On Tuesday I took Cat to the hospital, to (as it turns out) get a biopsy of her cervix - she's been having abnormal pap smears for a couple of years, and the viral infection (some version of HPV) has apparently taken a serious turn. From what the doctor said, they're expecting to find a 'pre-cancerous' lesion, which should be removable via a LEEP operation - a fairly minor outpatient procedure, we're told. Well, far better to have it treated and removed before it turns into a cancer, I guess.
Which, parenthetically, just made me goggle in abhorred wonder at all the nutcase parents in the US who are vowing and declaring never to let their teenage daughters be innoculated against HPV, despite its effect at reducing cervical cancer. The basis for this seems to officially be that being innoculated against a sex-born virus will just encourage them to have sex, and if they only have sex with the one man they ever marry, they will be in no danger of contracting HPV.
Which may be true, IF their husband has never had sex with anyone at all ever, either. And assuming they never divorce and remarry, or - heaven forbid - have an affair while married.
In fact, as far as I can detect, the real reason for this refusal is a far more visceral patriarchal reaction of 'Eewww, lady-parts, yukky!' .... which actually pretty much describes the reaction of these nuts to most female-related issues.
Enough hypocrisy and rank deception to choke a hippo, really.
Oh, and speaking of hypocrisy, we have this little fiasco in Louisiana at the moment too: Experts now estimate that five times more oil has been spilling into the water from that oil rig explosion off the coast of Louisiana than they thought before:
Okay. Here's how much they estimated was leaking before this evening: 42,000 gallons a day.
Five times that amount means approximately 210,000 gallons a day have been leaking into the Gulf.
If this spill continues unabated for two months — and that seems to be the most likely time frame at this point — we're talking about 12.6 million gallons.
Exxon Valdez? That was 10.8 million.
Enjoy your evening.
1 comment:
Hi Phil,
Thanks for update on Cat, and hope everything goes well.
Haven't got access to mail at moment, so while I get a minute, here's an update on Mum.
Fluid is being reduced, she's lost 5.6kgs since Friday. However, she has picked up a hospital bug and they have moved her into isolation. The bug has no symptoms for her, except her body loses its resistance a bit so they isolate her so she doesn't pick up germs from staff or visitors. The staff have to gown/mask/glove up but visitors don't as long as they wash hands and don't come into body contact with her.
Expected discharge date is Monday 10 May, so we'll give you a call when shes back home as it is easier for her to hear you.
Location is: Bed 27, Ward 5 South, Wellington Regional Hospital, Riddiford St, Wgtn.
If you want to send her something for Mother's Day she would love another orchid - the one you gave her for birthday is on its last legs - caregivers at home haven't done very well looking after it - but we now have instructions from a gardener about what we need to do next time, so hopefully we can keep it alive. If you can't find an orchid, anything is fine.
Love
Di
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