MSI Press Blog

  Tomorrow is Carl's deathversry #5 -- and the approximate date (they both left in August) of Intrepid's deathversary #9.  Intrepid fit the name. Nothing scared him. Kamikaze leaps from halfway across the room to knock over another plant (a favorite activity) to stealing the cheese from a grocery bag and sneaking off to hide it in his favorite cubby hole. Trep could be found on tops of refrgerators, cabinets, and tall cat trees. For sure, the name fit. But Trep had another side. Evening and evening, he would lay across Carls' chest and sleep peacefully for hours. He was Carl's pal; Carl was his. When he died, Carl said, "I just lost my best buddy." He never got over it. All during his cancer treatments and struggles, Carl was alone with humans. The other cats were pals, but they were not best buddies like Intrepid. He missed him especially much those days. After Carl died, our son asked the cemetery manager to put Intrepid's ashes into Carl's vault, an...

Today would have been our 56th anniversary. We never got to celebrate our 50th — COVID locked the world down, and then 2021 took Carl with it. The grand plans we had for that golden milestone evaporated into hospital protocols and masked goodbyes. Life doesn’t always give you the ceremony you earned. But ninjas adapt. Ninjas restructure, reorganize, recalibrate. Ninjas keep moving. And this anniversary belongs in the Grandma Ninja series because Carl was part of the training long before I ever called myself a ninja. He went to every single one of my sessions with trainer Brittany. Every one. He’d sit there like my personal cheering section, amused, supportive, and absolutely determined not to be recruited into anything that looked like effort. If Brittany tried to rope him in, he’d grin and say, “You must stay up late at night thinking up the next marvelous torture.” Meanwhile, I was sweating through hours of drills — because it does take hours to go from flabby government wor...

  For Carl, hypercalcemia didn’t just show up in lab results—it appeared as brain fog, confusion, and instability . He fell several times, a common outcome when calcium disrupts muscle and nerve function. These symptoms led him to the ER repeatedly, where doctors gave him IV infusions to quickly lower calcium levels. 💉 What’s in the ER Shots or Infusions? According to clinical guidelines, ER treatment for hypercalcemia of malignancy typically includes: IV fluids (saline) : The first step, flushing calcium through the kidneys. Bisphosphonates (pamidronate, zoledronic acid) : IV drugs that block bone breakdown and reduce calcium release. Denosumab : A targeted antibody used when bisphosphonates aren’t enough. Calcitonin injections : Fast-acting hormone therapy that lowers calcium within hours, though only short-term. Steroids : Sometimes used in lymphoma-related hypercalcemia. Dialysis : Reserved for severe cases with kidney failure. Carl received IV bisphosphonates/deno...

The Leaver Ofrenda, 2025 Carl Leaver, the beloved typesetter for MSI Press, was born on November 1—a date that holds deep spiritual resonance. It’s All Saints Day, a time to honor those who lived with quiet holiness. And just one day later comes Día de Muertos, the vibrant remembrance of those who have passed, celebrated with altars, marigolds, and stories that keep their spirits close. Carl now belongs to both days. He is not overshadowed by them—he becomes greater as part of them. Our family celebrates Día de Muertos not only to remember Carl, but to place him within a sacred rhythm of continuity. His birthday opens the door to remembrance, and Día de Muertos lets us walk through it with joy, color, and reverence. We light candles, place his favorite tools and books on the ofrenda, and tell stories of his gentle precision and quiet humor. He is not lost—he is woven into the fabric of these days. 🌼 About Día de Muertos Celebrated from October 31 to November 2, Día de Muertos is ...