I don’t remember everything that was said when I first visited my sister Linda at the hospital (she was heavily medicated, so I doubt she can remember much more), but I do recall one of the first things we talked about was how best to tell our parents and the rest of the family about her condition. Not an easy thing, let me tell you, and I can completely understand my sister’s apprehension. Not so much angst about them being “mad” (though that’s how she put it, initially) but more that they’ll be in a state of shock and grief at the news. Funny how Linda would even be concerned with such things after undergoing such major surgery.
Also wanted to send out a huge thanks to the unprecedented outpouring of support and encouragement for my sister after Monday’s strip went live. I’ve received so many positive comments, emails and Tweets wishing Linda well, that I haven’t been able to respond to them all, so a big THANK YOU from the Schuetze Family. All these awesome vibes are sure to help her on the road to recovery!
And a reminder to my L.A. peeps that I’ll be at the Comikaze Expo this weekend (November 5-6) at the L.A. Convention Center, so come by the JEFbot booth (#3601) and say hi! Linda/Xinda will be there with Mombot and Popbot on Sunday, with possible appearances by my other sister, Lor/Laura and brother-in-law, Coolhand/Mike. I know the Cornfather will be at the convention throughout the weekend, too! See my blog post for details about it, here.
Here’s hoping Linda makes a full recovery.
much appreciated, SoulMan!
and wouldn’t you know it, you just achieved the Shades of Firsting! wear them well – with all the big, bright, outpouring of hope and positivity around these parts, the Shades might just come in handy:
😎
Definitely tons of well wishes to Linda/Xinda!
thanks for the wishes, VikThor!
How does one tell anyone depressing news? Great strip. I would react the same way
Can I get out comikaze botton too? ):
yup, yup.
yeah, depressing news is hard to give – and i’m especially horrible at it!
I don’t think any of us would want a reason to get proficient at it!
hope your sis makes a good and speedy recovery, stay strong k? (in case u ddint get ma mail, which is ok, I guess you get alot of emails ^^)
Thanks elephante33!
All good wishes are welcomed!
Good luck, Linda! Keep your sense of humor and get healthy. Lots of good wishes from Europe.
a sense of humor is sooooo important (and, thankfully, Linda has that.) thanks, Lipi!
Yeah. I was glad my mum kept hers as long as she did. Her humor had always been sharp, a bit perverted and dark even before she got sick, and her jokes at the expense of her cancer and loss of boob and hair made a lot of people uncomfortable. Especially the type who think getting cancer means the life just stops and the patient should be serious and demure.
Stupids, laughing makes you live longer, right? Or at least it’s more fun to live it 🙂
thanks for the good wishes for my sis, elephante33! and i’ll be sure and keep an eye out for your email when i get to ’em. (wasn’t able to look at any for the past few days due to a comic convention i was at, but hoping to get to them soon.)
A. Sorry little bro, I forgot that you had to tell the parental units.
B. What did they say?
C. And what happened to my LIPS?
D. I’m making you a present! 😉
Are you gonna make him another evil clothing article? ;D
yep! I’m making something now…
Ooh, a new weapon for Scarf Scrawn!
A) how crazy would it have been if we both called from the hospital to tell them that night? 😉
B) maybe we’ll find out in a future strip.
C) they’re sad and dry.
D) yay!
It’s weird to think of a comic as touching, real and heartfelt… and yet you’ve managed to do that while still keeping it Jefbot. That, my friend, is no easy task. It’s been amazing to see Xinda and Mombot active in the threads and the crazy outpouring of your fans support.
Add me to the giant list of people who are wellwishing and sending good vibes. Let me know if there’s anything I can do… even if its just provide an outlet for some videogame violence.
thanks, man – i’m as amazed by all the support and well-wishing for Xin/Lin from the readers as you are. awesome stuff, that.
and, yes – i can always use an outlet via gaming violence and should have some time, now that i’ve gone back to two strips a week. let’s set it up, soon.
Nice way to deal with a nasty situation!
a nasty situation, indeed. thanks, FunnyShaffer!
That is definitely a hard conversation to have with loved ones. I remember well when my mom told me she had breast cancer. It was hard for her to say and hard for us to hear.
Shanna, I complete understand. That’s why I had my little brother do it.
As you can see, he’s much better with words (and mombot & familybot) than I am. I would’ve stormed into the house and yelled “I have cancer & I’m dying” please be at the hospital at 5am or else…. And seeing the looks on their faces was something I couldn’t bear, it would’ve made it too real and it happened so fast that I was spinning.
