[smiley=hiya.gif] MM family!

Things are hopping at Stanford this week and next, and I thought you'd all like to know who is there, and what their status is!

Lee (lsuvia here on the site) is 2 days post-op.  Her first surgery went very well, she looks FANTASTIC [smiley=sayyes.gif], and is in good spirits.  She's looking forward to a Saturday or Sunday discharge, and will then drive home to southern California with her husband to prepare for surgery #2 in a few weeks.

Keith (21 years old) from Louisiana has been here with his mom since early in the week and has had several days of testing.  His angio was today (everyone's favorite . . . not!) and, aside from some nausea, came through just fine.  His first surgery is on Tuesday, 3/14.  

Yassi (runity here on the site) arrived here from Tennessee with her parents yesterday and started her round of testing today.  So far, so good, and (though nervous) she is looking forward to surgery on Wednesday, 3/15.

The Rineharts (cass/kate) arrive in town on Sunday for Katie's 6-month follow-up.  We're so anxious to see them and, gosh, doesn't this all sound like the makings of a gathering???  (Trina, I think you said it best when you announced, "For a group of people afflicted by this terrible disease, we have way too much fun!" )  We'll be trying to coordinate everyones' schedules to see if we can get something together.

Lastly, there is another family from Tennessee with a 13 year old daughter who will be coming late next week for surgery.  They had the unfortunate experience of receiving a diagnosis from a reputable hospital, but being told there was nothing that could be done (have we heard this before?).  The parents started their own research, found this site, and consequently Dr. Steinberg.

Please keep each of these families in your thoughts and prayers.  I know they will appreciate it!

[smiley=hug.gif], Jill  

Did someone say gathering and fun???  I'm all for it!!!!  

I'm glad to hear about all the updates.  I didn't realize there were so many out there.  Goodness!!  I wish I could be out there with you, Jill, to sort through it all.  One day........<sigh>

Please give each of the families my best wishes and let them know that Shane and I will be thinking about them and praying each day.  :)

Anxiously awaiting the gathering and fun in May.......

Michelle

You betcha we want to know. Thank you so much Jill. [smiley=hug.gif] Glad to hear our MM family are all doing as well as expected. Please let each family know we’re there with them in spirit and have them ALL in our continued thoughts and prayers.

Please keep us posted…

Oh… and if you get together as a group, don’t forget pictures!

Mar

Gathering, fun... is Dr. Dodd coming?  I feel for all these patients - they don't have the blessing of having Dr. Dodd come to visit them every morning at 6AM!  :)  But, hey, I'll have another angiogram, if it means being operated on by Dr. Dodd (NO COMMENTS FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY, THANK YOU!!   [smiley=crackup.gif])

Thanks Jill for the update.  Please let the families know that we're thinking of them.  

Keep us posted....

Hugs,
Trina

Can't wait to get to Stanford.  Be there tomorrow.  Yeah!!

Jill - If I have to hire a private detective, I am going to meet Dr. Dodd !!!  So far, he is a figment of immagination, and you wouldn't believe what I am immagining him to be from everyone's descriptions!

See everyone soon.

Love,

Cass

Thanks for all the info Jill you are something else and you work too, you are truely amazing and exausted I'm sure, but I'm sure you wouldn't be anywhere else.Tell everyone we're prayin and we hope all goes well for each and everyone of them. Dr. S is just something else I can't help myself. We'll be waiting for the updates.
                         Nancy :)

Don't know if this counts as "comments from the peanut gallery", but . . .

The last person (besides Keith's mom) I saw as I left Stanford at 9:30 last night was the infamous Dr. Dodd.  Cass, he's absolutely not a figment of imagination!  I won't name names, but it may look more like this for some [smiley=inlove.gif].  (I'll also admit that he's a wonderful, caring doctor!)  I tried to get him to give up the umbrella he was carrying, as it was pouring rain outside and I only had a sweatshirt, but he wasn't buying into my sob story :'(.  Anyway, yes, you'll have to meet him while you're at Stanford . . . maybe Trina can make a last minute trip out to help you find him with her Dr. Dodd radar - LOL!  

Can't wait to see y'all!

[smiley=heart.gif] Jill    

Whoooooaaaaaaaa.......hold up here.  Did someone say Dr. Dodd?????????  I thought I heard someone say his name.  I was just getting started on some more packing and could hear his name echoing in my closet.  I unburied myself from knee-deep clothes and boxes to see what all the fuss was about.  

