Friday, December 15, 2006

It is a toomah

This last month has been quite the experience. My grandmother died at the end of last month, she had senile dementia and didn't remember her kids before she died. She'd also been married to my grandfather for 69 years. When my father visited them about 8 months ago, my grandfather told him that the warranty on his heart was up. When my dad asked him what he was sticking around for, he said that Mother needed him. Less than three weeks later, my grandfather joined her. It was a really beautiful end to an amazing love story.

And it was a testament to mind over matter. Once grandpa had Thanksgiving dinner with all 7 of his kids (something that hadn't happened in decades) he was ready to go. I think he stayed alive out of sheer will-power. He was strong that way. It is unfortunate the way it came about, but it was great to see my relatives (my dad, his 6 siblings, and a myriad of offspring of the afore mentioned) two times in a month.

Which made this particular study stand out for me. Apparently the more siblings that you have, the greater chance you have of getting a brain tumor. Here's the cool thing, it only depends upon the number of younger siblings you have. Which seems like a very weird association. Unless, as these authors suggest, that many brain tumors might have an infectious disease origin. My dad is one of the oldest of the bunch so it seems kind of relevant, except he's just past 60 so unless it is a very dormant thing, it probably doesn't apply to him.

This observation makes identifying the vectors thay may cause tumors an important and unexpected line of research to follow.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Greeeeeat... I have five younger sibs. ;)

Sorry to hear about your grandparents. I was wondering where you'd disappeared to. Hopefully will see you soon!

xoxo

Nicolle

Ellen J. said...

Terri --
this is a very moving tribute to your grandparents (and I certainly hope your dad is "in the clear") -- I am a friend of your dad and your aunt Liz; I live in Hamilton Ontario, and met your grandparents twice, the first time last New Year's eve, while visiting Liz.
I am really sorry for your loss.

On another note, I enjoy reading your blog, on various subjects; I am a writer, and trying to learn more about science.
Ellen J.

Unknown said...

I'm very sorry to hear about your grandparents. However, I take exception to the statement that your grandfather "stayed alive by sheer will-power." If you read the book "Journey Of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives" by Dr. Michael Newton (a world-renowned hypnotherapist), it is clear from hundreds of case studies that there is no such thing as "free will." That is, every decision that we make is the decision that we are supposed to make. Prior to incarnation, our souls have the opportunity to view a complete incarnation (much like a movie) before choosing to enter that body. Thus, everything that happens in a person's life is predestined. If you are skeptical, read the above-mentioned book or Dr. Newton's second book entitled "Destiny of Souls." If hundreds of patients under deep hypnosis tell virtually the same stories about what the soul does between incarnations, how can one dispute that? P.S. Say hi to Trish for me.