul McCartney
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Just got back from my mid-day hospital visit. We still don't know a lot more than we did yesterday. Helen did have one scary episode, though. Just as she finished eating her lunch, she started moderately convulsing and then lost her vision for about 30 seconds. The convulsions stopped as her vision returned...a total of 45 seconds for the entire episode.
Helen has had isolated incidents of minor convulsions and has chronic trembling, the trembling due to her advanced MS...it's not Parkinsons. But, she has never before expereinced a loss of vision with the convulsions. That was pretty scary.
Of course with convulsions, the first thing that comes to mind is a high fever. Hers was 99.1...pretty close to normal. So, there's something new to throw into the quiagmire of symptons.
I told Helen about all your kind comments. She said to tell you thank you and hopses to make it to the JPF Awards show in August. I, too, thank you and hope that we can make the show. Will be back when I know more. Thanks again, folks.
PS: While I was at the hospital a little while ago, the 14 year-old neighbor boy cut my grass for me. How cool is that??!!
Alan
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that was totally cool, Alan. You and Helen are beloved by many. 
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Prayers are still coming your way....glyn
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While I was at the hospital a little while ago, the 14 year-old neighbor boy cut my grass for me. How cool is that??!!
No cooler than you, Alan. Got my fingers crossed for you and Helen. Tell her the other guy got voted out, so she doesn't have to do this anymore... Poor thing. She's tough as nails. Best wishes, Alan! -Mark
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Al
I can't say I'll add Helen and you to my prayers as you have never left them. But I will pray harder. She is very strong inside and if anyone can pull themselves out she can.
Bless both of you!
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Got my heart pouring out prayers and my fingers crossed. Send Helen big hugs and let us know how it's going.
"And, in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." Paul McCartney
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Awake and eating? Sounds like a positive sign Alan. We be huggin' buddy. Stay strong.
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Helen there's no tellin just how much your sweet Al loves ya, How he's always thinkin' of ya, There's just no way to measure. But I'm sure you know it's frequent, likes he takes a breath for breathin', Cause you give his life such meanin', For you're his one true treasure!
Prayers for Helen's health, Lynn
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Al,
We are with you in spirit, and hope you can take a tiny comfort in knowing we are thinking of you and Helen.
Praying for the best,
Letha
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My Sister-in-law has MS, she is in a nursing home now. That disease has so many symptoms with different people. Lately she has been lapsing into a coma for days at a time, hearing everything going on around her but not being able to wake up. I feel for you and Helen, life seems so unfair at times, but we can't see the whole picture, God can.
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Hi Everyone, I've just been thinking alot about Alan and Helen today.Was wondering if if anyone knew of a way that would make it possible to send flowers to the hospital to let them both know how much we care.I dont know Helen,but Alan has been so kind to me,and I feel so sad for both of them.Maybe there is a way that an account could be set up for anyone who would like to pitch in to send flowers.I do not know how to begin to set up something like that,and of course ,someone would need to know the info of the hospital......Does anyone think that this would be possible? Michelle
*****You know I'm a dreamer,but my heart's of gold*****Motley Crue
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Hey Everyone!
I just brought Helen home form the hospital. They never did find out what was wrong with her. She's better but not fully well. Helen takes 17 different meds (she has for several years...to the tune of $8,800.00+ per month) plus she has to self-inject in her belly three times a week for her MS. They have talen her off of three of her meds. Quoting the doctor "We still aren't real sure what caused your wife's problems. we're taking her off of three of her prescription meds. We'll see of that makes a difference." That's what we found out after four days of testing!
Anyway, thank you so much for all your kind thoughts, prayers and wishes.
Michelle, that was so kind of you to think of sending Helen flowers. But she is home now. Your thoughtfulness is greatly apprecviated!
Thanks again, everyone!
Alan
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Hi Alan, I'm happy to know that Helen is back at home with you.I will continue to pray for you both.I do hope that stopping these medications will resolve the problems that caused her trip to the hospital. Michelle
*****You know I'm a dreamer,but my heart's of gold*****Motley Crue
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Everett,
Thank you for your kind words and for the prayers. And yes, MS has so many different symptoms. Each patient has his/her ownset of symptoms from the many. As you so well know, some of them are pretty nasty. We'll add your sister-in-law to ours prayers.
Alan
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Alan, So good to know that Helen is now home and safe. Bless you both.
Heidi
"And, in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." Paul McCartney
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I hope that Helen continues to heal as much as possible. glad that she is home with you. Sometimes love can fix what medicine can't.
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So Sorry. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Alan
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Gosh, Alan, Every time I see this thread bumped, my heart goes straight to my throat.  Continuing to send positive energy to you two resilient and loving people, Beth
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Really sad to hear. Will remember to pray about this.
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Hi Al,
I am glad to know that Helen is back home.
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are still with you both.
Gail
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Alan,
I know this is so hard on you also, my prayers and best wishes are still going out to your and your sweet wife Helen, and will continue to keep you both in my prayers..How are you holding up during this.....you are always in my thoughts...glyn
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Alan, I'd been wondering about Helen lately and just noticed this thread today. She is a tough old bird. You two are in my prayers. As much as asking for anything I thank God for the light you shine.
In Christ, John
Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword never had an editor.
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I am so pleased Helen is home again. All those meds are likely causing her problems.
I was talking to a person a while back who told me this story. Her Aunt was on 19 different pill, she ended up in hospital on her death bed, her family was called in to say their last goodbyes. One member of the family could not make it till a day later, when she showed up, her Aunt was sitting up in bed quite chipper, "I thought you were dying" said the visitor, "I was" said the Aunt, " but the young Doctor here in the hospital took away all but four of the pills I was on, now I feel fine". Would certainly make you think twice would it not.
