MetaChat

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

11 May 2006

post by: killdevil at: 20:33 | 30 comments

Wow, that sucks.

posted by killdevil 11 May | 20:34

Damn. I had no idea that she had liver problems...did anyone else? Damn. I was wondering why she didn't post here anymore. She was sweet, and funny, and had a lot of grace, I thought.

. . .

posted by iconomy 11 May | 20:37

posted by matildaben 11 May | 20:45

Holy shit. That's awful. She showed up in IRC a few times and was a perfectly nice person.

Wow.

(I'll forego the dot, because I think it sort of trivializes things. Many condolences to the ones she left behind.)

posted by mudpuppie 11 May | 20:54

That's terrible. My condolences to her family and friends.

posted by LeeJay 11 May | 21:11

That's incredibly sad.

Her last post, in response to "what did you really want to be when you grew up?" she said

Oh, and I still want to be a farmer. Read "Prufrock" to the chickens or something.

posted by gaspode 11 May | 21:47

Who? Some info for those of us who just showed up please.

posted by arse_hat 11 May | 22:05

mihail. She of portabella mushroom fame. Died while waiting for a liver transplant.

posted by gaspode 11 May | 22:16

Aw shit.

posted by arse_hat 11 May | 22:18

Oh, god. I had no idea - though I should have. I emailed her once after the mushroom thing, to just say "it's a tough place, but hang in there", etc. And in part of her response she said, "I do tend to take things too personally; the organ donation link has special meaning in particular--but I guess I just have to develop a thicker skin".

And I just totally missed it. I assumed it had to do with a friend or family member. How horrible.

posted by taz 11 May | 22:35

taz, I think she made a similar comment in the accompanying MeTa thread along the same lines.

posted by dg 11 May | 22:37

We should plant a tree or something.

posted by mudpuppie 11 May | 22:56

Wow, that's terrible! Best wishes to her friends and family.

It sorta makes me think about this whole "internet" thing - like, are some of us really friends, or just like people you see on the subway every morning? If I die tomorrow, will anyone online even know I'm gone?

posted by muddgirl 11 May | 22:59

Yes we would muddgirl. mudpuppie, we could perhaps make a donation or a tree or something. Anyone here know her a bit?

posted by arse_hat 11 May | 23:10

Perhaps?

posted by arse_hat 11 May | 23:23

This is maybe too weird, but there is a charity research organization that is studying the various medicinal benefits of exotic mushrooms, some of which have to do with reducing side effects of chemotherapy, which MiHail had to undergo. It's a UK group, though, and the work is from 2002, so I don't even know if it's still being pursued.

in case anyone is interested in reading more about their findings, here is the page with links to the monograph

posted by taz 12 May | 00:00

Yeah, could we make a collective MeCha donation? perhaps have taz or dodgy set up a paypal link, so that it's dependable?

posted by muddgirl 12 May | 00:06

Mixed in with the funny bits of the mushroom thread there are some appallingly mean and judgmental things being said to Mihail, including by those sanctimoniously posting dots now. That should give us all pause.

posted by rumple 12 May | 00:13

Yeah, muddgirl. Someone needs to set something up. Just so we can honor her and her contributions to this community. Maybe a donation to an organ donation charity?

posted by mudpuppie 12 May | 00:15

Arse_hat, whom I trust completely, has agreed to use his paypal account to collect money... So we really just need to decide on the best charity, and we can set up a special post.

posted by taz 12 May | 00:42

Since organ donation was important to MiHail, we're thinking that this is a good idea; I'm looking at different possibilities now. Does anyone have any ideas?

posted by taz 12 May | 00:50

One possibility is the Coalition on Donation, where one can make a Memorial contribution:

Memorial contributions can be made to the Coalition on Donation in memory of a loved one. A memorial letter is sent to the family with a list of contributors. Each contributor receives a thank you letter for their gift.

If we did that, instead of specific contributors, perhaps make it from MetaChat and maybe MetaFilter if we want to make it a combo thing?

posted by taz 12 May | 00:57

That sounds great. Perhaps Jade5454 could provide the family info? Combo would be cool too.

posted by arse_hat 12 May | 01:07

posted by Gator 12 May | 05:17

.

I'm a registered organ donor and I'm in the bone marrow transplant database. I also encourage everyone to sign up.

posted by sciurus 12 May | 06:31

I'm sorry to hear of this. She sounds great, though we never really interacted. My condolences to those who knew her. I see she was in San Antonio and loved birds. Maybe she saw my grandfather's parrots at the zoo. I'd like to think she did; they're so pretty you forget everything and fly away with them.

I think there's a mistake in the obit Gator posted, on the memorial service date. I don't think it should be February, but I can't email the paper from work. Maybe someone else can?

posted by Hugh Janus 12 May | 08:22

that sounds good, taz.

posted by gaspode 12 May | 08:22

Okay; we now have a donation post here, and Jess has put one up at MeTa, as well.

posted by taz 12 May | 12:23

She died in February, Hugh.

posted by Gator 12 May | 16:06

Mixed in with the funny bits of the mushroom thread there are some appallingly mean and judgmental things being said to Mihail, including by those sanctimoniously posting dots now. That should give us all pause.
posted by rumple 12 May | 00:13

I noticed that too.

*shakes head*

People.

The memorial fund is a great idea. Thanks to everyone who helped pull it together.

posted by PsychoKitty 12 May | 19:13

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