Hey Trina,

Can't wait to see you - isn't it just 3 weeks away?

, Jill

Hey all!

Yes Jill, a couple of weeks away and we'll be in Sunny California!  I think I'll be just missing Shane and Michelle when they are there, and Kevin and David won't be able to do their follow up at the same time   but I'm hoping to spend time with you and anyone who can make it (Tere said David and her might come up that Sat).  I've saved the 19th for hanging out with you all, let me know if you'll be free or if we can get the gang together there! 

Shan, Mai Tais, yes!!  Octopus, no.    I tried that 13 years ago when I was in Japan.  With all due respect, talk about eating rubber!    

I'd love to come to Hawaii...some day, hopefully soon.  I promise not to be so overtly checking out the doctors at Stanford, while under Xenon especially.  And well, now that we know Dr. Dodd is unavailable (my insider at the hospital has confirmed this.    ), I'll have to find other means... whoever said the hunt for a man is the fun part was wholeheartedly WRONG. 

Shall keep you all updated!

Trina

Trina,

How's your follow up at Stanford going?

How's the testing going?

Have you seen Dr. Dodd?

Are you behaving yourself? I over did it with the "green guy" as I know how much you like him.

Let's see, it's 10:00 AM in Ohio so it is 7:00 AM in California, where's breakfast?

Let me know how it is going and how you are doing. I want ALL the details.

Hugs

Lore

Hi guys!

We're so glad we got to meet up with Shane (at Chili's no less!).  We had a nice time hanging out - my brother thought he was very phunny.  I'm so glad he reached home safely.  My mom and brother are here with me, and they told me to tell you both hello. 

So far, no Dr. Dodd sighting.  I'll be on the hunt today (and knowing me, I'll stammer to say hello and totally drop the opportunity  ).  

We got here on Thursday and went straight to the hospital for my first SPECT scan with Diamox.  We thought the Diamox would be Fri but it was Thu.  Diamox didn't bode well with me so they held me over (I think b/c I had 8 hours of sleep within the 3 days before that so I was tired, plus jet lag).  I felt better but the resident said the attending wanted to check me but he was at home 30 min away and we weren't stickin' around so we left AMA (against medical advice).  Luckily, I have a physician brother in case anything happened but we thought it was silly hospital protocol.  

Fri was fine with the regular SPECT (we got our much needed sleep) but they told us to come earlier and we did but they kept us waiting for 3 hours.  Needless to say, I practically lost my patience.  I hate it when hospitals don't properly schedule.  I can wait 1/2 hour but anything over that is just plain obnoxious, esp. when they are telling you otherwise ('just five more minutes, just five more' - yes this went on for three hours).  

The weekend was nice and relaxing - we had the gathering on Sat and we went to Napa Valley as a family yesterday.  It was lots of fun - my mom and brother had never been, so it was a cool experience.  

So today is Xenon (in about an hour) and my appt. with Dr. Steinberg (oh, and neuropsych).  Will keep you all updated on Dr. Dodd sightings!!



Missing you here!

Lots of hugs,
Trina

Ok, follow up shmallow up - first the REAL news.  

Michelle, are you sitting down?

So, I had my Xenon CT Scan on Monday AM.  Went fine (very cute doctor but also married, I swear all the good ones are taken).  Then I had my appt. with Dr. Steinberg in the early afternoon.  Teresa comes in first, and asks what tests I have left.  I mention that I have the angio the next day and jokingly I say, can we request doctors for that? LOL I'm totally kidding.  She says, which doctor?  I said Dr. Dodd of course.  I do remember saying I was kidding, and I thought she knew about Dr. Dodd's fan club, but I don't think she heard me.  She leaves the room and about ten minutes later, she walks in with... yes, Dr. Dodd.  Teresa says that he'll be there for my angio.  My family and I sat there with our mouths wide open, and then started laughing.  

SO, then I'm thinking, do I really want him doing my angio?  This could be weird.  The guy has probably seen me naked on the operating table anyway - so no big deal (talk about a bonding experience).  

Sure enough, the next day at 7am, he was there with Dr. Dic-kson (the other radiology fellow, who is also very cool and from New York!).  We later realize that Dr. Dodd is really there for support.  I thought he was going to switch out with someone but Dr. Dic-kson is really the fellow doing the work.  Dr. Dic-kson goes over all the papers and did all the follow ups after I came out.  Irene also had an angio that day but Dr. Dodd was not there during hers.  We saw Teresa yesterday and she mentioned that he was going to be in the diagnostic radiology lab anyway and when she told him my request, he agreed.  

So I did get some scoop.  Before I went in for the angio, when he and Dr. Dic-kson came down, he chatted with us and I found out he's a fellow CHI-TOWNER!!!!!!  Chicago is still my favorite city in the world, and I told my brother no wonder he's such a nice guy.     I lived there for 6.5 years so we talked some about the old digs.  

Anyway, it gets even more embarassing (we had mentioned to my dad that Dr. Dodd was doing the angio, even though later we realized that really it was Dr. Dic-kson) so when my dad couldn't get a hold of us, he got a hold of Dr. Dodd at the end of the day when I had been taken to MRI.  He even came down, asked my mom for my dad's number and called him from right there in MRI, when he was not even the primary doctor for the procedure.  

