We made it back to L.A. via circuitous routing thanks to wacky Mid-Western weather:
Burlington ---O'hare-Los Angeles turned into Burlington-Grand Rapids Michigan- O'Hare- San Diego -rental car-2.5 hour drive.
So after our 3 am arrival and our 6:40am 36" and 41" alarm clocks, we were beat. However, it wasn't enough to stop me from calling my uncle to check in. I headed down there for a few hours with some expectation that I wouldn't be dealing with the same old Uncle G that I was used to seeing.
He's now about six weeks into his diagnosis and prognosis.