God has been very good to me this day.

[osan]

One of my best friends, Michael Kent Starling, has been in the hospital going on three weeks now. He has metastacised squamous cell cancer to the lungs, bones, and liver. Being stubborn, he refused to go to a doctor a year ago. Finally, so degraded, his wife called 911 and they took him away, protesting every step.

He spent almost two weeks in the CPICU at Memorial hospital in Charleston WV, one of the finest facilities of its kind in the United States. He was released to a normal room two days ago and underwent surgery to install a feeding tube. It did not go well and until yesterday at about 6 PM when I left the hospital, he was on a ventilator, the prospects for life ebbing quickly.

Bibi, my boss, took Bonnie, Mike's wife and boss, to church this morning and then to the hospital. Lo and behold she called me, letting me know that Mike was off the ventilator and breathing on his own.

I cannot find the words to express the thanks for this almost impossible turn of events. God has been very kind to me and I wanted to acknowledge it publicly, a habit in which I am not commonly given. But this was so important to me - my stress and my dread at losing my good friend has been very hard on me. When Bibi told me, all I could do was cry and feel like a fool, but not caring because someone I love took a very important step away from a fate for which he is not yet ready.

Pardon my personal intrusion, this this one is really important to me and I hope you will all indulge it.

Thanks.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

It can be a tremendous relief when someone recovers against the odds.

 

[sparebulb]

I'm very happy that your friend is doing better.

I don't acknowledge this nearly as much as I should, but God is good to us every day.

 

[Anti Globalist]

Good to know your friend is doing better.

 

[unknown]

Bless.

 

[unknown]

Going on a ventilator is frightening.

For most people, it's a death sentence.

 

[luctor-et-emergo]

I'm happy to hear my friend. True happiness is a great thing, true friendship a greater one. Having experience with great losses, I am happy for you brother. There's no need for a pardon, I think were all increased our happiness from your sharing.

 

[Anti Federalist]

Your friend, Michael Kent Starling, will be in my prayers.

I will pray for his healing.

 

[osan]

Thanks for all the god wishes.

Sadly, Mike left the world last night. I am sad and relieved all at once. The end came quickly and without pain. It could have been far worse.

It has been an unpleasant three or four weeks. A week ago Millie, our Rhodesian, killed our barn cat. I found four babies in one of the out-buildings. I've been raising them since. Last night they were all on the bed with me, sleeping, when one fell off or jumped and Millie killed her. I think she was trying to play. This happened right around the time Mike spirited away to the far flung unknown. I've not slept all night for being so upset about it, and despite double doses of BP meds, my diastole was just under 100 this morning, a wailing migraine the cherry on top. On way to chiro to get unbent, Mike's youngest son and my "little brother" Steve called as I was driving. The moment I saw his name on the display I pretty well knew the news.

This is the sort of cascade failure at which I suck dealing. Bibi's in Germany and here I sit in this house. I know it will pass, but boy is it a tough thing for me because I am weak and stupid where these things are concerned.

All my self-absorption aside, Mike Starling is my best friend. He kept my head from exploding more times than I would like to admit. He was a PhD chemist who ran the real-time computing for all of Union Carbide. He literally changed the way the world works in a non-trivial sense. He was a true lover of liberty, a fellow gun nut, pilot, blacksmith, and hot rodder. He has a 550hp AC Cobra parked in his garage and a semi-complete GT40 on stands. His company was something that kept me sane, possibly even alive at times, and no matter what a dumbass I may have been at any given time with all the noises in my head, he was always gentle in dealing with MY problems.

I have no idea what I'm going to do, now that my world is become so much the poorer.

For anyone with the inclination and opportunity, raise a glass to a man who was in so many ways extraordinary. Of all those in my life, he would appreciate it most.

 

[jmdrake]

Thanks for all the god wishes.

Sadly, Mike left the world last night. I am sad and relieved all at once. The end came quickly and without pain. It could have been far worse.

It has been an unpleasant three or four weeks. A week ago Millie, our Rhodesian, killed our barn cat. I found four babies in one of the out-buildings. I've been raising them since. Last night they were all on the bed with me, sleeping, when one fell off or jumped and Millie killed her. I think she was trying to play. This happened right around the time Mike spirited away to the far flung unknown. I've not slept all night for being so upset about it, and despite double doses of BP meds, my diastole was just under 100 this morning, a wailing migraine the cherry on top. On way to chiro to get unbent, Mike's youngest son and my "little brother" Steve called as I was driving. The moment I saw his name on the display I pretty well knew the news.

This is the sort of cascade failure at which I suck dealing. Bibi's in Germany and here I sit in this house. I know it will pass, but boy is it a tough thing for me because I am weak and stupid where these things are concerned.

All my self-absorption aside, Mike Starling is my best friend. He kept my head from exploding more times than I would like to admit. He was a PhD chemist who ran the real-time computing for all of Union Carbide. He literally changed the way the world works in a non-trivial sense. He was a true lover of liberty, a fellow gun nut, pilot, blacksmith, and hot rodder. He has a 550hp AC Cobra parked in his garage and a semi-complete GT40 on stands. His company was something that kept me sane, possibly even alive at times, and no matter what a dumbass I may have been at any given time with all the noises in my head, he was always gentle in dealing with MY problems.

I have no idea what I'm going to do, now that my world is become so much the poorer.

For anyone with the inclination and opportunity, raise a glass to a man who was in so many ways extraordinary. Of all those in my life, he would appreciate it most.

My condolences. I have heard that sometimes people will have one last rally before they pass on. Maybe it's a way to get affairs in order and say final goodbyes. Regardless it sounds like you both blessed each other.