I finally saw "All in the Family"(The aring of episodes in Australia is slightly behind)...... what a moving and tense episode!. Poor Carter and particularly Lucy...they had to endure so much pain. I never really liked Lucy, however i think that I will miss her on the show. I'm so glad that Carter didn't die...I would have been totally devistated if he did!!.....Carter is the best!. This episode was very well done. One Question though....what's a laparotomy? Why did Peter want to that procedure rather than a thorocotomy??? Thanks!!! :)

-- Anna (annave8@hotmail.com), May 18, 2000

Answers

Hi Anna -- A laparotomy is surgery performed through the belly button, rather than a larger incision. Not sure what a thorocotomy is, but my guess is a chest incision, as in thoracic. Maybe someone else knows more. Glad you got to see the show. It was, indeed, astounding.

-- Indira (indira54@yahoo.com), May 18, 2000.

When I watched 'All In The Family' I broke down when Benton was talking to Carter before the surgery... I was wondering if anyone noticed whether Benton looked like he was going to lose his composure? or was it just me... it could be have been me... as I'm a fan of the Carter/Benton club. Hey Anna, where I live in Australia (QLD) we are a week behind NSW... which sucks... (Sorry I bored you US and UK fans).

-- Hayley (halesun@altavista.com), May 19, 2000.

My understanding: a laparotomy is a kind of surgery of the abdomen/chest using a simple incision in the skin. It's much less non-invasive (hence a faster recovery time) than a midline thoracotomy (what Cleo did to the poor guy), which is where they crack the person's breastbone down the middle, then pry their ribs open to get access to the chest.

-- Lynn (lynn@wordsmyth.org), May 19, 2000.

i thought a laparotomy has to do with the abdomen, and thoracotomy has to do with the chest.

-- ALexis Springer (lexicat1@webtv.net), May 20, 2000.

Thanks for the responses everyone!!!. Hi Hayley, I live in NSW and it looks like we both saw the same episode so you mustn't be behind :). Yeah I agree Benton looked pretty shocked by it all....you would have to be. What an episode!!!!

-- Anna (annave8@hotmail.com), May 20, 2000.

hey anna,

i am from oz too, (Vic) and we just saw "be patient" by all accountswe should see 'may day' on the 6th of july!!! OUCH!!!

-- vika (wild_roses@angelfire.com), May 20, 2000.

Hi Vika, So VIC is one episode ahead compared to NSW and QLD. Thats interesting I wonder why it's like that?. Wonder what episodes the other states are up too?. You guys in VIC will get to see the final before us....lucky!! :)

-- Anna (annave8@hotmail.com), May 20, 2000.