So, I leaned on my little brother and he stood tall and has been there for me. And now he’s doing a comic segment to support me/cancer. I knew it was a huge burden and ugly situation, so I leaned and he caught me. (sob ;…)
you were the one enduring the real hardship, Xin, so i was just glad i could help, even in the smallest of ways. (although i did think about storming into mom and dad’s house and yelling that you had cancer. definitely would’a been more straight and to the point.) 😉
and i’m sure it’s even harder for parents to tell their children, Shanna. i can only imagine.
I can understand that. It reminds me of an episode from M*A*S*H*. The one with Patrick Swayze. For those who aren’t familiar with the show, Swayze’s character is at the 4077th with a friend who needs a transfusion. He’s hoping to be the donor, but when the doctors perform the standard tests, they find out he’s got leukemia. They are struggling to tell him, and finally do when he blows up at them for not giving him a straight answer. I’ve never had to tell someone anything like that, and I hope and pray that I never do.
wow, Patrick Swayze, KB? i used to watch M*A*S*H* on occasion, but i don’t remember that one. such a good show. and, yes – let’s hope you never have to go through something like that.
Yup. Season 9, Episode 18: Blood Brothers. It’s one of the more sensitive episodes (like Season 7, Episode 5: The Billfold Syndrome; where a soldier loses his memory after seeing his brother killed in combat). These episodes were more realistic in portraying the effects of war on people.
Ah yes. The meds. They make you do crazy things. Like singing the My Little Pony song when one is coming out of open heart surgery at 2 and a half. Not that I would know anything about that. *cough*
Again, best wishes to your sister man. Given your note after the last strip things seem to be well. It’s hard when family has to go through this sort of thing.
now i have the My Little Pony song going through my head, TCG, and i’m not even on meds! but, yikes – open heart surgery?
thanks for the wishes for my sis, and yes – so far, so good. fingers are ever-crossed.
You posted this right after I went to work…
It is hard to tell anyone something that might scare them. I didn’t know about my mother’s heart condition until she had an episode in front of me. (Nothing too serious, an occasional arrhythmia due to a defect in her heart.)
We long to shield those that we love with what could cause them undue duress.
Your passion for life is evident in your comic Mr. Shoot-zee. It is only logical to assume your sister shares the same passion as well. May you both live long and healthy lives filled with love and joy.
Love one another
we have only each other.
For when this life ends
where will we be then?
I hope you find joy
in all life employs.
So start a new page
and close the old age.
May your troubles be gone
as you write a new song,
with those around you
though they might be few.
Thanks you guys! (ily)
You should change your name to Clayton “Glee”!!!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo 😉
sorry to hear about your mom’s heart condition, Clayton, but glad to hear it’s not too serious. still, when it’s your mom or a family member, i know how stressful that can be.
many thanks for the kind words and well wishes. may you and yours live “long and healthy lives filled with love and joy” too!
It is times like this when you learn who your real friends are and who really cares about you. I hope you fight this with all you have, Xinda/Linda.
very true, EmberWest. i know Xin/Lin knows this all too well.
Nothing but good wishes for you and you your sister Bot. I hope Linda is back to 110% in no time.
i hope so, too, Ranmarru! and judging by Linda’s energy when she came and visited the JEFbot booth at a comic convention i was at this weekend, she’s well on her way. 🙂
Multitudes of belated well-wishes and get-wells, O Feared One! I originally wanted to comment last week, but I’d just upgraded both my laptop and iPad and was still having problems with my internet connection. My apologies for the delay.
I forgive you reynard61! But, don’t let this happen again! You’ll have a chance to redeem yourself tomorrow (tuesday) when the NEW strip goes up.
I’m excited to see the next strip as he won’t tell me what it’s going to be about. Sometimes he changes the order of events. But, I told him this one better be alot funnier than the last strip! But, it’s hard to make cancer palatable, but I think jeff’s doing a great job of walking the line between awareness & finding the humor in an otherwise crappy situation. 😉
that line is sometimes hard to see, so thanks, sis. glad you approve of these strips!
no apologies necessary, reynard61! your “well-wishes and get-wells” for Linda are always appreciated, whenever you send them. hope your tech’s all good now.
It would be weird if ‘bot (and you) weren’t mad. But sometimes mad helps.
