Today was the day last year when we met the oncologist. The four of us got ready in the morning and headed to 82nd Ave to find the doctor. We made it with plenty of time and sat in the waiting room for some time before Marsha was called. Some of the time was filled with the usual assortment of forms to be filled out. They first took Marsha in for some preliminary things before seeing the doctor. The usual blood work and vital statistics or course. Finally we were invited in to join Marsha and we were shown to a consultation room. All four of us in a relatively small space but it worked. Dr. Cody was wonderful. She was clear about what they knew at that point and talked about the type of cancer and the tests that were needed to accurately stage the cancer before treatment. When it came to questions we asked about the oxygen. Marsha had been trying to reduce the use of oxygen and we wanted to know how long it would take to get her off the oxygen. Marsha was greatly disappointed when the doctor said that she would not be able to stop the oxygen and struggling to reduce the use was not helpful. I think Marsha hated the idea of being hooked up permanently even to oxygen, and especially the out in public portable oxygen. We had all stated that we would always support what Marsha wanted so we did not push for the big questions, but Marsha jumped right in. She asked the doctor how long she might live given the treatment and Dr. Cody was very good in her pastoral yet clear statement that she would think about six months if all went well. We left with a good feeling about the doctor's care but with heavy hearts that the time was short. The doctors office was scheduling the various tests that she would have done over the next week before we would return to Dr. Cody. It was time to tell my children the prognosis and arrange for my son and grandson to come in the spring before Marsha was too sick. Then it was her sisters and brother. They wanted to come and three of them indeed quickly set up a trip for the following week. All in all the day was what was expected and yet it still comes as a shock when it is that clear, and the options don't leave any real chance of overcoming the situation no matter which is picked.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Off To The Doctor
Today was the day last year when we met the oncologist. The four of us got ready in the morning and headed to 82nd Ave to find the doctor. We made it with plenty of time and sat in the waiting room for some time before Marsha was called. Some of the time was filled with the usual assortment of forms to be filled out. They first took Marsha in for some preliminary things before seeing the doctor. The usual blood work and vital statistics or course. Finally we were invited in to join Marsha and we were shown to a consultation room. All four of us in a relatively small space but it worked. Dr. Cody was wonderful. She was clear about what they knew at that point and talked about the type of cancer and the tests that were needed to accurately stage the cancer before treatment. When it came to questions we asked about the oxygen. Marsha had been trying to reduce the use of oxygen and we wanted to know how long it would take to get her off the oxygen. Marsha was greatly disappointed when the doctor said that she would not be able to stop the oxygen and struggling to reduce the use was not helpful. I think Marsha hated the idea of being hooked up permanently even to oxygen, and especially the out in public portable oxygen. We had all stated that we would always support what Marsha wanted so we did not push for the big questions, but Marsha jumped right in. She asked the doctor how long she might live given the treatment and Dr. Cody was very good in her pastoral yet clear statement that she would think about six months if all went well. We left with a good feeling about the doctor's care but with heavy hearts that the time was short. The doctors office was scheduling the various tests that she would have done over the next week before we would return to Dr. Cody. It was time to tell my children the prognosis and arrange for my son and grandson to come in the spring before Marsha was too sick. Then it was her sisters and brother. They wanted to come and three of them indeed quickly set up a trip for the following week. All in all the day was what was expected and yet it still comes as a shock when it is that clear, and the options don't leave any real chance of overcoming the situation no matter which is picked.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment