Posts by northernraven49

ironpilot58 said:URGENT!!! 🙂
Does anyone happen to know the current market value for Elemental Hero Neos?
I could really use this info right away.

http://www.amazon.com/Yu-Gi-Oh-Eleme.../dp/B0028WD92Y

Old wind-up clock, doesn't work. Someone mentioned a Baby clock from 1940—is there any actual value there?

My mom claims this was originally a Meštrović piece and has just been repainted. What’s your take on that?

http://images9.fotki.com/v1604/photo...DC14523-vi.jpg
http://images114.fotki.com/v271/phot...DC14524-vi.jpg
http://images54.fotki.com/v551/photo...DC14525-vi.jpg

Lithography. Is $133 really too little for a print of this caliber?
Thanks

My mother lives with asthma and relies on a CPAP machine.
She manages her chronic condition with a specialist we’re incredibly happy with.
That said, she really needs a reliable primary care physician—someone who understands how to handle the frequent infections and viruses she picks up, especially since her medications tend to suppress her immune system.
The biggest issue is the waiting rooms. She can't afford to sit for hours in a crowded clinic. Nowadays, if she runs even a slight fever, she almost always ends up in an infectious disease ward at the local hospital, and in about 90% of cases, she ends up being admitted.
So, my question is: is there a general practitioner out there where we can get her seen quickly when she develops a fever without her having to endure hours in an overcrowded waiting room? We are more than willing to pay for private care to ensure this happens.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My only regret is that she hasn't been officially credited as the catalyst for this entire movement, which is Kristina Kukolj, a journalist over at SBS Melbourne, Australia.
Without her, I doubt anyone in Australia would have ever heard about Leonica; it seems her heart is truly in Chicago.
Thank you, Kristina.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...5457206&ref=nf
Thanks.

A letter from Daniela to "a certain gentleman."

Regarding that gentleman—he might not have meant any harm, but given the reality we're living through right now, I can't just sit here and stay silent. My two-year-old has been going through a literal hell for months now, a level of suffering you couldn't even fathom in your wildest dreams just to fight for their own life. Because of that, I simply cannot tolerate hearing her spoken about as if she were nothing more than an expense or a drain on resources that could be "better utilized" elsewhere.

The clerk who handled our request at Medicare doesn't exactly possess a crystal ball or any sort of psychic intuition to determine who stands a chance and who doesn't. To be honest, she had never even heard of this diagnosis, let alone understood anything about it or the actual survival odds involved. In fact, it felt like nobody else in the entire country knew what we were dealing with.
I also highly doubt that "efficiency" or deciding who actually stands a chance is part of a doctor's job description. In my view, their sole responsibility should be to treat the patient in front of them, period. Regardless of the circumstances, they should be focused on healing every individual under their care.
Our request wasn't denied because of the money, even though, as you pointed out, Leona represents a significant cost to our healthcare system. It was rejected solely because one doctor decided she’d make the perfect test subject—essentially deciding that a child with her diagnosis hasn't even happened yet, or likely won't, so we might as well play around with her case. But those are secondary issues for now; we'll be settling that in court.
The situation with Leona Zajšek is a perfect parallel to the tragic case of Martina Piric—both are absolute embarrassments to the Republic of America. It’s even more infuriating when you consider how the institutions handled Martina’s case; they only decided to step up after the public outcry reached a breaking point. Honestly, I have nothing good to say about their decision to finally offer financial support only after it was already too late.

Fortunately, we find ourselves in a completely different situation here. In this system, they don't sit around calculating how much a patient costs; the only metric that matters is how to actually help them. They don't just give up on anyone—not until every single possible avenue has been exhausted. And trust me, that process definitely doesn't end just because a diagnosis has been handed down.

