The month of December and a status update.

in #littlejohn5 years ago

So much has happened

I have wanted to write but none of the events have been full of balloons and party favors.

I was asked what happened to @lvj

The short answer:

I was there a week ago and he was not there, so I gave his Steemit earnings to Jorge, the super at the building where he Juancito used to live.

The long answer:

We left off expecting Juancito's birthday on December first. The last day of November I had dropped off a cake and candles to Jorge, and he placed them in his refrigerator. I saw Juan in his usual spot across the street, but I had just come from the supermarket and was headed to a family thing with other perishables.

The next day was Juan's birthday and I stopped to see him pre-sundown, not really sure what the plan would be. I had pictured a song and candles in the lobby of the building where Jorge works. While I was still a block away, I heard him. He was billowing insults into the air as if yelling toward the balconies of all the people that he had introduced on his blog here on Steemit. I was told about this side of Juan but had not seen it.

When I got closer, he stopped. I asked him to calm down and tell me what was upsetting him. First and foremost was that his phone had been stolen, "and they nearly pulled my arm off" he said. Juancito does not realize that he is really big. He thinks like a kid but looks like a human fork lift.

I tried to cheer him up and have him look on the bright side. He still has the tablet which is all set up to vote and comment on Steemit, but that was not what he was worried about. He was worried that he could not send messages on Whatsapp or surf Youtube. He would not stop talking about how he cannot make any money unless he has those two programs. He told me to go talk to Jorge about buying him a new phone. Jorge speaks no English.

When I walked across the street, Jorge was working and I spoke to him about a phone and gave him the money meant to be a birthday present. Jorge put the money in a box where he keeps Juan's other earnings. "He is like a brother to me!" said Jorge. "I will see what is available on Monday. Something used maybe." He looked as though he had not slept. He hadn't in fact. Nobody in the building had slept because Juan - the man that they all stopped to chat with daily - had kept them all up all night. Today, on the other hand, is his birthday and I was the only willing participant. Nobody wanted any part of him, at least until they were able to recoup their sleep. That is my own assumption.

Jorge went and got the cake I had purchased, there were candles in the bag with it. He handed it to me and tried to express the things Juan had said and done, but the words were not in my vocabulary. I could tell they were insults because of the expression on his face when he punctuated some of the words. I was not good at acting with outrage at yet another word with a rolling 'R' in in it.

The plan had been to have a few people in they foyer and let Juan blow out his candles, maybe film it and post it. Ruined. Instead of a celebration, I found myself walking back across the street armed with a chocolate cake and a maybe on the phone for him. Juancito took the grocery bag and dipped his huge hands into the bag and scooped out handfuls of cake. He asked if Jorge would be buying him a new phone. Yes, Monday he will check into it. A birthday this pitiful was not the kind I would even think about capturing. No photos. Sorry.

I needed to tell Juan about the price dropping severely, some of his post going to zero and why. I asked if he wants to cash out his earnings in the twenty-cent range or wait for it to go up. I had been busy the previous week trying to defend some on-line friends from turning invisible, and every unpaid comment of mine did so as well. Of course when that happens, anyone I support is a target. Yeah, even the one sleeping on the sidewalk. Juancito chose to take the money as soon as I could cash it out.

Getting back to the short answer, and also moving forward to mid December, I cashed out his liquid steem and dropped off his money after all posts and comments had past the seven day mark. Juan was nowhere to be seen. I dealt with gestures and words as Jorge spoke to me, gave me the news that Juan was taken to the hospital and was at risk of losing his leg to gangrene. Ambulance, hospital and gangrene can all be easily understood if you put them on paper and read them with a Spanish pronunciation. I was able to understand what had happened.

I was not pleased to hear about that and wondered if I had only been able to to get Juan into a hostel or apartment somehow it may not have happened. The answer I got from Jorge was "Forget about it." Apparently Juan had yelled even louder in pain for an entire night two days earlier. They found him out there in the morning with his leg all opened up from his heel to the calf. He was put into an ambulance and taken to the hospital having suffered considerably through the night. You cannot blame people for not responding at 2:00 a.m. because of Juan's habit of yelling like that for less serious reasons.

This post has been on my mind

I have been meaning to make one. It is not the easiest thing sit down and write on negativity and misfortune. I have been awaiting a call from Jorge, who now has my number and promised to update me on Juan's condition. I do not have his number and Juan has no phone. I will head over there if I do not hear anything shortly. I was not planning to write this until I had the rest of the story but @xpilar sent a message in my wallet. I know that you all have to be wondering. I knew I had to write something and this is as far as I can go.

