sending you healing and supportive energy, and the hope that your cousin gets better. And you know that you can count on us here to listen, if you need to talk. I know that when I had to have surgery several years ago, some friends online who knew how hard it was going to be for me, stayed up all night with me, keeping me company, until it was time to leave for the hospital. I'm sure that there will be someone here, anytime you need us. Don't ever feel that you can't let us know that you need us.
hugs, and I hope things go well, for you and your cousin.
(and thanks for the heads' up on the ticks... I didn't know that could happen, either, and we've been finding them left and right this year! I've already picked two off of me in the last two weeks... not embedded, but just the fact that they were there is scary enough.)