It is amazing the comments people make. After 11 months of speech therapy and home practice, I can talk on the phone although I still elicit "what? what?". Still most people keep telling me "Oh, you sound great but that is EXACTLY what they said 9 months ago. When I questioned this, the response is that I am better now and this time they really mean it. Turns out they did not want to discourage me, but I wasn't being fooled anyway since part of my therapy is taping myself and playing it back.
Long story, short moral: oral cancer doesn't make us stupid but people sure act like it does.
Charm

wow, I have been under the weather the last few days after trying to use up some Jevity 1.2 before it expired which triggered massive gastric upset so I missed Christine's OCF blog entry about her parking lot encounter.
Of all the posts here on this thread, I think that her story is the one that I hate the most. For those who did not read it, some jerk jeered at her appearance in an attempt to divert attention from his wife's banging the door of their car into Christine's in a parking lot. If she had shot him, if I were the local prosecutor, I'd waive charges on the basis of justifiable homicide.
Charm

Christine's story is shocking. It's difficult enough to go through surgery, chemo, rads, and related issues of OC. I found myself imagining what I would say if confronted in the same way. "I had cancer, what's your excuse?"

That might be a good strategy--imagine the worst comment and then come up with a powerful retort. Although, nasty people will never get it anyway. They are wired differently and derive pleasure by exerting cruelty on anyone who is not like them.

Christine, your fighting spirit will get you a long way! We all love you.

Anita

I'm still seething about the parking-lot incident with Christine. He/"it" sounds like a miserable jerk and we can only hope he spends the rest of his life being miserable.
julieann

Some humans are just a waste of space...

Some people just don't know what to say...sometimes they end up saying something horrible. In Christine's case...I just don't know. I'm sure when she was done with him he felt bad....

Angelia...from what I remember you have always dealt with rude people....it was you with the lady at work, right? I'm almost positive that was you:) I was ready to come to your work and tell that woman where to go!!! You be proud of only 15 left....that is a HUGE accomplishment

I think this falls into this category - I found myself speechless at the time but of course thought of a good response driving home afterwards. At the pharmacy window dropping off 4 MORE scripts the other night, the clerk noticed that the scripts were from Siteman Cancer Center and asked me what type of cancer Mike has. Then, she said, "Is it bad?" After a blank stare and a few blink, blinks, I said, "yeah, its pretty bad." In hindsight, what I WISH I'd said was, "Oh no, its a GOOD KIND OF CANCER he has."

In Christine's case - I missed the post but I hope that guy felt bad afterward and hope he learned something.

Shelly

Shelly..that is awful!!! You would think someone who works in a pharmacy would have just a tad of common sense..just a little..that's all we're asking for. If I were you I may even call and register a complait..lol That usually makes me feel better:)

I agree with Suzanne. Go to the top, Pharmacy Manager or similar Big Cheese, and give them the details. You deserve an apology at least!

Anita

I just read ChristineB's blog about the hideous behavior of that terrible old man - wish Christine had had a carload of OC survivors and he would have really gotten a lesson in decency which would have wiped that laugh off his face pronto - esp. if Charm, Eric, David, and a few others were riding with her! To reiterate what others have said: Christine, we love you!