On a positive note, ambulances and hospitals are all free in this country. If you are human, they treat you for free and charge nothing. Health insurance exists if you want to go to a private hospital, but I have waited less time at a public hospital to be seen for a cough than I had at a private hospital for pneumonia. He is in good hands.

The best news would be to see a post from LittleJohn on @lvj - I check to see if he has every day.

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My heart is sad when I read about @lvj

As you write @done, he is in the best hands in the hospital
and the news would be to see from LittleJohn on @lvj
We hope he returns and with his smile again

Thanks @done for writing about @lvj

My heart is also sad. One of the leading causes of Gangrene is smoking and I feel we only enabled him to smoke more. I am sure that regular baths would have helped also, that is, if we were able to find a place for him. The only idea I have left is if we can get him out to a farm or a ranch, somewhere that he could be understood and if he is loud, it would only wake a few.

Jorge knows him best and he is a really good person.

Gangrene is so serious, I hope he pulls through with not permanent damage. Getting him to a ranch and waking a few is still a problem.. I'm not sure what the solution is really. I await to hear more news. Meanwhile, I have my own personal issues to resolve.

I hope for the best for him.

And as you say, perhaps a farm or a ranch might be the best for him.

My friends and I will give our support if it can be done

No es tu culpa, le has proporcionado herramientas para vivir mejor y es decision de cada uno el como usar esas herramientas. Ponto se recuperará y quizás tu idea sea una buena opción para nuestro amigo Jhon. My best for him.

Greetings @done,

Thank you for giving Steemians an update.....and thank you for persevering even when the situation seems hopeless.

We must know this is not an easy road to assist the helpless.

All we can do is assist whilst staying objective without taking any of the decisions they make personally......a lot to ask....right?

Very kind of you to buy a cake for his birthday......thank you.

Heart-breaking with regard to Juancito and you..... yet all is not lost.

Prayers for him is the best we can do.

Please give him my regards if you should see him in the hospital.

All the best @done.

Wishing you and yours a belated Happy Christ-mas and a Prosperous New Year 2019!

Ciao!

That's terrible news, but I'm glad you've taken the time to share it. I've been dealing with a similar situation with a friend of mine who is bipolar, and I wish I could say that I've shown him the same grace that you consistently show. In truth, I've been avoiding him and the drama he often carries in tow, but it would be better to deal with the occasional headache than to live with the regret of something happening to him while I have been out of touch. Good for you for looking out for your friend, and I'll be praying for Juanicito that the doctors take good care of his leg.

Thanks for the update... what a strange turn of events. i hope his leg is saved. I think lvj's priorities is somewhat messed up.
But I guess it is to be expected after being in a certain state in a long while.

I myself have(is) in such a state (thats why i ended up here on Steemit, trying to see if I can somehow make it....).. and sometimes it looks like no way out of a certain situation. Certainly, you are a big influence on lvj and able to help him, perhaps he has become too reliant ?

Thank for sharing story @lvj.
@done.
heart-touching story.
I also feel sad.

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One of the things that keeps me going on this platform is because of the inspiration and inspirator. I have to admit that I have rarely found posts like this. and I really appreciate your actions with all my limitations. I hope Jon will get well soon and God will heal him. Thank you sir @done for spreading this humanity. God bless you.

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My God, what a sad thing that has happened with Juancito, I have been watching him, I felt that something was not right ... I have even prayed for him and for you, because they had a long time without publishing, I hope he recovers soon . Please keep us informed ... I will continue to pray for Him.

Esta nota negativa sobre Juan me entristece, yo le agarré mucho cariño, porque su vida no era nada fácil, tenía la esperanza del cambio. Ahora a esperar que se recupere, @done por favor mantenganos informados.
Te extrañamos en ese mes de silencio, @done. Saludos desde Venezuela.

Its hard to read this about @lvj, i am really sad because this, but on the other hand at least he are on the eye of specialists, and i sure they will do all the can to save Juancito leg.
All in life teach us something, and i think that all these obstacles made us stronger.
On the same way, Juan needs guidance, a coach that would help him a better point of life, being more positive and learning to transform the negative on solutions and chance to be better and happy.
We are with you @done, keep good vibes bud!

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