Well, we’re krazy mad, so we’ll be fine! thanks for your wishes! 😉
i think it’d be weird, too, Sarah W. yep, sometimes, you just gotta be mad!
That’s why you don’t wear rings in the hospital, I learned that lesson the hard way. And this wasn’t up at 4 am central time, what’s the deal? 😉
hope that lesson wasn’t too painful, Oz! and i can’t remember what the delay was on this one. (after this busy weekend, it seems so long ago.) i think i was tinkering with the dialogue ’til the wee hours. but the next strip should be up before 4am central time. *fingers crossed*
I would be really awkward telling my family I had cancer…it’s just hard news to break to people. But I hope Xinda/Linda makes a full recovery.
yeah, there’s just no getting around the awkwardness, GeekGirl. maybe if they had a “i have cancer” section at Hallmark, it’d be easier. 😉
It’s true. We worry so much about how family members will react to things, instead of honoring our own need for their support. But the fear comes from a place of love: we want to spare them any anguish. The irony, of course, is that the longer we wait, the more chance they’ll be mad that we waited so long. 😉
So here’s one more wish that Linda continues to find the strength she needs. I think it will be hard to keep such a feisty woman down!
the fear coming from a place of love and wanting to spare family members from anguish is exactly right, Kim, and that’s pretty much what Linda told me at the hospital. but yes, she’s a feisty one, so i’m sure she’s gonna fight this with all she has!
I think its really cool your doing this Jefbot. When most web comics I read have personal issues they take time off or have other people take care of the comics for a short time. I think its really cool your sharing this with your fans and making us feel like family. My thoughts and good wishes are with your and Xin. I am sure all the warm wishes and good energy from your fans will help her get stronger and back to raising hell.
i think writing and drawing these strips is somewhat cathartic for me, R Dog, so i gotta thank you and the rest of the readers for embracing them the way you have! big thanks for the warm wishes and good energy for my sis!
I suspect by “mad”, Xinda means crazy rather than angry.
well, the Schuetze family’s all a bit mad/crazy (except for me, of course), so she probably meant mad/angry, Rainey. 😉
For your health JB let go of her hand before you lose yours. Honestly though, I’d react the same way, even blubber a bit
good advice, Jiro – she may be weakened, but i’m sure Xin could still pack a punch. and bot’s bruised enough as it is. 😉
I’m back and caught up!
The Scarf Storyline was great, and I’m Hoping Xinda pulls through this one, just as Linda has…
Hoping I’ll be able to visit a bit more frequently, but I’m P.O’d that I missed being an Ambassador…(I dunno if you remember, but my 3DS screen was cracked, and it has now been “Being repaired” for almost three months…go figure ¬_¬)
Anyway, see you guys around.
welcome back, G-Man0091! sorry you came back on such a grim storyline, but if all goes well in the future, it’ll be an inspiring one.
sorry about you missing the Ambassador program. still hoping there’s more perks to come from it. hope you get your 3DS back, soon!
My support to you, your sister, and to the rest of your family, Bot. I’ve been a long time reader, but this is the first time I’ve ever felt the need to comment. My own sister was diagnosed with cancer several months ago, and she was told that it had actually been growing for nearly four years before they discovered it. She’s recently had surgery to remove the tumors, and is undergoing radiation treatments.
The hardest part for me, and for my family, is that my sister now lives in Dubai. Aside from her, we have no ties to Dubai at all and it’s impossible for us to get over there to help support her during this time of crisis. I know that one of the hardest things to go through is that feeling of helplessness when you sit at the side of their hospital bed, but I think that it’s even harder to not be able to do even that much for them.
Good luck, Linda. We haven’t lost hope, and neither has my sister. She’s every inch a fighter, and I know that you are too.
Thank you Lamion! If your sista needs someone to talk to, have her call me! Radiation sux, there’s alot of weird side affects.
My girlfriend (Margi) took me to a place called Mother Nature (they’re into hollistic medicinal treatments etc.) and they recommended Aloe juice, (pomegranate/aloe juice is my favorite, from Whole Foods) I drank it everyday for 2 weeks B4 my radiation treatments started & everyday I went to radiation (7 weeks) they also recommended using Emu soap & Emu oil and Aloe gel & until the last 2 weeks, I did better (skin burning/pain etc) than my other radiation friends! I did finally succumb, and told the doctors to give me pain meds NOW! (which they did)
At any rate, good luck to your sister, I know she’ll make it! 🙂
many thanks for the comment and hope, Lamion. not being able to be with your sister during this time must be unbelievably painful for you, her, and your family. hopefully you’ll be able to see her soon, all rested up and healed (i’m happy to hear she’s a fighter, just like my sister)! sending positive vibes to you and yours.
