Comments on: Send Funny Card to Friend With Heart Condition?

Question: Send Funny Card to Friend With Heart Condition?

jimmyjimjim — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:27:00 -0800

Will I kill my buddy (in hospital with a large aorta aneurysm) by sending him an amusing card?

I'm afraid this question will expose a really deep, horrendous personality flaw in myself, but here goes. A friend lies critically ill in a hospital in Madrid. He had an aorta aneurysm, and due to its size, he could not be operated on. Doctors thought he would not make it, but his body reacted with a huge hematoma which allowed him to overcome the problem (last week). That's all I know, and I don't really understand any of it. Doctors have refused him visitors, because he must not get emotional and stress his heart in any way.

I've thought of a very funny bon mott to send along on a card with a huge basket of flowers. I won't type it in cuz it's something only he'd "get". It will make him chuckle. And, if I weren't a total jerk, that would completely remove the idea from my consideration. But my go-to instinct at touchy moments is always to brighten mood via humor. And I'm so distraught at his situation, I want to give him "my best"....and he's the kind of person who loves to laugh. And it's really a great line.

I'm sure he's feeling too crappy to start guffawing and chewing the carpet. But it'll definitely get a chuckle. Is there anyone who understands his heart situation well enough to tell me that even a chuckle would be too much? Every cell in my body wants to send him the funny card, 'cuz I feel he'd really dig it and be brightened by it....if it doesn't kill him. So are there any medical people out there who are quite sure it wouldn't kill him (in the biological sense rather than the comedic sense)? Otherwise, I'll (sigh) err on the side of caution and not take the chance.

Also say a quick prayer (or secular expression of hope) if you would. He's awesome....and way too young for any of this.

By: ryanrs

ryanrs — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:00:40 -0800

Well, it seems your friend already has some doctors, and they're telling visitors to fuck off. So now you're asking the internet for a second opinion. Come on now.

Wait until he's well enough to see visitors. Then you can tell your joke in person.

By: Chocolate Pickle

Chocolate Pickle — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:01:54 -0800

Don't do it.

Let's look at risk and reward here. If you "win", he laughs. If you "lose", he dies. Not a very good bargain, if you ask me.

Write your joke down, and tell it to him after he's better.

By: carmen

carmen — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:08:49 -0800

It's not a personality flaw! I love people who make me laugh when I'm sick, and I know I'm not alone.

Here's what I would do. Write the card and seal it in an envelope. Put it in another card that says something heartfelt but relatively neutral like: "I'm thinking of you and I want you to get better soon. When the doctors say you can have a chuckle, open the enclosed card."

By: gramcracker

gramcracker — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:59:02 -0800

So are there any medical people out there who are quite sure it wouldn't kill him

You will never find a medical person out there who will say they are quite sure that X thing will not do Y to Z person without knowing a hell of a lot more about X, Y, and Z.

By: Simon Barclay

Simon Barclay — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 07:18:30 -0800

Seconding Chocolate Pickle.

Risk vs. reward isn't worth it. Hold off on the joke(s); when your friend gets better, begin or end the joke by tell him that you were waiting because you didn't want to kill him -- it may make the joke even funnier.

By: jimmyjimjim

jimmyjimjim — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:05:11 -0800

Chocolate Pickle....that's what I was looking for, thanks.

Everyone else: I heartily agree.

By: pentagoet

pentagoet — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:10:28 -0800

I have a serious heart problem. I'm on the transplant list. I don't think there's anything wrong with your idea , but putting the card in a envelope with a bit of a warning sounds reasonable.
If I'm gonna die in a hospital, I want to die laughing.

By: jimmyjimjim

jimmyjimjim — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:14:40 -0800

pentagoet, I'm with you. It's not just my heedless id doing the thinking here...I, too, would deem it a good way to go.

Please don't die in a hospital, though. Please get better and do lots more laughing.

By: jimmyjimjim

jimmyjimjim — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:11:01 -0800

From a doctor:

Laughing does not raise the blood pressure or heart rate significantly.