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vandago



Registered: 07/07/04
Posts: 20,924
Loc: .
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A dedication to Acidic Sloth. 44
#23548116 - 08/16/16 08:30 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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For those who love her and cherish her that are not vets, we are losing a truly great soul. I don't know if I'm out of line making this post but she is amidst a terminal time as I type this. I dedicate this album to her. It's a good one. I love you all and never let anything stop you from forming bridges with those you love.
[mod edit: Acidic Sloth passed away at 3AM PST this morning]
Quote:
Ythan said: I'm sure Acidic_Sloth needs no introduction here. If you haven't run into her at a gathering, you've certainly crossed paths on the Shroomery during the 14+ years she's been a member/moderator. She's one of the very few people from the site who I cultivated a friendship with. I haven't always been the most reliable friend, but even when we're not in frequent contact I've admired her from afar. She's going to be a molecular biologist, you know. She got the financial aid, and she's taking the classes, and she's doing the homework, and she's going to invent little machines that go in your blood and fix what's wrong with you. She's been busting her ass for years so she can do a better job of helping people.
She has a really dry, dark, intelligent sense of humor. If she was watching from afar, I think she'd find it funny that cancer made a preemptive strike before she could finish her education and kick its ass with science.
On Monday of this week she was admitted to the hospital when her family became concerned about her uncharacteristic behavior. During the next two days, her condition deteriorated rapidly and she was placed under sedation. Testing revealed a large, aggressive, malignant tumor spanning both hemispheres of her brain. A shunt was installed to manage the pressure within her skull.
It is almost certainly either a butterfly glioblastoma (bGBM) or a lymphoma. Either way, her cancer is terminal and inoperable. She is in a good hospital near her home and she has friends and family with her. She remains under heavy sedation, and early next week a risky biopsy will be performed to determine which kind of cancer it is.
If it's a butterfly glioblastoma, which it probably is, statistics say she has a year to live with aggressive treatment. With a lymphoma, four years is more typical. I know Slothy's a badass and will smash all statistics, but it's still pretty dire. At this point it's not even a given that she'll regain consciousness after the biopsy.
I'm making this post because the Shroomery has been a large part of her life over the years and she would want her friends from the past and present to be informed. She's been there for a lot of us during our darker moments, and now she could use our support. If you would like to take a few minutes to reflect on your relationship and write a note or draw a picture or send her something, geokills will collect everything and deliver it to her at the earliest opportunity. You can post in this thread, or write him a PM. If you're sending a drawing or image, please try to scan or photograph it at a high resolution so we get the best print quality. If your image is too large to upload on this site, or if you'd like to send something physical through the mail, please contact me or geokills to make alternate arrangements.
There's a lot more I could say, but I don't want to make this post sound like a eulogy or something. This is a serious situation, but if anyone can bounce back it will be Slothy. Best-case scenarios aren't that bleak. Please keep her in your thoughts and remember to cherish every minute of health that you have.
We'll all post updates in this thread as they become available.
UPDATE:
Surgery has been ruled out due to the size of the tumor and its location. It's as big as a softball, and located in a very nerve-dense area, encompassing both hemispheres and almost the entire frontal lobe of her brain. Even a needle biopsy is considered risky due to its placement. Chemotherapy is problematic because most effective agents cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. Butterfly glioblastomas are poorly studied, but in limited trials, radiotherapy like gamma knife surgery has not been shown to have a survival benefit. If it is a lymphoma, radiotherapy would be an option, and that's part of the reason why lymphomas have a better prognosis. She may be eligible for clinical trials but they have to know what kind of tumor it is first.
Yesterday Slothy was briefly awoken from sedation to perform neurological testing. She was able to squeeze once for yes and twice for no, and she indicated the she knows she's in the hospital, and her head hurts. Even just being aware caused additional swelling in her brain, and she was quickly placed back under sedation. She is resting comfortably under a cocktail of Fentanyl and Propofol.
She needs 48 hours of normal cranial pressure (<20 mmHg) before they can perform the biopsy. She's currently stable at 18 mmHg. I'll post more news as it becomes available.
UPDATE:
[Ythan quoted a text from slothie's mother, which I don't feel comfortable publicly divulging. She informed Ythan the biopsy was the worst news possible. The tumor has enveloped her entire frontal lobe. She is not conscious. They are going to let her pass.]
I know at least a few of you have chatted with her in this thread and elsewhere.. I don't know what to say, but anyone who would like to share their condolences whether online or in person should contact Geo or Ythan.
Edited by koods (08/17/16 08:49 AM)
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Le_Canard
The Duk Abides


Registered: 05/16/03
Posts: 94,392
Loc: Earthfarm 1
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Re: A dedication to Acidic Sloth. [Re: vandago]
#23548118 - 08/16/16 08:31 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Huh? What do you mean? Is she ill or something?
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ModestMouse
IM WALKIN ON SUNSHINE


Registered: 05/06/13
Posts: 19,227
Loc: Upstate
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Re: A dedication to Acidic Sloth. [Re: vandago] 1
#23548119 - 08/16/16 08:31 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Heard about this earlier today  My condolences to her family
She was very genuine, from what I observed.
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vandago



Registered: 07/07/04
Posts: 20,924
Loc: .
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Re: A dedication to Acidic Sloth. [Re: Le_Canard] 1
#23548120 - 08/16/16 08:32 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Very. Her family is with her. She is surrounded by loved ones. They are taking her off life support tonight at pacific time sunset.
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Othyem



Registered: 04/17/09
Posts: 1,935
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
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Re: A dedication to Acidic Sloth. [Re: Le_Canard]
#23548121 - 08/16/16 08:32 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Go check the thread in the vets lounge.
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Connoisseur

