MSI Press Blog

  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 ...

Carl and Murjan , at table Carl loved food. Not in the way people love snacks or comfort meals. He loved food like a musician loves sound—deeply, reverently, with curiosity and delight. He grilled with precision, plated with flair, and never met a cuisine he didn’t want to explore. Ethiopian injera, Vietnamese pho, Sicilian caponata—he welcomed them all. Food was his passport, his playground, his poetry. Carl didn’t binge. He didn’t eat to numb or escape. He ate because he loved the taste, the textures, the craftsmanship. He ate like some people chase sunsets or symphonies. It was his feel-good stuff. 🍽️ When Passion Meets Physiology Carl’s appetite was joyful, but it was also relentless. Over time, his body bore the weight of his enthusiasm—literally. He developed health complications, including cancer, and his doctors noted that his size played a role. This isn’t a cautionary tale. It’s a complexity tale. Some people eat to soothe emotions. Others eat to chase flavor. Some ...

  Today, October 17, is a day that brings back memories. Every year.  On October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m., the earth beneath Northern California gave a violent shudder. The Loma Prieta earthquake , registering a magnitude of 6.9, struck the Santa Cruz Mountains and rippled outward with devastating force. It collapsed sections of the Bay Bridge, pancaked a freeway in Oakland, and silenced the World Series mid-game. Sixty-three lives were lost, thousands injured, and entire neighborhoods reshaped in seconds. For many, it was a day of tragedy. For my family, it was also our first real “hello” from California. We had just moved west from Arlington, Virginia, where I’d been working for the U.S. Department of State. Our family was scattered across the Monterey Peninsula that afternoon—each of us about to learn what it meant to live on fault lines. I was at the Presidio of Monterey, mid-conversation with a calm, collected Army officer. He would later retire and become a lawyer, but...