[BADJOE]

It was above my skill level to diagnose this. I only knew something was not right.

It is not my nature to give up.

It is not my nature to threaten anyone.

It is not the only time a situation like this arose.

I am not telling you this story to gain personal praise.

I am too old to give a damn.

The question is how hard do you fight?

When do you quit?

When no one will listen?

When you can cry no longer?

When the patient dies?

When you are too tired to take even one more step?

[Seeking the truth]

Well, this is certainly the antithesis of "Why Bother", isn't it?

Seriously, here is a quote that perhaps addresses the question you pose. Winston Churchill's England was under daily bombardment from the Hun. The situation was bleak.

"You ask what is our aim? It is victory. Victory at all costs. Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory, there is no survival"

[Jim Robinson]

The answer is, you don't quit. But you don't commit suicide either. If your current battle plan is not working you sometimes have to regroup, rethink, revise the plan, shift your resources, and then continue forward. But you never take your eye off the ball and you never quit. Individual battles may be won or lost, but the war rages on.

[A Navy Vet]

What's the matter ole buddy? What's got ya so down? You're the epitomy of perseverence.

[Bob J]

Sometimes you lose a battle, but if that makes one question his reason for fighting, the war will never be won.

[palo verde]

I love you Joe

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

The best thing I can do for you is offer prayers for you.

[Mudboy Slim]

"When do you quit?...When the patient dies?"

No...when YOU/WE die!! We can never quit...NEVER!! Failure ain't an option, my FRiend!!

FReegards...MUD

[Mo1]

It is not my nature to threaten anyone.

Badjoe .. sometimes when folks don't listen .. you gotta do what ya gotta do ..

Sometimes when something may arise, I may say why bother and then I think .. if I don't who will??

Sometimes we need to pull the bull by the rings and do something .. anything

Why .. because it is the right thing to do and folks that trust us need our help

It sounds like this women needed you Joe and you saved her life ..

Yes, you could have walked away and washed your hands but you didn't because you care far to much about life

[null and void]

Once upon a time, two frogs were playing in a barn.

They accidentally hopped into a milk can.

After swimming around in the milk it became clear to one frog that the sides were too slick to crawl out, the milk was too deep to allow for footing to jump out or a even place to rest.

He gave up and drowned.

The other frog just continued to kick, and eventually churned up a lump of butter, which he was able to crawl up onto to rest. And that's where he was when milkmaid came and fetched him out of the can.


Salvation comes in unexpected ways to people who just hang in there...

[Slip18]

See you at the FRiva, BADJOE! Hang in there. I'm still telling stories about you from the Cruise . . .

[boris]

I think you should flesh out this account and submit it to Discover magazine. They publish "doctor's diaries" and this seems like a sure bet. You'd earn some cash and recognition from it.

I love my family doctor because he listens and is not afraid to say "I don't know." I loathe my cardiologist because he has an ego the size of the visible universe and is a jerk--but is said to be the best there is--by other doctors.

In any event, "never give up" is (usually) a good rule. On the other hand, "Fanaticism consists of redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim."

The opposite is fatalism, and that would have killed your patient.

So I say "good on ya," and keep it up.

--Boris