YES YES YES. The letter worked perfectly.
Just got back from the hospital where they had not only ordered the AMT button (which was difficult for them - they had to call three new distributors since MicKey is the regular one) but they also let my wife put in the new one while they watched.
I had prepped her last night with YouTube videos of mothers changing infants' tubes but she was still a little nervous.
Actually pulling out the old tube button herself and putting in the new one then inflating the balloon all by herself with the doctor just providing encouragement and commentary was just what I had hoped for. To top it off, they even faxed the prescription in to my medical supply company so I can get them directly from now on. (that's the next struggle as my medical supply house defaults to mic key (Kimberly Clark) also but if need be, I will change suppliers)
Like Hannibal Smith in the old A team used to say: [quote]I love it when a plan comes together[/quote]
Keep the Faith
Charm

Illegitimi non carborundum.

Good job, Charm!

Yay for you! Your perseverance paid off big time! So glad everything worked out the way you wanted.

Maria

Your post brought back memories of my high school Latin teacher (a nun)and her lecture that despite what we read or heard, "don't let the bastards get you down" was NOT a Latin phrase and even if it were, it would not be Illegitimi non carborundum. It sounds right and even has the gerund as a perphrastic of obligation According to her, illegitimi was not the Latin word used for bastards in a perjorative sense, instead it was spurii (if the father was not known) or nothii (if the father was known0. This phrase is the best example of Mock Latin that almost everyone thinks is real Latin, because they translated each word out of context.

Sort of like the mistake that beginning Spanish students make when they cobble together words from the dictionary and come up with "Como Mucho" for "I eat a lot" when in fact, it is an idiom meaning "How much" (does it cost?). Our Spanish teacher (also a nun) used to love telling the story about a woman in a Spanish resturant getting frustrated when instead of telling her the menu item cost, all the waiters kept smiling and saying Si. Si.

Don't mind my pedantry, but with 8 years of Classical Latin and Greek, I tend to get picky about Pig Latin & Mock Latin in popular culture. Plus it was a very good memory that I had forgotten.
Charm

Yay on the buttons!! Great job by your bride. I love when we care givers learn something new and get to DO cool things!!
Congrats on your perseverance.
Kathy

Yes Kathy, Anita, Maria, and Karen. The real heroine here is my caregiver wife. She, just like you and all the other caregivers here, put us patients to shame with your dedication, courage and fortitude. Christine has met Bev, my wife when we were out at the San Antonio Walk so she knows just how lucky I am.
I hope your care receivers know how lucky they are to have you all.
Charm

So happy to hear it all went ok today! I was thinking of you and wondering how everything turned out. Great work by Bev!!!! She did very well changing the tube. Dont think I could have done something like that. Thats why I always call caregivers, angels. They are made of tough stuff! Sometimes being the patient is the easy part.

Yes, I have met Bev in real life and she is an absolute darling!!!! We got along as soon as we met. It was like we had known each other forever, same with Charm. They compliment each other very well and make a perfect couple! Please tell Bev I said hello!

Charm,
I had to look up the spelling and found additional historical references in wikipedia - 'The phrase was adopted by US Army general "Vinegar" Joe Stillwell as his motto during the (first world) war.' as well as being in a Harvard athletic 'fight' song. My son, a UChicago grad, would use this as an example of Harvard's inferior academics. Glad it gave you a smile!
Maria

Maria

Thanks for both the memory refreshed and extra facts. Sister Stanislaus Kostka never mentioned Vinegar Joe or Harvard, instead she talked about the missing Est which should have been added at the end for the periphrastic. Of course there was no Internet back then, let alone Wikipedia.
Charm

Glad you're eating again! And the rest is all Latin to me... Or not...