My family has been stricken with cancer several times over the years, sadly with not so great results. I know at least part of the road you and your family are on, and I hope that you aren’t forced to travel the rest of it…
Linda, I truly hope that all is well and that you stay healthy (otherwise who will torture Jeff 😛 )
I’m never good at knowing what to say in these situations, so I’ll just say that I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers…
(You know, it’s amazing the way life works sometimes. Here I was in one of the darkest depths I’ve been in for a while, and I decided to check out jefBOT, where I found a story that puts my problems in perspective.)
Dear Maddgodd81,
Thank you for your support! I’m truly sorry to hear about cancer in your family, it is horrible. Until I got cancer, I never knew about the cancer community and what other people were going thru, it has given me a new perspective and an even more appreciation for life! And as for jefbot, don’t worry I’ll never stop giving him s%$#t.
Xin 😉
i think you said everything quite well, Maddgodd81, and i think we can all use a bit of perspective, sometimes. 🙂 sorry to hear about your family’s history with cancer. hopefully science will find a cure for it. and quickly!
As I said Elsewhere, the comic has introduced you a lot of people who may be fans, but who are also friends, and step up to the plate when you need support, people to talk to, or just affirmation that you are admired, liked, loved. And that goes for all your family and friends. I find myself In Real Life spending time chatting to The Cornfather now…which is weird.
Again, best wishes, positive thoughts, happy vibes…anything that will bring Linda and you and the parental units peace and strength through this shitty time…
Gaz
Thanks Gaz Hunter!
That you’re talking to the Cornfather, makes you truly weird! You’re now in a special circle of crazies because as the saying goes “the nuts don’t fall far from the krazy cornfather tree”… I haven’t seen the Cornfather as much as I used too, birthdays, Mom’s day etc. I still have the stuffed bunny he gave me one year (Xeva took it from me & it’s still her FAV toy) but, I would love too, as the Cornfather is always hysterically funny and great to be around. Except for when he got that crazy escort job…
the less said about the crazy escort job, the better, Xin. 😉
I want, hell, the whole world wants to know about the crazy escort job. You’re going to have to tell us all, or get him to ‘fess up…
I admit, if you were to fire a rat from a cannon, where it lands is about as far from normal as I am. But I like it here. The scenery is great, the climate temperate…if only people would stop shooting rats at me…
you’re right, Gaz – this comic has definitely introduced me to so many readers who i now call friends – i feel so fortunate, i can’t even tell you. the way that so many people have taken the time to write a comment or email to my sister and i is really just heartwarming and awesome. thanks for the wishes and positive vibes! (and say hi to the Cornfather for me. heheh. actually, just saw him this weekend.)
It’s odd how this works. I found, soon after the publication of my first book, that I had people contacting me on Facebook and Livejournal from all over the world…book two increased the number again, and quite a number, most of whom I will never meet in real life, have gone from being “someone I speak to” to “People I would consider a personal friend”. This is why I love the internets 🙂
I can only offer you my most sincere of empathies.
I send my hope that soon the reality of Linda having a newly cleansed bill of health occurs.
Don’t worry Whistle-Tall! I was given a complete cancer free bill of health. (which they charged me for) ;( I just have to take tamoxfen & some other meds for 5 yrs and a couple of MRI’s blah blah blah.
And, (per doctors instructions) I have to go to HAWAII with my little brother (jefbot) & mombot every 2 years!!! (and ride mopeheads) or I’ll get sick again…
does that mean your insurance will pay for us all to go to Hawaii every two years!? (and can we choose the island?) YAY for doctor’s orders!
thanks for the empathy, Whistle-Tall! and a clean bill of health for my sis for the next many decades would be pretty great. 🙂
Wow, look at that last panel. Xinda is in the hospital bed and still can pull of manace no problem. You go girl!
You should see the other stuff I’ve done!
