Date sent: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 23:05:45 -0500
Subject: The Second Time Around
The day belongs to Dr. Black!
Dr. Peter Black from Boston did get to look at my MRIs Friday. However, we went to the
prayer discussion, and left my pager number on our answer machine. They called at 7 PM -
said he recommended surgery and then they tried to page us. We did not get the page. When
we got home at 10, we heard the message. We just could not believe it.
We needed to talk with Dr. Black because I had surgery scheduled for Wednesday and we
missed him. Damn it.
Saturday morning we were still "kicking ourselves" trying to figure out what
to do.
About 9 AM, Abi said, "page him." "I don't want to wake him up," I
said. "We need to know what he thinks. Tell him you wife told you to call."
So we paged him and he called back about 1 minute later. After apologizing for calling
early, saying my wife told me to call, and reminding him what case I was, he was very
willing to talk and started to tell us some amazing things.
"I have a few questions," I said.
"I bet you have 28 questions," he said.
With this new imaging technology at Brigham's Hospital (http://splweb.bwh.harvard.edu:8000/pages/papers/slicer/
), he would be able to remove all the tumor growth.
Abi asked me a question in my other ear…." Is that your wife," he asked,
"tell her to get on the other phone…"
With a complete removal of the tumor, he said he does not expect I will need any
chemotherapy (assuming the tumor is low-grade).
But most important - he expects removing the tumor with stop my seizures. He said
similar cases have been seizure free for 2 years. I couldn't believe it. I'd do almost
anything to "remove" my seizures.
What about paying for it? He said they've worked with many HMOs and most of the time
they can show completely removing the tumor increases the time between reoccurrence and
reduces the need for follow up treatment - thus HMO's save money.
But when can we have this done? He said late August/early September, but I called today
and they said more like late September. They said they will call tomorrow with a date.
At this point I was out of questions - Dr. Black had just told me that with one surgery
I could get what 10 minutes ago I did not think was possible.
* Complete removal of my tumor * No follow up treatment * Cessation of my seizures
He added two other amazing thoughts.
1) He did not think this was a reoccurrence but an incomplete remove of the original
tumor.
2) To be sure I would not have any deficits from the surgery, I might be awake for some
of the surgery so I could tell him if what he was doing "hurt in my body."
===========================
Can you feel the possibilities in this new direction? At OSU the surgery was a step to
see what treatment I would get. Here - not only is this the treatment - but it might have
long standing benefits.
I have told many people…if any of these three benefits come true, I will be very
thankful. If my seizures stop, I'll have a new life.
I am extremely excited.
And tired.
The changes from Abi's going to medical school…no, I need surgery at OSU but we
have to wait and wait… no, we're going to do it in Boston…wait again.
Oh yeah, I need to go to work tomorrow.
And I have a family riding this rough surf with me.
============================
I'll keep you posted….with kindness, love and warm thoughts,
Dan
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