Hello to All!
Well, in my last update, I said that I hoped that within the next few days we would know when Sandlyn's MRIs would be and that we would be okay waiting a little longer than July 13th, just so that we could get them all done in one day. Well.....BLAHHHHHH!!! (this is loud and with my head shaking). My level of frustration has risen significantly during the past two days! After Sandlyn's neurology visit last week, I gave the oncology dept a couple of days to work out all of the details and on Monday I called. Several phone calls back and forth between the nurse and I and we have DELAY CENTRAL! Since the original time slot is not big enough, Dr. Watts decided to cancel that slot and see Sandlyn first (on July 13th) and then order the tests. When I asked the nurse to at least check "first availability" of MRIs with sedation....she called back to let me know that if would be between the end of August and mid-September if they were scheduled now, but they won't be scheduled until after July 13th making them fall even later than those dates. Two full months...are you kidding! Here is where the BLAHHHHHH!!!! comes in! I have a child who is hurting and has already been evaluated by the neurologist and that neurologist says she needs this MRI......BLAHHHHH!!!! ...to determine what can be done about her pain. Part of the problem to this whole equation is that our insurance changes tomorrow and with this has brought about problems with who can order what test and which doctor is an in-network doctor. Things shouldn't be this hard...but they are. But let me just say right here....I AM THANKFUL TO HAVE INSURANCE!!
Dr. Rutledge (to the rescue part) called me today and has a plan to get it all worked out. Still do not know when the tests will be. When I asked her about Sandlyn's pain and if it could all be related to the scolosis, she said that she did not believe it was based on her evaluation of Sandlyn. She suspects that the spinal tumors she had removed 4 years ago have grown back or there are new ones, but that we simply would not know what to do to treat this pain until we had pictures to look at. She is cautious about wearing the back brace until we know...therefore another reason not to wait 2 months if we can help it. I did tell Barry, that at least if Dr. Rutledge can not get it scheduled any earlier...that it truly can't be done. This is not an "emergency"...it just doesn't need to have to wait two months to happen.
The kids are almost all packed and ready to head off to Florence. They are excited about getting to spend some one-on-one time with grandparents....but I understand....it was one of most favorite times when I was young too! I have fabulous memories of my summer break and would not take anything for those memories. I am just incredibly thankful that Sandlyn is up to going this year! Nonna will be armed with carrot, apple and limu juice, vitamins, and motrin and she gives great back rubs to ease the pain! They will do fine!
I am going to busy myself with a mile long list of TO-DO's. Many things have been neglected for far too long...and many of these things simply are not suited to work on with everyone at home. Never fear...I have some fun worked in to this time too! Barry and I are celebrating our 20th anniversary...but probably won't go out on a date until the weekend. Better close for now...much left to do.
Please continue to pray for us!
Until next time...be a blessing to others...Sarah
