OT- prayers needed!

I know I ask alot of everyone but I really need some prayers, good thoughts, and whatever support you can give here.. My brother decided to leave Southern California and head to Texas.. His job wasnt working out and he really needed to start his life over again.. He had a bit of cash to make the drive.. He is too stubborn and has way too much pride to ask for help from anyone.. He didnt have much money so he decided to pull over and sleep in his car for a couple hours in AZ, he thought a short nap would get him by for a while.... He was right outside of an indian reservation in Hackberry where ever that is.. Well he woke up to someone pulling him out of his car and beating the crap out of him with something metal.. Next thing he remembers is waking up in a pool of blood with his wallet laying next to him.. EMPTY!! NO CASH... NO CREDIT CARDS... nothing left but his license... He called my sister and she wired him enough money for gas to get him to my other sisters house in TX.. I got him a hotel room in Tuscon for tonight.. he says he cant drive any further than that right now.. What a hassle that was! Try renting a room from across the country on a credit card!! Ohh what fun.. He is 14 hours from my sisters house so tomorrow morning he can get up and make the drive.. He wont seek medical attention for whoopin he took, says he cant afford it.. Im so stressed out and worried about him! Please keep him in your thoughts, prayers, etc.. Hopefully this whole horrible trip will be over tomorrow and he will safely be with family again! Im just grateful that he swallowed his pride and let me get him a room for tonight.. Now if we can just get him some medical attention!! Thanks! Amber M*

Oh Amber sweetie, BIG HUGS for you, and prayers for your brother and all of your family have already been sent!! Keep your chin up, and let us know how you and your brother are doing!! Theresa

Hey Amber, Jeez! Talk about scaring ya to death and giving ya grey hair. He is very fortunate that he even made it out of that situation. It is so hard now days to go anywhere alone. Shoot even with someone. I worried to death about my youngest daughter also when she moved there. She is going to college in san antonio and is so trusting of others. Thank God she has found someone very good to her and I dont worry about her half as much but its a cruel world out there. Thank God he is doing better and sure hope he gets medical attention if needed. So just hang in there and know you have done the best you could. You will feel better tommorrow when he's with the family. Hugs Marge

Amber how horrible. I hope things will get better for your brother. It is really tough these days just to make ends meet. I will keep him in my thoughts and hope things will start looking up for him.

Amber, Consider it done, and all the best to your brother and his safe trip home. At present my little brother (six years younger than me and the only brother I have left) is in hospital with diabetic complications and a fever no one can seem to get the better of. His legs are both bad from neuropathy and poor circulation, and he's probably facing losing at least one of his feet and possibly part of that leg. He's also having to have blood transfusions because of some sort of vicious anemia, and his chronic pancreatitis, which flares every time he's in a health slump like this, is adding to his suffering. So I'm praying for two brothers if that's ok with you ... and if you can ... when you're praying for yours, will you add one for mine, too? He truly could use all the prayer there is to be had. Please let us know your brother makes it homes safely and soundly, and give him a big hug when he does. He and your family are in my prayers. and

Would rather LIVE poor, than DIE rich! That being said - several million dollars could really throw a monkey wrench in things couldn't it. I would give just about anything for my wife and family to live comfortably, but sacrifice the health I've never had in my life until now for that to happen...I don't think so. Now if it were a question of life or death for them, I wouldn't hesitate. A year ago, I would have taken the money and run...no wait a minute, I would have waddled with it or maybe even have someone carry it for me because I was soooo tired. Now my priorities have changed and the money and the amount of time I spend in the office seem so insignificant in the scheme of things. There's so much more to this than the physical transformation that one goes through. It's the mental aspects of my journey (of course related to the physical changes and improvements in health) that have been the most remarkable for me. Cards Fan Springfield, MO Live Well, Laugh Often, FART Much!

I would not go back either Scott. Live is too much better now and I actually enjoy it. George

Scott 500 million huh? Hmmmmmmm now let me think. Never mind. No. I'm so used to being broke that I wouldn't notice a change anyway if I said no. Thought provoking though. Larry

Hello Amber, OMG that is terrible. Will keep your family in my prayers. Please keep us posted. ((((hugs))) Diana

Well Bobby, I will not pretend to be as knowledgeable on this one as DX but....I have always been under the impression that the reason for this is to ensure that all liquid has drained from the pouch before a meal. So as not to help soften the food and allow it to pass though faster, allowing you to eat more. I will tell you that the first year I was very very strict on myself on this rule for fear of failure slower weight loss. Now that I am 2.5 years out I do bend these rules a little and have had no ill effects from it. However I do find myself able to eat more when I drink with a meal which could be a down fall for someone who has not learned portion control without a full feeling. I stop know after I know that I have had enough not necessarily when I feel like I have had enough. My advise would be to continue to follow the advise of the nutritionist at least until you reach goal weight. DX??? LARRY??? George