Vanderbilt story

This time we were only 10 mintues late getting to see Dr. Sandler...i just can't seem to make my way through the university quickly...must be b/c i graduated from such a small college...ANYHOO.
Again we met with Dr. Sandler's fellow prior to seeing him. She is a lovely girl from Toronto...stone faced a bit...and not as...how do i say...emotional as an american might be...but...like her just the same.
Hubby qualifies for the trial that they are conducting. It involves high doses of celbrex (can you believe it?) at teh start to get some chemical 'down' in the body and then the chemo drug Alimpta is added...this cocktail is given in three cycles of two...similar to what hubby has done already...
trouble is however...the study is designed for one year...and we... as much as we like the south...aren't much into flying into nashville every three weeks...soooooooooo (and no, this study is not running parellel with the James... they will have their own studies to consider)
we got some great advice though-> hubby has been encouraged to see an orthopedic surgeon for possible cortisone shots for his knee pain...could be arthritis..
also, go back and talk to the radiologist about now being a good time to 'light up' that tumor. the lung lower lobe has collapsed and it is making it difficult for hubby to breath...and it brings on the cough....
we can also discuss a shunt being put in the lung to force open that airway.
i was so HAPPY to finally discuss the radiology. I've known that it could be in teh bag of tricks and it was just a matter of 'when'.
hubby will talk to radiology this week to get scheduled.
we also got names of two docs at The James...both 'very close' friends of Dr. Sandler. and he has offered to 'make the call' for us if needed.
he also told us not to worry about the posibility of not having insurance...that they will see us and work with us...we just need to call them and tell them that Dr. Sandler sent us.
i have to admit....and perhaps get on my soapbox a bit....when i asked about the insurance thing....Dr. Sandler made a point to the fellow gal from Canada that it isn't the poor and it isn't the rich that have trouble getting health care...it is the MIDDLE Class that gets screwed!!
now, you know i'm a supporter of most of the democratic policies...but when a person moves to the US and is given Medicaid/Medicare/food stamps AND the ability to WORK when they have NEVER paid a red sent into any of these progrmas and our family must become close to bankrupt b4 ever thinking about qualifying for these programs...well...damn it......something just ain't right!!!
and i know MR B i am again 'personalizing' the issue....but...
my hubby has worked since highschool....he served in the United States Armed Forces DURING a WAR and yet...the ONLY way he'll qualify for VA health benefits is to only have a net worth of $1500...not including our home...which of course costs more than that a month to run.......the VA is ONLY accepting two types of folks....those who have a service related injury and those that are indegent.
you know..we aren't asking for handouts....
we are just looking to get health care that we can afford.
i believe that we should have access to health insurance at a rate that we can pay.
COBRA for our family is over a thousand a month - now, if we had a way to negotiate that rate...considering SS benefits (which...by the way did you all know that it takes 6 months b4 that kicks in?????) and my working parttime and some 401K money i'm sure that we can could come up with a reasonable deal...........

BUT.....i guess...that will happen when my girl Hill gets into office :)>::):

...ok,,,,climbing off my soap box now.....

i was personally thrilled with the meeting today.
i look forward to looking into trials at the James...and just getting home....
R and i were saying today how we can't wait to take our evening walks again around the circle....the kids and i really enjoyed that time together....i've missed it...
oh boy...and walking to school....that will be great....mr. k will be thrilled to have access to a playground again...and then there is our Lu....it will be years b4 she is tall enough to reach any of the climber...but there's always a hand to lift her up!!

kisses and goodnight....
hey, am i the only one that misses Tim Russert.....i am so lost on sundays............