My best friend Kathy is a gal I've known since I was 4 years old, so in just a few months I will have known her for 60 years!!! Yikes that's hard to believe. But she lived behind me when I was growing up, and my Dad used to lift me over the back fence so I could go play with her. Later, when I got bigger I'd just climb the fence which would upset Dad since it ended up ruining the fence.

Kathy and I know everything about each other -- every secret we've ever had, we've told each other. We've gone thru births, deaths, loves, hates, you name it. Nothing has been to "intimate" to talk about. When one of us was down, the other one was there.

Today I got a call from her daughter telling me she's in the hospital. I thought it was strange that i hadn't heard from her in a few days. The deal is that she calls ME because she's always so darned busy I can't ever get her. Well, her daughter said she's been sick for awhile, and Kathy never mentioned not feeling well to me. Not a word. Over 3 weeks time, she's lost 30 lbs!!! And she only weight about 115 in the first place! Her daughter said she looked about 80-90 yrs old. It turns out her colon burst, and she was near death when her daughter found her on the floor!!!

She's in ICU right now, with tubes coming out everywhere. Everything is wrong with her --- they had to do emergency surgery and she has a colostomy which will be temporary (about 6 months or so) and then they'll be able to reconnect her colon -- if she survives. Her thyroid is abnormal, she may be diabetic, etc. She doesn't have insurance, so she hasn't been taking care of herself.

I'm so upset. I'm upset for her family -- she has 4 children, and a bunch of grandchildren. Her kids will be devastated if she doesn't survive -- and I don't know what I'll do. She's been my rock for so many years, that it would be like losing a twin!! Please say some prayers for her, will you?

If you read this far, thank you so much. I just needed to vent. Love you ALL. Lee