Monday night

Okay, now maybe I'm getting paranoid. Today Dr. M's office called and again - AGAIN for the 5th time since the original appointment was scheduled in October 2010 - cancelled a scheduled appointment. I was supposed to see him at 8:00 am tomorrow. They offered 10:00 am but I had taken 1/2 day off of work and already scheduled doing something else at 10:00 am. They offered 3:00 pm but I didn't want to take the whole day off of work. Plus the last time I had an afternoon appointment scheduled with him, I was on the bus on my way to the appointment when they called to cancel the appointment so I missed an afternoon of work for no reason. When they rescheduled me the 4th time, I actually offered to BET the woman in his office that she would be calling me again, to reschedule a 5th time. I offered to buy her lunch if he didn't do so. But she didn't accept the bet.

With good reason. Apparently.

Frankly it FEELS as if they are doing this on purpose, to screw with me. I know that's not true. I certainly want a doctor that makes "emergency surgery" the priority over wellness visits, which is what I assume my visits are. But at some point, after 5 months and 5 cancellations, at some point I actually NEED to see the oncologist "in charge" of my care. They ended up rescheduling me for next Monday morning. At that appointment I am going to tell him how I am feeling. I am going to ask for another doctor in his practice to back him up if he ever cancels on me again. I am not going to go through this every 3 months for 5 years. It is too stressful. And, if he cancels the appointment on Monday, then I'm going to fire him and fine another oncologist. I respect his need to "be there" for patients when they are in emergency situations. But it looks like he doesn't have any time at all for other patients. Maybe he needs to stick to the emergencies and let someone else handle the care of patients afterwards.

I continue to be inspired by the events in the Middle East. One, two, many Egypts! And Wisconsin! As far as the U.S., I don't think we've seen anything yet, and I expect things will get worse, much worse, before people everywhere are ready to take to the streets. What the governor of Wisconsin wants to do is what the majority of people in this country apparently just voted for in the U.S. Congress. My grandmother, Mattye Nelson, used to say "Be careful what you ask for - you might just get it." Ain't that the truth!

Likewise, I guess it is being six decades old now, but I worry about what comes after the uprisings in Egypt etc. When you stir the fire, sparks fly and you can get burned. Is it a good thing, even a great thing, to see the people of Egypt and other countries rise up? It is a truly great thing. But the hard work of addressing society's problems isn't a celebration, it's hard work. I hope we human beings are up for it.

Peace.

Saturday morning

First time to the park in weeks or longer. Ella was excited and we basically had the place to ourselves. A few birds singing here and there, but no sign of the ducks, Canada geese, squirrels, rabbits, the muskrat, foxes or the La-De-Da poodle that named Sophia that sometimes lords it over lesser creatures (like me). There has been so much snow that the park benches scattered throughout the park are buried, with only the top parts of their backs sticking through the snow pack. So much snow, in fact that they have not plowed the road that goes around the western loop and no one has been brave or foolhardy enough to tramp the walking path. Untouched snow pack over there (now crusted over hard with coat of ice). The walk today made me ask myself what my walks were like there last winter with Jessie when I was going through radiation after the chemo. Clearly we didn't have anywhere near this much snow. I do recall cold days. It was good to go back and I'm looking forward to walks with Ella there in the spring.

Thanks to J for his query about my daughter's note seeking an ENT doctor for the patient in Haiti. It is possible one has been found; don't know for sure yet, I'm checking on it.

How about the Egyptian people!?! I like to think about the assorted (and sordid) variety of dime store dictators ruling in other Middle East countries with iron fists, tossing and turning in their beds these nights, thinking "Am I next?" I certainly hope so. Of course, now comes to Egypt a period of instability and - do we know who always steps forward to (try to) take advantage of instability? Is it the forces of Peace, Justice, Equality and Compassion? If only we could learn to do so. No, it is not. It is the next wanna-be-a-dictator types. I head one young woman interviewed (well, sound byte type interview) on TV right after the announcement that Mubarket would step down. She said that yes, she was very excited, but also scared about what would come next. Smart girl.

Hey humanity! Let's get our act together, shall we?

Peace. Justice. Peace. Justice. In Egypt. In Haiti. Everywhere.

Asking for help

Anyone reading this likely knows my daughter is in Haiti working for a small non-profit called S.O.I.L. I added a link to S.O.I.L.'s web site to the blog. My daughter sent me the following note this morning. In addition to posting it here, I will send it to my rabbi since I know there are several of the members of the synagogue are doctors at the local hospital where I had surgery and received my cancer treatment. Perhaps they know an ENT. At any rate, I post it here because I do believe that each of us must do what he or she can, however small.

Peace to each and every one.

* * * *

Friends,

The email below is from my awesome RN/BSN housemate Brooke here in Port-au-Prince... I met David and his family on Saturday, he is wonderful man and will die without this surgery (Brooke told me this on our moto ride home and I cried with dust clinging to my wet face).

If you know a doctor- ANY sort of medical doctor, please forward this email... It would be a tax write-off, of course. ...and a most beautiful thing.

For those of you I've not written since I arrived in Haiti, I am well and inspired and I miss you and appreciate your support now, as always.

Love,
C

p.s. I mistakenly sent this without Brooke or Dr. Dauplaise's contact information. Please do share this email as widely as you are able. Thank you.

Brooke Beck- brooke.bbeck@gmail.com
Dr. Dauplaise- iamlivingthedream@gmail.com


Hello all,

I am sorry for the constant requests, but I MUST ask.

I am looking for an ENT who would be willing to come to Haiti ASAP. The case is below.

David, 47 year old male teacher, pastor and father of one 3 year old daughter.
David presented to clinic 4 months ago with a grossly swollen head and eyes and with serosanguineous fluid coming from both ears. Pt with a fever of 102 and HR of 160.

Pt was hospitalized for one month. His scalp was drained and he received IV antibiotics ( unknown what medication was used) for the month. David continued to have scant drainage from his R ear over the next 3 months. He then returned to the clinic with a low grade fever and swelling of the R temporal area at the beginning of January. David was started on IM Ceftriaxone 2 grams for one month. He had his head drained and washed out with Gentamicin one time. David just finished his month of injections and is now taking Bactrim BID.

David's head is swelling again and he complains of an increase in drainage from his R ear.

I have a CT from this month, I can't get it to attach at this time but find a way to get it to anyone interested.

If any of you know of an ENT that would be willing to take this case, please let me know. Derrick Dauplaise MD who is part of this e-mail chain saw and assisted in treating the Pt. If you have more questions and would like to speak over the phone you can contact him.

Thank you very much for considering this case

--
Brooke Beck RN,BSN
Medical Coordinator
Partners In Development
Haiti Cell- 509-3-471-4223
509-3-427-2409
US Cell- 541-326-9639
www.pidonline.org