Which actually you will in upcoming strips…
One (bad/good) thing about being jefbots sista is he remembers & then (amazingly) puts it into a comic strip for everybody to see… I can actually look at him & see the wheels turning about how he’s going to translate what I’ve just done into a comic strip for all of you, I’ve actually had to say “don’t even think about putting that in your strip…”
Xin
ps. I’m not sure what he’s going to do, but I saw that LOOK at the Kamakaze Comic Con Convention last Sunday….
ha! you know she has it in her, Maryz! just look at her flipping off the camera in that pic i posted. 😉
40 days ago, my beautiful wife died of cancer. The doctors where not able to nail down what type it was, but think it was related to ovarian cancer.
Not being able to be specific, they were not able to treat it more than in a generic way.
When people talk about finding a cure, I hope they realize cancer is a phletora of illnessnes, and not just one thing. More than one cure is needed.
OMG! Timothy Whitcomb, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. ;(
And your right, there are so many cancers out there, that no ones aware of. I was not into breast cancer, until I got it. And it’s a whole other world.
When I get stronger I want to give back to all the organizations and people who helped make my ordeal less crappy. (I’m actually fine on most days, it’s just the fatigue that gets me & I don’t have the energy I used to have) Otherwise, I would’ve finished decorating my little bros apartment by now, in December it’ll be 1 year since I started, but my brother’s great & tells me not to worry, take my time. Of course, he doesn’t know that I’ve changed my mind about orange (because of the way the light is in apt.) and I want to redo it in neon green/blue.
Once again thank you for taking the time & emailing me/us. I hope that you’re okay, the lost of a spouse is one of the most horrible things that could happen to anyone.
um, let’s talk about the neon green/blue before you start painting, sis.
incredibly sorry to hear about your wife, Timothy. i hope you and your shared families are finding some positive way to deal with the loss. and, yes – hopefully science will find a way to eradicate all cancer, and diseases people suffer from. cures cannot come soon enough!
Oh my word! I’ve been out of the loop for a couple of weeks now with a new job and have been slacking on my webcomic reading…Good luck with Linda’s recovery, I hope all of the evil cancer is gone baby, gone! What a frightening time for you all. My love to her and the whole Bot family <3 <3 <3
thanks for the love, ESQ! it’s much appreciated, and i’m sure my sis can use all the positivity she can get to squash this thing.
good to have you back!
We’ve been wondering where you’ve been EvilStepQueen!
Thanks for the good luck!
But, get back to the important things, like READING my little brother’s COMIC STRIP! 😉
I’m telling ya, this “work” thing is getting in the way of all of my fun! I will not stray again!! I am all caught up and will faithfully be here from now on!! *salute*
*evil hugs n such*
*evil hugs (of healing!)* 🙂
No way! You’re lying! D: Does she really?? Tell Linda I love herrr! <3
nope, it’s true, Nat! you can tell her yourself the next time she’s over at my parent’s. she was just there on sunday, actually! 😀
I went over at like 10ish but I guess no one heard me ring the doorbell.. Your parents said they would’ve let me go to Con! D: I was so sad, next time I’m going to be more persistent!
Haven’t commented in a while. I expected Xinda to be crushing you’re hand. She’s acting oddly, “tame” I suppose. Must be the anestesia. Go kick that cancer’s ass Linda!
yeah, Xinda’s on some pretty strong meds in this strip, Anime fan. no way bot could do that to her if she weren’t hooked up to some (no doubt) potent drip!
Get well soon, oh Knitter of the Angry Scarf!
JefBot and your creation both need your wrathful powers for the coming battles!
indeed, Ri! my sis actually brought the Angry Scarf to a comic convention i was at this past weekend! check it out, here.
Yeah, if someone gets mad at someone for HAVING CANCER, then fuck them.
But yeah, that’s not gonna happen.
Worried, hell yes, mad, hell no.
The last panel is so awesome: JefBOT just freaking out! And Xinda being really calm saying “You are hurting my hand.” 🙂
Jesus Christ there is a lot of spammy feedback on this site. Have you ever believed about trying to eliminate them or installing a wordpress plugin?
I know I’m posting this almost a year and 3/4 later, but I hope everything turned out well. :/
A couple years ago my Uncle got up early one morning, not uncommon for him, however when my Cousin and his two sons got up they found a note from him. All it said was “Gone to the hospital.” Nobody knew why, which hospital, if he was visiting someone or what.
Turned out he had driven himself 12-15 miles to the hospital while having a heart attack. Three fully qualified drivers in the house and at least a couple more neighbors who all would have driven him, but he drives himself. When we finally found him, my Mom walked through the door into his hospital room and slapped him before she started getting verbal. Let me tell you, when my Mom gives you a tongue lashing, you remember it. =)