It's been a while since the last update and perhaps it's because this whole process is exhausting. Not in the sense that a little extra sleep will cure but more from the pit of your stomach anxiousness that has become part of our everyday new life.
In the first few seconds when you wake up in the morning (if you have had the good fortune of sleeping through the night) there is no cancer. The day is full of possibility and the world is your oyster.
One minute later it creeps up from under your bed, where all boogymen hide, to give you a little pinch and bring you back to reality. The reality that this process is E X H A U S T I N G !
Now I am beginning to wander. Back to the reality that is, careening down this rabbit hole.
We met with Dr. S on Thursday. He was positive, upbeat and razor sharp. While still nothing is conclusive he is expediting the process to get some results. During our meeting with him, once we had been through the history and many details of the diagnosis, surgery and CT scan; he said something that caught my attention.
Please understand that we are neophytes in this world of both the medical "system" (notwithstanding Jody being on the giving side as a nurse years ago) and the process of treating cancer. So we don't know how long things take and the hoops that must be jumped.
Here's what he said,"when the head of Oncology ( at Sunnybrook ) asks you to see a patient, you make time in your schedule". His current available booking dates start in February !
I can't tell you how good that was for Jody and I. This all goes back to a special friend of the family who referred us to Dr. T in the first place. When this all became VERY real on Sept.26th, (which feels like a century ago but really happened a second ago if you count your time in epochs) Dr. F in Edmonton spoke with Jody in a calm and reassuring way, then put us in touch with the best in the business. Yes, the very best in the business. As time goes on I hope to include these doctor's names in this blog because they and their support nurses are incredible and deserve praise, not anonimity.
Back to where I left off.
Meeting the EBUS Driver
Dr. S, in the middle end of the meeting, picked up his cell phone and called first the office of a thoracic surgeon regarding booking times, then the actual surgeon. With a few brief words electronically zipping through a local cell tower Jody was set to see this surgeon this coming Tuesday. While it is a consultation meeting, Dr. N. S is one of only two surgeons in Toronto that do endobronchial ultra sounds ( EBUS). The other one is the originator of the process. Very impressive.
The process uses ultrasound to accurately locate the area in the lungs to take the biopsy. As I understand it, in the past this was done blind.
Dr. S will be presenting Jody's case this Tuesday to his colleagues both on an educational basis and as a consultation, the same day we will be seeing this surgeon.
I have always thought the Jody was special so there is no reason why she shouldn't be treated the same during this traumatic mess of a situation :-) .
Here is Jody's original take on what we just went through. We were referred to an appointment, to make an appointment to make another appointment to have a biopsy done by EBUS. The special part is, that this all takes place within two weeks, phenomenal. I left out her colourful use of the "F" word but some of you experienced it first hand either in text or email.
We find out if we get to board the EBUS on Tuesday.
Jody's Mom "A Force To Be Reckoned With"
During our meeting with Dr. S, Aunty Brenda made a wonderful understatement that needs to be acknowledged. She said to the doctor she was Jody's surrogate parent ( to explain how she fit in).
Well, besides the fact that she and Mitch have been there with us every step of the way, it reminded me of what might have happened if Jody's Mom was still alive. No disrespect to Aunty Brenda but I think she would agree that if Nancy was still in prime fighting shape watch out.
Nancy was a force to be reckoned with. It makes me smile to think how ferociously she would have been part of this process. For those who knew her, tell me if this wouldn't be a reasonable scenario.
Day one she'd be on her way down the 401 with bagels, a brisket and some special cream cheese that you can only get in Montreal.
Day two our house would be spinning around to make everything clean and right.
Day three the smell of chicken soup bubbling on the stove and cheese bagels warming in the oven.
First meeting with the doctor's she'd be charming, insistent and let you know how special Jody is (see previous posts). Every relative in the extended family, including all contacts in Rosemere, would be updated to the nth degree and she would probably be instructing me on what to put into this blog. And strange as that just felt when I typed that, she just may be (thanks Nanc).
Perhaps she is the force that is helping me to "find my voice".
Now a special note to family members and "the street". I was tearing up on this as I entered it but there are strange forces swirling around in this universe that can not be explained.
More on "the street" in future posts. And Tuesday is just around the corner.
Do something special with someone you love today. Time is a cruel taskmaster and our allotment is never what we think it is. To quote Joni Mitchell (one of Nancy's favourites)...
"don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone".
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