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HyperDrive

Leave of Absence

66 posts in this topic

A few people within STSF already know of this, but I feel I should go ahead and make it public. Neither of my COs or XOs know about this hard decision I have been faced with, and this will be the first indication of it. When I can, I will stop back in to sim, but for the time being, my health has forced me to go into a Medical Leave of Absence.

 

Both of my simming characters (Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hewitt Demore & Ensign Christie Farron) will be on a leave of absence, or possibly (depending on my downtime), I will have to quit both my Sky Harbor Aegis sim and my USS Manticore sim.

 

On Saturday July 6, 2003, I suffered a seizure. Over the night of July 6 through the morning of July 7, I performed a CT scan. At our local hospital, the doctor in ER thought that, by one of the images he saw on the CT scan, I had suffered a stroke. Fortunately, this was not the case.

 

However, I did suffer seizure. The doctors could not find out why I had suffered the seizure, and I was sent to Louisville for better doctors, and better testing. It was here that I received an MRI/MRA. I did this around noon today, and I got the results back about an hour ago.

 

I went from [what was thought to be] a stroke (but it wasn't), to a seizure (which it was), and finally (after the MRI/MRA) came to what I actually had: a brain tumor behind my right temporal lobe. It took 2 days for the doctors to finally figure out what it was.

 

I should find out within the next few days (after a biopsy) whether the brain tumor is benign or not.

 

I hate asking people to feel sorry for me, but I do ask for prayers and hopes through this troubled time for myself and my family.

 

Thank you all.

 

Sincerely,

Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hewitt Demore

Ensign Christie Farron

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Hewitt,

 

I can only imagine how scarry this is.  But asking for help is a far cry from asking for pity.  I do know that the support of your friends and loved ones is going to be crucial for you going forward, and I'm glad you said something to us.

 

You definitely have my thoughts and prayers.  Make sure you keep us informed of your progress.  And don't hesitate to let us know when you need support.

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HD,

 

I cannot imagine what you are going through.  I sincerely hope and pray everything will go well.  I am certain everyone on Manticore and all of STSF will be wishing you a full recovery.

 

Precip

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I agree 100% with Moose.  If you are able to come and hang out with Manticore or the Wednesday Academy at any point inthe future, you KNOW that you are welcome.  If there is one thing STSF is founded on, it's the desire for all of us to escape our Real Life for an hour at a time.  If simming can take you someplace calm and safe (hmm, well then forget Dac's Academy, eh?) and Fun, then use it to it's fullest extent and let us know how you're doing.  Our thoughts are with you and your family.

 

-The Old Guy

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Thanks, guys.

 

Hopefully, within the next two or three days, I will have a biopsy. This is when they go into the brain, and take a sample of the tumor for study whether it is benign or not, and a few other things. They send it off for study while they are still inside the brain, so that if the results aren't bad, they can have the option of going ahead and cutting the tumor out, or going back at a later time (once again depending on what type the tumor is).

 

The time frame for all if this is a toss-up. It all depends on how the biopsy goes, and how long it takes me to recover.

 

Thank you all.

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You have my support.  Please keep me updated as you learn more.

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(hmm, well then forget Dac's Academy, eh?)

My academy might be just what HD needs, you know I just might give him ACTION rights for the hour!

 

 

A terribly uncertain time for you and your family, but we will all be sending positive thoughts and offering up prayers of healing for you.  For a bunch of nerds we have an incredibly big heart.  

 

God speed your recovery, Hewitt.

 

Dac

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HD,

 

My sincerest hopes for your speedy recovery.  We'll keep your seat warm for you and we'll be here whenever you want to return, for any reason.

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When my mother had her first seizure a few months ago, there was a verse that the Lord impressed upon my heart.  The verse is a very simple one and it is found in the book of John.  Christ says, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27 NKJV) This was a verse that I clung to as my mother was sent out 911.  Today, the long process to find out what's wrong is not over.  The tests continue and the struggle remains.  Yet, I cling to what I know, what I believe so strongly in.  I believe in prayer and the power behind it.

 In times like this, life is put into persepective.  It's amazing how easy to put simming away and focus on the things that are important in life, isn't it? Although I'm sure it was difficult, thank you for sharing this with us.  I can't speak for anyone else, but my prayers are behind you.  

 

~Grom's Player

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Best wishes, God speed, and lots of prayers for a full recovery.

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I couldn't agree with Moose more.

 

Asking for support is the right thing to do. Remember that you're never alone, rely on your friends and family and the people around you.

 

And of course you have my prayers.

~ STSF Lightning ~
Star Trek™ Simulation Forum Game Master (GM)

Saturday STSF Lounge Bartender

In the StarTrek.com Holodeck Chatroom

10:00 PM - 11:00 PM (Eastern)

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Pacific)

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Get Well HD. STSF won't be the same without you.

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I hate to see you go like this, even if for just a bit.  You've been here just as long as I have and You've been an inpseration since day 1.  Your one of the best people here, wether or not you want to admit it.  It's realy going to suck here with out you man, so get better quick.  And like Smith said, It isnt STSF with some guy named Hyper Drive running around.