SOOOOOOOO, while I was totally embarassed since we were kidding, it was sooo nice of him to be there and then come down later.  I had conscious sedation during the angio, and I have to tell you, while they were talking to me, I noted that he still has the best bedside manner I have ever seen of a doctor!!!!!!

The bad news is one, I passed out at discharge time so they held me over 2 extra hours.  Dr. Dic-kson and the attending, Dr. Do, came to my rescue, but no Dr. Dodd .  I guess I can't be too demanding can I?  LOL

Two, no picture with Dr. Dodd!!!!!  I should have taken it before the angio.  But I forgot, and Dr. Dodd never came back (except when I was in MRI but I didn't see him then - when my mom told me that he came down, my only question was, did you get a picture?  She of course looked at me crazy).  Tara and I even went roaming the halls of SUMC yesterday hoping for a Dr. Dodd sighting so we can stop him for a picture.  No such luck.   Joann, our wonderful insider, told us she will send a picture so I can superimpose my photo with him.  It's just not the same.  

Well, all that being said, my tests are done.  All looks good.  Dr. Do, Dr. Dic-kson, and Dr. Dodd all said my angio looked great.  Dr. Steinberg also said I was doing great.  Officially, the test results will be looked at at the next case conference (next Monday) and I'll get the official thumbs up next week.  

We leave today for NYC, and I'm actually very sad.  I don't know when I'll return but the weather and people are a wonderful change from NYC.  I have even considered moving out here.  The slow pace compared to the hectic NYC lifestyle is just what I need!  Who knows, maybe I will (although most likely Dr. Dodd won't be here anymore by the time I move out here as he plans to return to Chicago so don't even think that's an incentive!).  

Jill, it was wonderful seeing you, Tara and Campbell!  I can't wait to see you again.  You always have a home in NYC, don't forget.  

Looking forward to 2006 Orlando!  Can we invite Dr. Dodd?  I'm okay with him bringing his girlfriend - then we can subject her to some serious grilling!  Like why aren't they married yet!?!  I mean, she's got quite the catch, what's taking so long?!  I woulda had him wrapped up and on a leash eons ago!  



Trina

Trina,

Thanks for warning me because it sure was a good thing I was sitting down. 

WHHHHAAAAAAATTTTTTTTT......Dr. Dodd has a girlfriend????      Oh well....guess I'll have to just dream from afar.  LOL!  Maybe we shouldn't move to San Jose and change our plans to move to Chicago????  Oh....and does anyone know when Dr. Dodd is moving to Chicago?  Please let it be after May. 

Ok...so Trina, you are the coolest!     Kudos to you for making me laugh so hard that I snorted water out my nose!!!  OMG that was sooooooooooo funny!!! 

for having good test results.  I'm so happy for you.  Isn't it a big relief?  Shane is feeling really good and healing remarkably.  It's truly amazing.  I guess we'll be back in May for his follow-ups and plus they are still watching the other side. 

Trina, we definitely need to get together soon.  Miss you already and wish that I was able to see you in CA. 

Ok, so I need to see a picture of this Dr. Dodd character!  ;

Trina - glad to hear your tests turned out very positive!!

-Shari

Well hello Dr. Dodd!  Now I see what everyone's talking about!!  Thanks for the link, Trina!

-Shari

Hey Ladies,
         I don't know about Dr. Dodd.  But has anyone seen Trina's brother?  He is also a handsome Doctor.   I know Jill can vouch for me on that one.

Hi Cheryl and Jill,

I too can vouch that Trina's brother is a handsome, and caring doctor.  He was with Trina when I was at Stanford with Kevin. When Kevin was in surgery and when Kevin was having difficulties, Trina's brother was a great help to both of us with his medical expertise and his positive support with words of encouragement. Of course I can't leave out Trina's mom and dad who were also a great help and support to both me and Kevin and Trina too even though she was having surgery one day apart from Kevin both times and Jill who sat with me through the surgeries.   We are blessed to have such a great MM family.

Don't you wish all doctors could be like Trina's brother and Dr. Dodd? Wow!!

Hugs,

Lore

Ok, I couldn't stop laughing about this one.  The brother you all see is of course not the brother I see.    

Yeah, he's smart, he's good looking ... but ... but ... he's a dork!    And he's always late (my on going pet peeve with him )!  

No, I'm kidding (not really) but this reminds me of a family friend's daughter who we met up with a couple of years ago.  She and I knew each other but she hadn't seen my brother in ages, since she was like 9 years old (she's now 30 or so).  After having dinner, she apparently went home and told her mom that he's "cool".  I of course had that perplexed look.  

Seriously, thanks all for the compliments!  Actually he and I look very much alike (if you can't tell it's because he has no hair and I have tons of hair), so if he looks good, that means I look good too!  

I'll pass on your kind comments to him (I'm sure he'll look at me weird because he is very much nonchalant and oblivious to this kind of thing).  Then again, I've been surprised before, as Michelle somehow got him to wear the moya moya band during my surgery (despite declining me to wear it the day before during my tests).   I think it was a momentary surge of emotion.    I don't think I could get him to wear it even now.  Sheesh!



Trina