What would you even say to a child who has survived their third transplant?
What was the actual price tag on all of that? And what were his odds? Let's be real—the cost of his treatment was astronomical, and the statistical chance of someone surviving three separate rounds of everything he went through was practically zero. Yet, here he is. He survived. When that first transplant failed, none of the doctors even blinked. They weren't sitting there calculating the bill or second-guessing whether it would work. They just immediately pivoted to the next attempt, then the one after that. They kept going until it finally worked.
Could they have managed the funds more efficiently? Could they have bragged about how much they saved? Of course they could. But at the end of the day, we aren't here to audit a balance sheet; we’re counting the lives that were actually saved. Money matters, obviously—it's vital—but it isn't the primary metric for success here.
Personally, I don't think our story has truly touched you, much like any other. It feels to me like you all live in your own little bubble, preoccupied with your own struggles and convinced that things like this only happen to other people. Our situation has become quite public—which isn't something I’m particularly happy about, but that's just how it turned out—and the facts are all there for anyone to verify. That said, I have no intention of trying to convince you that what we're going through is real, nor am I here to ask for your money or your sympathy.
I honestly don't believe you ever actually step up to help anyone, whether through official channels or otherwise. It’s just not your priority. Besides, I’m not sure why you all seem so convinced that you can trust how donations are handled, especially after those scandals involving child abuse at Caritas. But look, it doesn't matter. It's your money and your right to feel however you want about it.
And then there’s that friend of yours who buys a pair of shoes for $200, only to end up Venmoing someone later. $1.75Honestly, I think she can sleep soundly at night. That’s her money, and she can spend it however she damn well pleases. At least she actually stepped up and did something. You guys? You haven't done a thing.
Beyond the fact that you personally insulted me by referring to my child as an "expense," there’s also the matter of all these wonderful people trying to help us being mocked by idiots who claim they’re just throwing money away because Leona is a lost cause. Well, if you ask me, those donors are the true heroes here. They can sleep soundly knowing they contributed something meaningful toward saving a human life. To everyone who donated even a single cent... $1.75 Even those who didn't donate a single cent reached out. They called just to check in, to see how things were going, and to send their best wishes. I think it’s because they were all deeply moved by the fate of one little kid who is going through unimaginable pain.
It doesn't matter what you think. It really doesn't. You’re all still stuck on the idea that "doctors correctly assessed this was a lost cause," and therefore that $200,000 would be better spent elsewhere. Probably on some politician's hemorrhoid surgery, if we're being honest.
I genuinely wonder how you would react if it were you or your own family. Would you decide that you’re just a "drain on resources" and tell people to go help someone with a better chance, or would you expect help?
Personally, no human life is ever a waste. We aren't some charity case; we have jobs, an apartment, and a car. But unfortunately, we don't have $200,000 lying around to fund her treatment. I’ve never been in debt to anyone in my life, nor have I ever been in a position where I had to beg for anything. Now, I find myself owing a massive number of people across the entire country, and let me tell you, it isn't fun. Honestly, it’s pretty humiliating.
But I made a promise to myself that I would do EVERYTHING for her. Because I wouldn't be any happier if I had a BMW parked outside my window instead of an old junker, or $200 shoes instead of $67, but I would be miserable for the rest of my life if I failed to help her. At the end of the day, the only things truly worth anything to me are my children, my family, and my friends.
That is the only thing that actually matters. Everything else is just stuff—things that might make life a little easier, sure, but they are ultimately insignificant. My car, my apartment, my TV, everything I own is a "waste" by that logic, but a human life is a GIFT, and every single one is worth fighting for.

Things are mostly staying the same; her white blood cell count dropped to 4,000, which hasn't changed much,
she’s having some stomach pain, though I'm hoping it’s just because she’s finally started to
eat a little bit again—her stomach is probably just in shock since it hasn't seen real food in over a month,
so it needs time to adjust. Even though she's still quite weak, she plays around a bit
and is still babbling away at 16 months old. We just can't seem to shake this fever, though;
it keeps hovering right around 100.4.