 

~Kroells

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HD,

 

Best wishes for a speedy and quick recovery.  If you feel up to simming one night, stop on by our Academy, and we'll slide you into an SGV slot if you just want to play for a bit.

 

Stay positive with your prognosis. About 2 years ago, some of the folks here were kind enough to send well wishes when a close friend of mine had a very similar occurance, and the first doctor told him it was inoperable. He got a 2nd opinion, was able to have most of the tumor removed, and is back to his old self, simming, and inventing bigger and better monsters for us to battle.  It took him some time to be back up to it, so take your time, do what you can, and don't rush. We'll leave the light on for ya, and sending you our thoughts and best wishes. And, if you just want to talk, we're here for that as well. Feel free to email me anytime if you just want to chat, at [email protected]

 

Hope you feel better soon.  flowerkitty.gif

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HD.. we are all behind you 100%, and glad to be there for you. Another round of agreement with Moose, we are here for ya. I know from my own personal times of crisis, that your online friends can sometimes be there for you more than the ones right beside you. You are in my thoughts and prayers.. good wishes for a speedy diagnosis and recovery.

 

Since I am the nice to cadets GM.. come by my academy some time.. I'll let ya play some evil SGV and kill the cadets! :)

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Man hyperdrive I pity you so bad I have not been sent to a hospital for anything yet and my body is very strong agianst sickness but may you recover quickly so you can come back and sim with the academy

 

good luck hope you make it out ok

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Some people just don't understand

How you can have friends in a far away land.

Some may come from France, California,

Pennsylvania or Spain,

But no matter where they are from,

The friendship remains.

 

Some are close and even from your home state,

Some are on earlier, others are on late.

An internet friend listens, suggests,

And may complain,

But no matter where they are from,

The friendship remains.

 

Some internet friends have never met,

And others met just once,

Some have joined one another for dinners,

Others have for lunch.

You are my internet friend,

We have a wonderful time.

Of the friends on the internet,

I'm glad you're mine.

 

Please stay in touch,

Our conversational chats are divine.

I am glad I am your friend

And also that you are mine!

 

Hd, you are a friend of mine and your going to stay that way for a long time. I'm thinking about you and I wish you the speediest recovery possiable.

 

If you need anything just ask, and the GIA will get it for you.

 

~ Garnoopy

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Hehe... the GIA. It's been a while since I heard that one.

 

Well, I am now at home (thank goodness). My surgery will take place at Nortons, in Louisville. But, the iMRI they use for surgery is under repair. It is suppose to be back in working condition within the next week or so, and I am suppose to go back to the hospital sometime late next week for the actual surgery.

 

Much to my surprise, there will be no biopsy (unlike I was first told). The tumor is near the top of the brain, and the neurosurgeon said that, once inside the skull, he'll go ahead and get it all out at one time.

 

Right now, everything is happening so quickly. From the information I received yesterday morning, I was suppose to go home for good last night. But instead, a brain tumor was found, and I am due up for brain surgery in less than a week.

 

But, it is good to be home (even though it doesn't last for long). I never knew how many friends I had, and how many people worry about me both online and offline. I feel quite special in life now, and although I am going into surgery in a week or less, I am still happy that I have friends. Sad that I had to realize who my friends were in this manner, but nonetheless happy that I know.

 

I have received many phone calls, and a few cards, from close people; both on the tennis team, and at school. As much as I am going to hate this surgery, I will be also be happy.

 

Actually, as of now, I am not as afraid from the surgery as I am from having to get stabbed by that I.V. again ::shivers::.

 

The neurosurgeons have looked at my MRI, and decided that the procedure should not be too, ah, hard to get rid of. I do, however, have a good chance of losing some of my eyesight due to this, because one of the functions in the back of the brain deal with translating light signals to the brain.

 

Scary, yes. But, I am going into this with high hopes and expectations. I have a good chance of missing the first week or two of school, but hopefully it won't be bad. I will, more than likely, be in the hospital on my real birthday; I know that I won't like that much.

 

So, with further explaination from the surgeon, and pictures to go along with it, I feel alot better than I did last night, when I found out about the tumor. It was a surprise to my entire family.

 

Thank you all for your continued support and hope, and someday, I hope that I can make it all up to you.

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Thank you all for your continued support and hope, and someday, I hope that I can make it all up to you.

Hd, my support comes free of charge. You never need to make it up because I give it freely.

 

Get well.

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Just an update:

 

My surgery will be Friday morning at 8:30et. The doctors didn't really give me a decent estimated time the surgery will last; he said it would take anywhere from "3 to 8 hours". But, the doctors seem to think the operation should be relatively simple, and there shouldn't be many (if any) problems.

 

Thank you all for your support.

 

~HD

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HD~

 

You have my word that Friday morning at that time I will be thinking about you.

 

You're going to get through this and I look forward, with humongous anticipation to Monday, when you show up for the USS Manticore to sim and enjoy life to its fullest.

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