Do You Know Who

Yes.

^^^ 'Normal' cancer cells would eventually die whenever they tried to grow them, if I remember correctly... the mutation that allows the HeLa cells to grow unchecked is pretty rare, right?? that's why there are so few truly 'immortal' cell lines?

I had not heard of her before this thread, but I have not delved into this realm before. Now, I do know who she is and I may pick up the book suggested.

So really, how did you get on to the topic when the CDC called? Was it an interesting conversation?

I haven't read the book, but I knew who she was. 

If doctors and researchers could learn anything from me, I'd gladly volunteer it and have before. Whatever keeps fewer people from having to go through what I've gone through. 

When I was a patient at U of M in Michigan, I was asked to be an example for a class--the students asked questions and examined me to try to figure out what my condition was as part of a rotation. It was really interesting. 

I also get asked by the cardiology department to let everyone come in a see what a bubble study SHOULD look like. A bubble study is when they shoot saline through my system that has had thousands of tiny little bubbles added. I had the POF hole in my heart patched with a little gortex and wire device that the body then scars over, closing the hole. Sometime the hole doesn't patch over perfectly, so when the bubbles go into one heart chamber, they'll pass through the patch. I scar very easily and thickly, so no bubbles at all go across. So anytime the cardiologists check to make sure that the patch is still scarred over right, they get really excited. So I wind up having the whole department line up to see it in person. 

I already have the IV, and it's just saline. The bubbles do feel weird. It's like that effervescent feeling in your nose when you sniff a glass of carbonated soda that is all bubbling up with foam. Except you can feel it in your brain. It's pleasant, not bad weird, and the nurses and doctors are so excited.

Anytime I'm in the hospital, all the nurses want to hear my mitral valve click as well. It doesn't bother me, but it's really easy to hear. They tell me that once they know what it's supposed to sound like, it's easier to hear on other people. Doesn't hurt me, helps them. Why not? 

I also had my doctors at the Mayo Clinic send my pancreatitis tests to the surgeon who did my gallbladder removal. He didn't do anything wrong--there was no reason to think that my anatomy was different. I really admired how concerned he was about me and did everything he could to help me get better--instead of clamming up and being afraid that I'd sue him. (lots of people told me I should) He mostly wanted to know what went wrong so he'd know how to keep that from happening again. I did run into him a couple years later. He was so happy I was doing better, and he told me that ever since, he'd always looked for the anatomical difference I had. He'd recently operated on a girl about my age, and she had it, too. And because I'd made the doctors send him all my files, he knew what to look for. So she didn't have a bile leak, get painful scar tissue, or develop pancreatitis. 

I've lost a lot of people I love to horrible diseases. I really admire those who donate their bodies and volunteer for clinical trials, etc. Sometimes it's not about just what can help us personally. It's about making life easier for other people, even people we'll never meet.

Forgive my ignorance, but why is the "Don't tread on me" poster about? Isn't that a battle cry from the revolutionary war against the British?

Yes. I read the book.

Yes I do.

Yes!

I have read (and don't quote me on this because I can't remember where) is that in the 10 years or so that the flag has been co-opted by some of the more in the fringe groups to signify their concerns that the government has strayed too far from the original intent as set up by the founding fathers. Think the Clive Bundy types. Not that it's an overtly racist symbol, more of an anti-government one.

But.

It wasn't really seen that way until president Obama was elected and was thought to be a closet Muslim who sided with terrorists and was going to circumvent all the rules and turn the US into a socialist country.

That is my understanding though. I wouldn't jump to the automatic assumption that it is a racist symbol, because that wasn't the feeling I got from what I read, but definitely one where I would definitely have questions about their political leanings...

I know what "Don't Tread On Me" means. I was just confused why you were so offended by it.  It sounds like you weren't sure why you were offended by it either so whatever.