As for how things stand today—and I’m almost afraid to even say it out loud—things are looking a little better.
The little one seems a bit more herself; she’s a bit more cheerful, playing a bit more, and
she actually managed to eat a spoonful of ice cream.
I’m honestly really happy about that.
The thing is, this ward is incredibly tricky. You can never truly tell if
things have finally turned a corner or if everything will just spiral downhill again tomorrow.
We’ve seen cases where kids were supposed to be heading home in a few days, and then suddenly
they were just gone...
So, it’s hard to actually relax, though it was much easier yesterday just seeing her
in a slightly better state.
On a brighter note, I have to brag a little: the nurses rewarded her today with
a cute little kid's pillow for being such a brave patient.
Basically, despite the fact that the staff isn't exactly in the best mood or acting particularly charming
like they usually do, she’s somehow managed to charm the nurses and doctors alike.
Every time I look, there's some new little toy sitting by her bed, and when
I ask where it came from, it’s always Auntie Ina, Auntie Bago (actually Gabi), or Auntie Lina
(Nikolina). I should mention that Nurse Nikolina is one of our wonderful young
ladies from back home, and besides being an incredibly warm and kind soul, she’s also
a fantastic nurse who has helped us immensely.
The other nurses even praised her for how well she cooperates; usually, there’s a bit of a struggle
with kids who don't speak German, but with her, it's seamless. Even in the middle
of the night, she won't even open her eyes, but as soon as she hears someone walking in, she lifts her arm because she knows
they're there to check her blood pressure. And once that's done, she presents her backside so they can change her.
They all just laugh; she’s truly no trouble at all.
We’ve even trained the doctors now; every time they walk into the room,
they make sure to say "hi" and "how are you?" properly. Pretty soon, we’ll have everyone here speaking
American.

Thomas Fowler84 said:I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!
This world can be a cruel place.
By the way, do you happen to know if German insurance covers this kind of treatment for its own policyholders?

Thanks for the well wishes. Every bit of support helps us right now. As for the world being harsh—well, I suppose it depends on who you ask. For some, it's brutal; for others, it's manageable; and for a certain class of people, it isn't harsh at all. It all comes down to your pedigree.

Thomas Fowler84 said:I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!
This world can be a cruel place.
By the way, do you happen to know if German insurance covers this kind of treatment for its own policyholders?

It’s fully covered, so don't let anyone give you the wrong idea. All over the world—including here at home—treating oncology patients is incredibly expensive.

Thomas Fowler84 said:I am afraid there has been a misunderstanding.
When I mentioned contributing to the system, I wasn't referring to paying taxes to Medicare. I meant donating roughly $100 a month to organizations like Caritas or UNICEF—groups that maintain operating costs below 15% and employ experts to ensure donations are used with maximum efficiency.
Reacting to emotionally charged narratives can be counterproductive. Of course, this story moved me (which I stated explicitly; I am unsure why you concluded I was "cold," though I have seen similar cases in my own community, but there is no point in dwelling on that), but the idea that only children whose stories parents manage to pitch to the media "survive" is, in my view, often damaging. I cited Martina as an example, but there are countless others. They raised $200,000—funds that professionals could have deployed far more effectively. The issue is the lack of a structured system, which is why these situations occur. In a functional, centralized system, a single fundraising campaign like this would likely never even hit the news.
As for why people donate to these "private" accounts, you probably know the answer better than anyone. Believe me, both you and I are equally touched by this story; however, I have decided to leave the decision of "who lives and who dies" to those I believe are more competent than myself to make such calls.

And I am not being a pessimist at all; I have no idea why you reached that conclusion. 🤷
I am simply stating that I believe it is more effective to channel funds through a "system."
I respect every charitable contribution, even if it is "individual" or done only once a year. The priority is helping people in need according to one's own means. Therefore, I hold no resentment toward you or the parents. If I were in their shoes, I would likely do the exact same thing—what else is left for them to do?

On the other hand, I have a friend who will comfortably spend $200 on a pair of shoes, then open an email like this and make a small donation just to clear her conscience, only to tell everyone about how she helped this girl or that girl. Many people don't truly understand what it means to help those in need; many don't do it sincerely (which isn't strictly important), and many don't even know how to help.