Registered: 05/13/11
Posts: 34,686
Last seen: 5 years, 3 months
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Re: A dedication to Acidic Sloth. [Re: vandago]
#23548126 - 08/16/16 08:34 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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I was heart broken when I heard this earlier today, shes one of the people ive looked up to since I first came to the shroomery.
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California
A E S T H E T I C S A T A N


Registered: 12/27/04
Posts: 72,118
Loc: H A U N T E D H O U S E
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Re: A dedication to Acidic Sloth. [Re: vandago]
#23548138 - 08/16/16 08:37 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
vandago said: They are taking her off life support tonight at pacific time sunset.
Yes. Sunset is in about ten minutes. Our last moments she breathes air with us.
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falsereality


Registered: 04/01/13
Posts: 4,112
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Re: A dedication to Acidic Sloth. [Re: Le_Canard] 1
#23548139 - 08/16/16 08:37 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Le_Canard said: Huh? What do you mean? Is she ill or something?
She is in a medically induced coma with terminal stage 4+ butterfly glioblastoma multiform cancer, it's inoperable. That's the last news I've heard.
She will be missed, I've always thought of her as one of the more inspiring members on this forum.
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Jokeshopbeard
Humble Student

Registered: 11/30/11
Posts: 26,088
Loc: Deep in the system
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Re: A dedication to Acidic Sloth. [Re: Connoisseur]
#23548142 - 08/16/16 08:38 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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There's gonna be an official announcement soon for those that don't have access to the vets lounge.
-------------------- Let it be seen that you are nothing. And in knowing that you are nothing... there is nothing to lose, there is nothing to gain. What can happen to you? Something can happen to the body, but it will either heal or it won't. What's the big deal? Let life knock you to bits. Let life take you apart. Let life destroy you. It will only destroy what you are not. --Jac O'keeffe
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vandago



Registered: 07/07/04
Posts: 20,924
Loc: .
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Re: A dedication to Acidic Sloth. [Re: Connoisseur] 1
#23548144 - 08/16/16 08:39 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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It's been a hard year. She's helped make my entire life better from afar. I can't stop questioning what this is all for. But I know that she was one of the strongest most dedicated individuals I never got to meet. She was beyond compassionate and she put her soul into every word she spoke to me. She was brilliant, overcame unbelievable trials and tribulations. She sacrificed a lot to become something greater than she already was, and she's always been amazing. She won't be forgotten.
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Connoisseur

Registered: 05/13/11
Posts: 34,686
Last seen: 5 years, 3 months
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Quote:
Jokeshopbeard said: There's gonna be an official announcement soon for those that don't have access to the vets lounge.
thx
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vandago



Registered: 07/07/04
Posts: 20,924
Loc: .
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Quote:
Jokeshopbeard said: There's gonna be an official announcement soon for those that don't have access to the vets lounge.
I guess if you wanna delete this thread for the "official" one go ahead. I wasn't trying to impose. I loved her like a sister. She was one of my best friends.
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Jokeshopbeard
Humble Student

Registered: 11/30/11
Posts: 26,088
Loc: Deep in the system
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Re: A dedication to Acidic Sloth. [Re: vandago]
#23548162 - 08/16/16 08:48 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Nah it's cool man, it's just being discussed behind the scenes. The team want someone who knew her well to make the announcement, so that counts me out anyway. I'm fucking pained by this news like the rest of us though, truly leaves a knot in my heart.
-------------------- Let it be seen that you are nothing. And in knowing that you are nothing... there is nothing to lose, there is nothing to gain. What can happen to you? Something can happen to the body, but it will either heal or it won't. What's the big deal? Let life knock you to bits. Let life take you apart. Let life destroy you. It will only destroy what you are not. --Jac O'keeffe
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vandago



Registered: 07/07/04
Posts: 20,924
Loc: .
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Her and I used to talk for hours on end. There are more that are troubled by this than I surely. I didn't make this for attention, just to pay my respects.
I apologize
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Connoisseur

Registered: 05/13/11
Posts: 34,686
Last seen: 5 years, 3 months
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Was gonna make a thread earlier but since I never spoke to her one on one I figured I would leave it for someone better suited.
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Cowb0yNeal00


Registered: 06/05/13
Posts: 11,059
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Re: A dedication to Acidic Sloth. [Re: Connoisseur] 1
#23548169 - 08/16/16 08:51 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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RIP Acidic Sloth
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404
error


Registered: 08/20/10
Posts: 14,539
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Re: A dedication to Acidic Sloth. [Re: Cowb0yNeal00]
#23548192 - 08/16/16 09:00 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
California said:
Quote:
vandago said: They are taking her off life support tonight at pacific time sunset.
Yes. Sunset is in about ten minutes. Our last moments she breathes air with us.
How awful. deepest condolences to her family and those that got to know her.
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koods
Ribbit



Registered: 05/26/11
Posts: 106,493
Loc: Maryland/DC Burbs
Last seen: 13 hours, 12 minutes
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Re: A dedication to Acidic Sloth. [Re: 404] 3
#23548196 - 08/16/16 09:02 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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I've updated the OP with the information we have.
--------------------
NotSheekle said “if I believed she was 16 I would become unattracted to her”
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404
error


Registered: 08/20/10
Posts: 14,539
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Re: A dedication to Acidic Sloth. [Re: koods]
#23548205 - 08/16/16 09:04 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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edit- sorry, you meant this thread.
Edited by 404 (08/16/16 09:10 PM)
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qman
Stranger

Registered: 12/06/06
Posts: 34,927
Last seen: 1 day, 12 hours
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Re: A dedication to Acidic Sloth. [Re: koods]
#23548207 - 08/16/16 09:04 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Wow, so sad. RIP Acidic Sloth.
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