It's Been 3 Months, But Who's Counting?
IIt has been just over 3 months since my lumpectomy and we are becoming veterans of this cancer thing. We have learned to call “schedulers” not receptionists, to email nurses not call them, and to work our way around in-network and out-of-network doctors. What we haven’t learned is patience in certain doctors’ offices. On three separate occasions in the last 2 weeks we were kept waiting for an hour and 45 minutes to see doctors. For me, it’s not so bad, what else do I have to do? But, Steve takes time away from work and clients to sit there and wait with me. Two of the appointments were successful. We met the Radiation Oncologist, liked her very much and she must have apologized 72 times for keeping us waiting but she had to deal with an emergency. We met the in-network surgeon who will do my double mastectomy. He didn’t apologize for keeping us waiting, but we liked what he had to say, plus we had met anonymously over drinks 2 weeks earlier while watching Stanford stuff USC, so there was a fraternity of friends going on. We never met the third doctor. She was “in the building” but kept us waiting so long we were in danger of missing Ella’s birthday dinner. So we just got up and left. I called American Express on the way home to reverse any charges on my card, since the doctor’s office had charged me before the appointment. The doctor did call my oncologist to apologize for the mess, but never called me! Hmmm!
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| The Birthday Boy Celebrates 39, Again! |
Doctors and lack of patience, notwithstanding, we had two fabulous birthday celebrations this month! Steve turned 39 again, and Ella is now 12! For Steve, we had a family dinner at home complete with cupcakes. For once, we get a present that he could really use -- we had hands free installed in the mini Cooper. Now we are so glad he had a “mini mid life crisis” five years ago and bought that car and the Prius. Andie has absconded with the Prius so now Steve can be safe talking on the phone with a stick shift!!
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| Our 12 year old! |
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| Fashion Plate! |
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| America's Next Top Model! |
Ella’s birthday was wonderful. Steve had planned to take her to a K’Naan concert (don’t ask me!), only to find out the day of (by accident) that it had been cancelled. So at the veritable last minute he found general admissions tickets to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (them, I’ve heard of, and you can check them out here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb9jY8yAxgs ) They went to dinner and the concert and it was great! Ella even saw one of her teachers there on a school night! For her birthday, we went to one of her favorite restaurants and then home for presents. Check out the photos! For her party, we hosted 7 girls for sushi and a sleepover (sleepless over?). It was really one of the best birthdays I can remember. Really fun, really sweet girls! Yippee!
This last recovery period hit harder than the usual. I think the cumulative effect kicked in. We had been invited up to Montecito to see our friends’ beautiful new house the weekend after chemo. It was really iffy on whether or not I would make it but the lure of an incredible wine cellar, ocean view and great friends was much stronger than the chemo ache, so we went and it had an incredibly positive effect on my recovery. I think they should invite us every weekend.
Earlier this month we went to the opening of the LA Phil with Gustavo Dudamel. A dear friend who owns a jewelry store lent me 10 carat diamond drop earrings, a necklace and cocktail ring. I thought it was the perfect ensemble with my black beanie!!! You can check it out yourselves by following this link and scrolling way down to see a photo of me and Steve http://www.nysocialdiary.com/node/1904242
We are having a mini-Canyon elementary II reunion tonight for Halloween. We will gather at a street below us in the canyon that actually has sidewalks, have dinner at a friends’ house and then start the trick or treating with the old gang from Ella’s class! Andie is threatening to be too old for Halloween and stay home with Cody.
I have one heck of a week planned before the 5th chemo!
One last thought. Steve and I really want again to thank our friends Wendy Wintrob and Susan Harris who set up the lotsahelpinghands website. That has been a godsend for organizing meals and rides and nanny searches, etc. I know Wendy gave up a couple of days of her vacation on Sea Island to get it up and running. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation I heartily suggest you use lotsahelpinghands, even if you are not as fortunate as we are to have Wendy and Susan to organize it!!!