You mean to tell me, Jill, that you didn't call....you didn't write to tell me that you had a Dr. Dodd sighting last night.   [smiley=hammer.gif]  Oh........you should have woken me up for that.   [smiley=heart.gif]   [smiley=inlove.gif]  

Ok.....back to packing......<sigh>

Hi All,  [smiley=wave.gif]

Thanks Jill for such a comprehensive update on the Stanford families. It sounds like all is going well. I responded to a couple of Yassi's posts and wondered how she was doing. I'm sooo glad she decided to go to Stanford. Let her and the others know Kevin and I are thinking of them and they will be in our thoughts and prayers.

As for a party, well Kevin may very well be going back to Stanford in May.  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]I will be contacting Teresa via e-mail this weekend. I would love to have a reunion (party).  Although I never thought of it this way before, you know, it does seem odd we're going to Stanford for treatment and follow-up from major brain surgery and we can't wait to party!! LOL! [smiley=crackup.gif]

Cass and Kate, I must say, Dr. Dodd is not only very good looking (his Stanford picture doesn't do him justice), he is a fantastic caring doctor. [smiley=heart.gif] He has such a great demeanor; perfect for a doctor. Kevin thinks the world of Dr. Dodd and so do I. Dr. Dodd was one of Kevin's surgeons for his second surgery. I'm surprised you didn't see him while Kate was at Stanford. I believe I saw Dr. Dodd almost everyday at one time or another.
Definately track him down while you are there and let us know your take on him.

I've been absent from the board for the most part but things are calming down for me and I hope to talk with you all again real soon.

Hugs [smiley=hug.gif]

Lore

PS: Jill, did you guys have ice in San Jose? I heard on the news there was ice in San Francisco and they closed the Golden Gate Bridge?! Didn't it also snow in the desert? What's up with that? [smiley=confused.gif]

 

Hey Lore,

Try to aim for the first week in May for Kevin's follow-ups.  Taht's when Shane and I are going to come out if it works with Dr. Steinberg's office.  Plus I think Trina is coming out then, too.  

I see a party in our future!  LOL

Michelle

Hi Michelle,

Thanks for letting me know the dates in May. I will ask Teresa to try and schedule us in the same week.

If all works out as planned, there will be a PARTY! LOL!

Hugs,

Lore

My gosh, I don't know if this area can handle Michelle, Shane, Trina, Kevin and Lore all at once!  It will definitely be a party!  (And poor Dr. Dodd . . . he won't know what hit him! . . . should I forewarn him???)  All of you - please keep me posted with your dates, o.k.?

Lore, I was hoping and praying for snow, but no such luck.  The snow made it down as low as the 1,000 foot level, and the surrounding mountains are just beautiful.  Temps are hovering in the high 40's in the day and high 30's at night - VERY cold for us California wimps!  I'm not giving up hope for some of the white stuff, but I fear the chances are pretty minimal [smiley=bigcry.gif].

Talk to you guys soon!

[smiley=heart.gif] Jill



   

Wait...he didn't give up his umbrella for you Jill?  I'm starting to have a different picture...hmmm...speaking of pictures, you still haven't gotten one of him yet?  

Chell, you are not going to find Dr. Dodd in your closet.  Wait...or are you?  You're startin' to worry me girl!!  [smiley=crackup.gif]

Lore, Cass/Kate didn't meet him probably because he's no longer a chief resident - he's a interventional radiology fellow now so he does xenon ct scans and angiograms.  So, all I have to say is that if Shane and Kevin get any hand holding during their Xenon by Dr. Dodd, then sign me up for another one!!  ;)  

Cass, let us know how Kate's follow up goes.  

:)

Trina

Hi Trina,

Thanks for letting me know Dr. Dodd has gone to interventional radiology.

Sorry Cass/Kate, that is probably why you didn't see Dr. Dodd.

There's no chance of a hand holding by Dr. Dodd and Kevin during Xenon CT. Kevin loves that stuff. From what I gather, it must be a " high" without alcohol LOL! I was going to say "Cheap" high but a Xenon CT is not cheap!LOL

As for the angio, that could be a different story. LOL!

Maybe you can go into the Xenon CT and angio as an observer? You are interested in medicine? LOL!! Kevin couldn't care less who's in there; remember, he'll be high; or so he thinks! LOL!!

