Bella

My niece, Bella, was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis at 12 days old. She has since had two permanent shunts put into her brain. She has had seven revisions to these shunts, the last coming Monday.

I can say with certainty it is much easier to get a phone call and know that she made it out of surgery than it is to see her in recovery. I spent Monday-Wednesday with the Needhams and Miss Bella, who was very brave.

She came through this surgery OK but had a seizure on Tuesday. Meg says Bella is still acting cranky and a little tired but she hopes the worst is over for now. We shall see.



Bella with hair



Bella with hat



Bella with Heather

More later...

Just got back in town. I was gone a little longer than planned with an emergency in Little Rock. (Bella is doing fine after another surgery.)

Here is a picture of my NASCAR experience. I will post more later on my time in Dallas and Little Rock (including cute photos of Bella and her brother, Zach).

cowboy up

Headed to Dallas for the weekend for a conference for women in sports media.

I love, love, love the Dallas Cowboys. When we went to Dallas a few years ago we visited Texas Stadium. It was awesome. They let us go down on the field to throw passes and kick field goals.

Anyways, there are people who believe that I can't go to Dallas without picking up some Cowboys' memorabilia. We'll see.



Greatest player ever. Perhaps I could use (yet another) Tony Dorsett jersey.

so freaking busy

The Red Wings beat the Sharks, the Pistons are pummeling the Bulls and the Tigers continue to play some pretty good baseball. Shockingly, it has been a little busy around here.

I will be working my second six-day week in the last three. But it is pretty fun this time of year.

Still, it is all making me a little sleepy.

To friends lost...

When I was in college my roommate's boyfriend drowned. Not long after, my brother lost his best friend, a kid we had all grown up with, in a train accident. They were both young men, with so much potential...

In the past 72 hours I have lost two more friends. Two more men with so much more to do in this world, or so it seemed.

Paul was only 54 (OK, so my definition of young has changed a little). As long as I had known him he had been living with his folks, helping to take care of them in their older age. His father died maybe two months ago. His mother is grieving again, much too soon. Paul was a kind-hearted man who loved Michigan football and hydroplane races and NASCAR. He could have a conversation with anyone and make them feel like they'd known him for years. So welcoming.

And then Dave. Only 35. He had so much talent and potential. He worked so hard, cared so much. A huge fan of rock music, he loved Kiss, Aerosmith and the Rolling Stones. He watched the idiots on MTV's Real World. He couldn't wait for WrestleMania in Detroit. He was so positive. Such a perfect gentleman. It's seems he'd only just come into his own, and now it's cut short.

I will never understand why these things happen. I only hope I can take something from from each of them to become a better person.