The reality is that the wealthy live longer than the poor, and I do not believe that will ever change, whether you label me a pessimist or not. 🙂.

Krijesnica.hr

Thomas Fowler84 said:This reminds me of the tragic fate of Martina Piric—there are so many stories just like hers. In her case, people raised $200,000 through a GoFundMe. However, Medicare refused to cover the costs because they judged the chances of success to be too slim, arguing those funds could be better used to save children with higher survival rates.
It is a brutal dilemma. On one hand, as a parent, you have to do everything humanly possible to save your child. On the other hand, when people donate to individual causes, they are essentially stepping into the role of deciding who lives and who dies—a decision usually left to doctors.
Personally, I tend to trust the medical experts more; I prefer contributing to the healthcare system rather than sending money to private accounts where emotional appeals are used to save a loved one. Still, every time I read a story like this, I am reminded of how much injustice exists in our world.
Good luck to Leon, but I fear we might see history repeat itself if the doctors' assessments prove correct and the outcome ends up like Martina's. 😢

Don't worry, she is NOT going to end up that way. The doctors actually got the diagnosis right this time; it’s just that, unfortunately, they haven't managed to cure a single child with JMML here in the States.
An Austrian team saved one little American boy, and at this rate, the doctors in Germany will be the ones to save our Leona.
I asked Daniel how my little sunshine is doing and how my big sunshine is doing, and he told me:
the little sunshine looks slightly better in certain areas.
The head doctor said she’s going to monitor her closely now to see whether
this new therapy has started to work or if things are about to take another turn for the worse.
(It’s been a bit of a roller coaster—feeling a little better, then getting worse two days later). They have
some other medications being prepared in case things decline again, but
they are being much more aggressive with their approach and plan to wait a bit before jumping straight in
with them.
white blood cell count is 5k, platelets at 64.
Temperature is hitting 100.2.
She ate a little bit of baby food; otherwise, it's business as usual.
As for the big sunshine, she's enjoying life to the fullest.
To her, this whole thing feels like some grand adventure, and honestly, thank God she sees it that way.
School wrapped up on July 31st, and now there's a massive schedule of activities for
the kids staying in town. Even the ladies at the daycare center are constantly
taking them out on field trips. Just imagine, tomorrow they're heading to Europa-Park. It's something
like Disneyland, though the locals here love to brag that it's actually better than
Disneyland.

So, for anyone following along, here is the reality of where Leona stands:
She survived heavy-duty chemotherapy (which was a huge gamble given how tiny she is), she survived the transplant (which isn't exactly rocket science—you could probably pull off a similar procedure at a local vet clinic), and she is currently navigating the hardest part: the post-transplant period. She is fighting through the side effects quite successfully, thanks largely to the immense expertise of the medical team in Germany.
There was this prominent specialist back home who claimed he could perform transplants here (and he could, there's no reason why he couldn't), but when asked if he knew how to manage the complications that arise after a transplant, he admitted it wasn't his specialty and he didn't know. That was the honest truth, yet his opinion was used by Medicare as the deciding factor to insist the girl be treated here in the US instead...

Posted from the forum
In New York City, there is currently a "free vaccination" drive targeting elementary school students against the cause of cervical cancer, the human papillomavirus (HPV). This initiative utilizes the controversial Gardasil vaccine produced by Merck.

Major international news outlets, such as CNN, CBS, and MSNBC, have reported on the negative side effects associated with Gardasil. Yet, during this public campaign pushing for the shots, the American public has been kept almost entirely in the dark about these issues.

During the first 26 months after Gardasil was approved in the USA (specifically up until August 2008), the FDA received 8,000 reports of illnesses and deaths following the administration of the vaccine. Reported complications include paralysis, seizures, spasms, heart irregularities, kidney failure, vision problems, arthritis, breathing difficulties, severe rashes, frequent vomiting, miscarriages, menstrual irregularities, reproductive system disorders, as well as genital warts, vaginal sores, and HPV infections—ironically, the very diseases the vaccine is meant to prevent. Death is also among the consequences.