I'm simply anxious to know that Kevin is doing well from a medical perspective. He certainly appears to be doing well. I believe Dr. Steinberg and Dr. Dodd will be amazed at Kevin's outcome. He has done a 360 since his last visit to Stanford. Should be a great visit!

We'll talk soon.

Hugs,

Lore    

Hi, Jill.  I can see that you are still mothering all the MM families who visit Stanford.  I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciated your support.  We are going there on March 27 for Claire's follow-up.  I cannot believe that it has been 6 months already.  Claire was fine after frequent TIA's in the initial month after the surgery, however, from about 2 weeks ago, she started having severe TIA's (one lasted for 2 hours), and general dizziness and weakness.  We are very anxious to get there now.  We have tests scheduled from March 27 to 29, and we will stay until we meet with Dr. Steinberg on April 3.  

Look forward to hooking up with you and Tara.  Claire has grown a lot since surgery, and Elliott, too.

See you soon!

Alexis

Jill,

I haven't been here in a while, but I just read your updates on everyone at Stanford and wanted to say "Mahalo!"  As always, thank you for keeping all of us informed on how people are doing when they are they for their surgeries/follow-up!  You too are truly a blessing to these families.  ;)

Please give everyone our best....

From all of us in the 50th State,
Shan

Jill, I remembered you mentioned that there are more families in Stanford these few week, but didn't realized there are that many. We only met Lee before we left Stanford. She looked really calm and ready for the surgery and we are really glad things went very well for her and hope that every one else do well as well.

Alexis, I am so sorry that Claire has TIAs again. Did she has one side surgery or two side? I tried to look for her info  in the reunion folder as you mentioned before, but I couldn't find any. I am still learning on how to do on this site. Best wish for the tests results at the end of the month.

Tingxin

As I have not been here for long time, I did not know such many things were going on.  Thank you Jill.  My son, Kota, also just had following-up SPECT at Stanford this week.  He is going to have MRs two weeks from now at Children's Hospital.  Fortunately, he has been doing fine and is looking forward to playing little league baseball soon.  Just our update.

Cotadad

Hi Everyone,

I am back in Nashville. As everyone knows I had complications from surgery. I think I figured out why I did. I think its because in my heart of hearts I wanted to see this DR. Dodd.

I have come to the realization that this trip was not fair at all. I was so sick that I wasn't thinking straight. How can my black male radar have been turned off.  I can spot a fine black male farther than most people. I know if Dr. Dodd was around me for a day or two then I would not have had a lumbar drain in my back. Just a sight of this doctor would have cured me.

So Jill, for my speedy recovery could you please on one of your sightings take a picture of Dr. Dodd and e-mail it to me. I can use all the inspiration I can get. Add me to the Dr. Dodd fan club. I will gladly have as many angio's as DR. S would want me to have. Oh my pain threshold would also be eliminated.

Okay, back to reality. The plane ride was better than I thought. Going up hurt but comng down was better. I still have headaches but in time they will be gone too.

Well, I miss everyone already and its just been 3 days since I have been back!!

I love you all,
yassi

Hello...

 Jill don't tell me it's 40 degrees there.  We still have snow in the hills here.  I think we'll cancel Mark's checkup till July if that's the case.  We're scheduled 4/27-5/2.  You better do your sun dance!!!

Trina,
Are you holding out with the picture I sent you of Dr. Dodd and Mark?

Chelle,
 I hear the Dallas Cowbowboy Cheerleaders will be at Stanford on 5/1.  Has Shane got any clout to get us in.

Lore,
 Are you and Captain Cubby scheduled around that time?

 If that's the case, it sure does sound like a party.  Oh yeah, isn't it someones BDay Chelle?


      See you all soon,
         Ron, Lisa and Mark

Hi Ron and Lisa and Mark,

Yes, Captain Cubbie is scheduled to be at Stanford May 1 through May 5. We will arrive on Sunday April 30th and depart Sunday May 7th.

I was hoping we could all meet for lunch or dinner or even coffee before you guys leave Stanford.  Let's all try to meet up (Jill, Michelle and Shane, Trina and any other MM folks that will be at Stanford at that time).

Let me  know what works best for you guys. There is always Chili's! The official Stanford meeting place! LOL

Ron, you will have to hear Captain Cubbie describe the approach to land an aircraft at San Jose airport. Just let me say that after he described it to me and him being a former pilot, I am now flying into San Francisco. No joke!!LOL!!!

Hopefully we'll talk soon.

Hugs,

Lore