[Kurt Zimmerman]

Originally Posted by Sharon Mr-Bratt

Hi, I've been following this thread and I hope Mike's spirits continue to be upbeat. Sent $100 to Mike and family in memory of my beloved Jim Bratton (Mr-Bratt). Many prayers already sent up as well.

Thank you Sharon- I know that Jim would have approved. He and Mike were cut from the same cloth. Always ready to help, and always willing to give.

Jim and I had some very interesting conversations.

Kurt

[Goats_Hogs]

My wife and I went up to see Mike and meet his wife Chris. Mike and I had talked last Friday evening on the phone, and set up the date. That said, he had a procedure that day, and was pretty loaded up on the "feel good" drugs. When we got to his house, there was a sign taped to the back door. "No visitors today please, Mike is resting" or something of that sort. I knew Mike was expecting me, so I knocked anyway. We had a meal we had brought up for the family, and wanted to at least leave it. No answer, so I went to the inside door off the porch and knocked. I heard Mike yell out, so I opened the door and went in. Mike looked good overall, perhaps a bit tired, but he really rallied when he saw it was us. He had forgotten talking to me, but remembered as soon as I got in the door. He has... or is... weaning himself off the dilaudid. He said he couldn't function, and he couldn't stand it. Problem with that is he was not feeling well, feels very "Flu like".

It was good to see him and visit. He wasn't really feeling well, and we could tell that this wasn't one of the better days, so we didn't stay very long. I think of Mike like a brother, and it is hard to see him going through this.

I only wish that instead of $$, we could all carry a little of the burden that Mike has and he could be well again. Hope that sounded like I meant it.... it was from the heart. This is a perfect example of bad things happening to good people....