The "dreaded"phone call today..

[Rogina B]

One of our elderly members and a good friend,Julie Gaum,called me from the VA hospital this afternoon. She said that she wasn't sure that she would make it out alive,and I needed to be aware of where she was..I think I am the "executrix" of her feminine possessions,but she has never given those orders to me.. At 90 something,she is suffering the effects of WW2 injuries to her spine and the VA "pain pill regimen" causes her to black out and living alone,that is not healthy. Anyway,her hair is very light and long..and the VA nurses have suggested a haircut to "masculinize her"..."No,the girls like it this way" has been her reply. She then went on to say that she has been vocal and delusional since her arrival by ambulance there.They told her that she was walking around telling people that she was a Turkey!! I can not understand that as I told her I could better accept that she had been off her rocker telling people she was Marilyn Monroe !Her reply was that her hair was almost that length. Anyway,it is sad for me that one of our members that I brought into the mainstream [a couple of years ago] is now thinking she isn't going to make it much longer and to be prepared for "the next call". Julie passes on her good wishes to those on the forum that she conversed with. I wonder if she wants to be buried in her best dress... I actually believe we will be seeing a few more posts from her but it definitely "sucks getting old"..

[ReineD]

OMG, if you see her again, please tell her that I am hugging her tight in my heart. :hugs:

[Robin777]

I understand what you are going through. My dad is 94 and is in a nursing home. My mom is 90 and is in a assisted living facility. She is on so many medications that she sometimes makes no sense. They both have various problems and are both confined to wheelchairs. Yes, getting old does suck.

[kimdl93]

Please convey my best wishes to Julie as well. She's been a real inspiration to me, but more importantly to so many of us. I've enjoyed corresponding with her and for what it's worth I hope she enjoyed those exchanges as well.

And tell the nurses to leave her hair alone!

[julia ann]

Sending my Prayers her way!

[PaulaQ]

I'm so sorry to hear about Julie, she's been a great contributor here. Please give her my best wishes. And don't let the VA try to hide who she is.

[justmetoo]

Best wishes to Julie Gaum!

[giuseppina]

I am saddened to hear of this.

The uncharacteristic behavior and delusions may be a side effect of the pain medication, very poor blood supply to the brain, some combination of the two, or something else entirely. That said, I am not a MD.

I agree with other posters that Julie's hair should not be cut without her permission. I'm not aware of any serious medical issues caused by long hair.

[Paula Siemen]

Fly away with, first star and turn right till dawn, to never never land and NEVER GROW OLD! Lost my 91 yo father last January. I know all about watching my parent degenerate. So sad, so hard to handle.

Give your friend my best wishes.

[bridget thronton]

My thoughts and prayers are with her

[Eryn]

Julie is an amazing lady and my thoughts are with her.

Eryn

[FrancineS]

God bless her. As a WW2 vet I think she has earned the right to have her hair any length she would like. Bullocks to the overpaid goose steppers at the VA. If it weren't for Julie Guam and other vets we would be speaking German now. Or more likely not speaking at all.

[Hell on Heels]

Rogina,
Thank you so much for being there for Julie.
I've read many of her posts, and was always surprised
at her way of seeing things.
She's quite a bird lover if I remember correctly, ask her what her
favorite one is next time you speak with her.
Much Love,
Kristyn

[Persephone]

Rogina,

Thank you so much for being there for Julie at this difficult time.

As I come from Lake Worth, I've always felt a special connection to Julie. I have long been hoping to meet her but have been stuck on the wrong side of the continent for quite a while.

Please pass on my love to her. My thoughts and prayers will be for her and for you.

Hugs,
Persephone.

[Nikkilovesdresses]

I hope Julie's hair survives the meddling busybodies- that would be a cruel thing to do indeed.

Thank you for telling us about her- I feel so sad and I don't even know her.

[charlenesomeone]

Best wishes to Julie, thanks Rogina, pass on to her all the best and thanks.
Hugs

[Katey888]

It may suck getting old but it will certainly be a huge comfort to have a fabulous friend like you around, Ro... :cheer:

Give Julie a big <gentle> hug from me and say hi from all of us when you see her... No pressure, but her fans are expecting some more posts about her adventures in hospital... ;)

Thoughts and prayers with her...

Katey x

[BOBBI G.]

My heart just dropped into my stomach. I was going to the VA here in WPB Friday. Is she there? Could you give me her room number? If you could give me the answers to my questions, via PM, I would be honored to stop in and see her. She's in my prayers as of right now. Thanks.

Bobbi

[Linda Leigh]

My thoughts and prayers are with Julie

[paulaprimo]

a true sweatheart for sure and she will be missed.
i always enjoy her input and comments.
hopefully she will post again!!

[Alice Torn]

Always enjoyed Julie 's posts. I lost my mom after 8 yrs of Alzheimers, in 2012. My difficult, troublesome dad is over 94. I see my own health slipping too. I also know a woman who is 107,now. There is a semblance to Marylin there.

[Sara Jessica]

Rogina, what you are doing for Julie is something to be cherished. Please pass along my best wishes for her to recover from this setback, whatever it might be.

[Rogina B]

Thank you everyone! I will pass on your well wishes to her. She is just "starting to come out of her shell"...such a shame..

[Marcia Blue]

I have added her to my prayer chain.

[Jill_cd]

I'll keep her in my prayers. As my dad, God rest his soul, used to say, "The golden years aren't so golden".

[Andy66]

Thanks for letting us know, Rogina. I have always been impressed by how well educated, creative and interesting Julie is.

I certainly hope she pulls through, but I wouldnt want her to feel like she has to try to hang in there for our sake. Whatever happens, she is surrounded by the loving energy of a great many friends.

[Rogina B]

Julie called me today and I told her that she had lots of well wishers here! THAT made her day. She is off to a rehab hospital to go "cold turkey" without any of the VA drugs..I suspect they will "strap her down"..lol She will make it through and I am sure she will be back here thanking everyone for their good thoughts and wishes! Ro

[Marcelle]

Hi Rogina,

Please pass on my well wishes to Julie. I can only imagine that having a caring soul such as yourself during this time of strife is a great comfort to her . . . well done.

Hugs

Isha

[Beverley Sims]

Having corresponded with Julie in her time here I very much feel your genuine concern, choked up as I am I wish you both the very best.

Please convey my best wishes to Julie.

That's crap don't let them cut her hair, you can tell her that too! :)

[ReineD]

That's good news, Rogina! Thank you for letting us know and for being there for her.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Rogina, Thanks so much for that information be sure to tell her that we are all pulling for her and give her our love.:love:

[Launa]

Hey Ro, I'm late getting in on this thread, having a WWII veteran amongst us is amazing.
Just thinking to myself and asking could the intention of the nurses who want to cut her hair be thinking that Julie is probably looked at as a bit of an idol around the VA hospital? If so could they want her to have that masculine look for everyone in America or that comes around, gets a picture with her to see that we have a very masculine WWII vet in our presence? I mean there really isn't that many of these veterans left out there and I could see how the majority of the population would think Julie should look a certain way as a man at her age with this kind of a military history. Could it be Julie would be a poster child sort of speaking to the military?
I also thought I saw in a reply one time that when the time comes she wanted to be buried in her full uniform.

Best of luck to Julie

[Bria]

I will keep Julie in my prayers.

Hugs, Bria

[Laura912]

Have written to Julie on a few occasions and her replies were alway courteous and informative. She is a true Lady in the classic sense. Peace to her.