I ended up in hospital with a fast heart beat, when I came home I was on five pills, I took myself off one immediately, I continued taking the rest and a month later I ended up in hospital again, this time one of my pills was cut back from 100mg to 12.5 mg, which I broke in half,taking half the dose, then I started to feel better. Taking what the Doctor gave me, which was way too strong, was what put me in hospital the second time.
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Good on Helen being home Not my call, but I'm with Everett on the pills. Same thing happened to my daughter in law on a less drastic scale Wy
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Al,
I'll be praying for you and Helen as well. Sometimes I don't think the doctors have good literature or there's been no research on the coctails of medications they give people. You've both battled this for such a long time, I know there are probably days when you are just sick of it. I hope someday they find a cure for MS.
Glad Helen is at least home from the hospital where she can rest comfortably.
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Hi Al,
Sorry I have been so far out of the loop. I am glad she is back home with you and out of the hospital. More often than not folks do better at home anyway.
She's very lucky to have you my friend. I hope we all have someone 1/100th as dedicated to us as you have been with her.
Brian (using my own better halfs computer down in Texas)
Linda Whitney Projects Director Just Plain Folks
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Thanks to all of you. Your kindness, concern and affection from JPF Family Members is a blessing and a treat in and of itself. A special thanks to Linda for dropping in as she so seldom gets a chance. Iappreciate that!
As far as the pills, I tyhink there might be something to that. On the 28th and 31st of this month we have appointments with our family physician and Helen's neurologist to discuss that very thing, among other topics. The doctor at the hospital took her off of three drugs. She thought they might be working against one another. We'll see how much differemce that makes.
Thanks again everyone! You're much too kind.
Let's now direct our concerns to Louis Twinn's daughter, SheiAnn. If you haven't heard, at the young age of 32 she had a massive heart attack. Ferom what I hear, she is struggling but has shown some improvement. Let's focus on her, now. Helen and I are over our immediate crisis. Louis's dughter and their family need all the emotional and spiritual help we can offer.
Here's thanking all of you and hoping and praying for SheiAnn.
Alan
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Alan,
Jesus...that shows you how briefly I fly through here,I had no idea! I am truly sorry,I KNOW this will turn around sir!....I KNOW it will!!
I will send the positive to Louis!!!!
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Alan, here are my prayers for your wife. Your concern for Louis's daughter is tyical of you - a true gentleman.
Tom
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Al, Please let us know how Helen is doing and what they said about the pills. It is always a roulette game when there are so many different types of medications involved.
Thinking of you both, Heidi
"And, in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." Paul McCartney
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Al, My prayers, thoughts and best wishes for both you and your wife Helen during this time of trial and uncertainty. I found a beautiful song which will hopefully bless and encourge you. It's a modern version of a classic hymn, Be Still My Soul by Selah you can freely watch on YouTube. Be Still My Soul Be still my soul the Lord is on your side Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain Leave to thy God to order and provide In every change He faithful will remain Be still my soul thy best thy heavenly friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. Oh be still my soul the waves and winds still know Still know... His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below. Oh what peace we often forfeit Oh what needless pain we bear All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer. Be still my soul. [Selah]
There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself. -- Johann Sebastian Bach MichaelBorges.comLicenseQuote.com
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Thanks for everything, everyone. And the song is beautiful, Micjael...thanks!
Helen is doing reasonably good. She had a tywo-day stress test yesrday and today. Since Helen is permanently ibn a wheelchair now, they had to do a chemical stress test. we should have the results of that one day next week. A week from today she has an appointment with her neurologist, at which time they will have an in-depth discussion of Helen's medications. The staff neurologist at the hos[pital took her off Morphine and Wellbutrin. Dr. Faber, her personal neurologist was okay with that; but she wants to do a complete review of the medications.
Helen has asked me to express her appreciation for all the kind thoughts, prayers and affection from all of you. I, too, appreciate that.
Since Helen is doing better and getting additional medical review, may I suggest we direct our prayers and positive thoughts to Louis Twinn's daughter? Your kindness and good wishes have helped Helen clear some initial hurdles. Hopefully we can do the same for ShieAnn.
Thank you again.
Alan
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Oh dear. Al, I'm so sorry there are still continuing problems and such difficult trials. Definitely you are both in my prayers. Hugs to you -
Linda
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Linda,
Good to see ya on the boards. We've missed you!
And thank you for your very kind thoughts and your prayers for Helen. She is doing better, almost back to her usual...which would be scary for most people but is the norm for us.
Hope you have settled in in the Bay area. And here's wishing you everything good.
Alan
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You and your wife are in our prayers tonight.
Stay strong.
Virginia
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Hi Alan:
So glad to hear that Helen is almost back to her usual self. Thanks for letting us know!
Scott
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Alan,
Sending some more positive thoughts to you and your wife...glad to read she is doing better...
Kristi
A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be. -- Abraham Maslow, American Psychologist
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So Glad Helen is feeling better, Al.... Please give her an extra hug.... Kaley 
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Al, is there a special treat Helen loves and is allowed to have? If so tell me and I'll see about bringing some over for her (homemade of course).
let me know, John
Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword never had an editor.
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Virginia (nice to meet you!), Ben, Scott, Kristi and Kaley...
Thanks so much for taking a minute of your valuable time to pass on your thoughts. Helen and I appreciate it so very much!
John,
I'll get back to you in a bit on that. What a considerate offer! For those who might not know, John and I live just a few miles apart.
Thanx again to all. John, check back this evening!
Alan
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