CBS News: Cases of death and brain damage following Gardasil vaccination
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfU6y6KhEOI

CNN: A report on Gardasil side effects
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_13plsrydPY

MSNBC: A report on deaths following Gardasil vaccination
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqZNhOclixc

Spain withdrew over 75,000 doses of the vaccine due to adverse reactions

The infectious disease epidemiology department within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services does not recommend including this vaccination in the mandatory vaccination program.

Despite the lack of public discussion, there is virtually no direct evidence regarding the efficacy of this vaccine for the 9-15 age group. While cervical cancer is caused by HPV genotypes 16 and 18 in about 70% of cases—which this vaccine covers—the remaining 30% of cancers are linked to other genotypes. There are 13 other potential causative genotypes that Gardasil does not protect against.

To see a presentation regarding the dangers and inefficiency of Gardasil, watch this video.
http://thinkwise.com/hpv_show.htm

The vaccination process involves three separate doses, costing a total of $1100 per student. This is funded by the taxpayers through the New York City budget. For this specific purpose, $4 million was allocated from the 2009 budget. So, this isn't actually "free," despite how it is being framed to the public. Cervical cancer caused by this virus is relatively rare, accounting for only 3.3% of all female cancer cases. Large-scale initiatives by cities or counties to mass-vaccinate girls of a certain age—usually those in the seventh grade—often lack a sound public health justification. We are seeing massive amounts of money being poured into this with minimal, or perhaps even negative, public health benefits when you consider the aforementioned risks.

Since the full scope of the risks regarding this announced "free" HPV vaccination in New York City hasn't been made public, we really ought to look deeper into the potential health impacts on our own children. I encourage you to push for more transparent public debate in the media and within our government institutions. Talk to your children; they are the ones bearing the physical risks of this decision. You have the right, alongside your child, to decide whether to accept or decline Gardasil. Please, do your own research on Gardasil and share this information with others.

Additional info:

National Vaccine Information Center – HPV vaccination archives
http://www.nvic.org/Vaccines-and-Diseases/hpv.aspx
http://www.grinpro.com/Movies/HPVHiSpeed.wmv

The President of the National Vaccine Information Center is speaking out about how the government has overlooked severe side effects and fatalities, calling for a formal Congressional investigation.
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/s...29&newsLang=en

Archive of articles regarding vaccine risks
http://www.naturalnews.com/Vaccines.html

A scientist, whose twenty years of research on HPV actually paved the way for this vaccine, is now arguing that mandating it for students under 18 could be counterproductive and might even lead to higher cancer rates.
http://www.physiciansforlife.org/content/view/1550/2/
An email circulating with these links.

It could potentially be an issue with the bladder itself—perhaps something like an overactive bladder or some other underlying dysfunction. You might want to check out the Mayo Clinic's website; they have some incredibly thorough resources regarding urinary disorders.
Ninur acts as a urinary antiseptic, which helps both prevent and treat bladder inflammation. It’s quite effective if you're dealing with an actual infection.

northernraven49 said:Is there seriously not a single decent dentist between Brooklyn and Queens?

My husband walked through the door waving these bills around, and I just lost it. Apparently, we were being charged an extra 20% on top of everything. I’ve had enough.
I marched straight back there and told them point-blank: "We aren't fools. If you're charging us for things that should be covered by Medicare, then I want itemized receipts, and I want that extra 20% waived immediately. Give me my money back Then they handed me bills with "premium service" listed on them. I'm dying to know where exactly that is defined in their price list. Their response? They basically told me to go find a new dentist.
Can you believe that?
We ended up paying for a filling on a molar$117.
On a side note, we work at the same company and haven't even received our paychecks yet.
What a complete joke. :angry :angry :angry :angry :angry

stormyheron4 said:check your inbox

Thanks, I'll check mine too.