Mayo has a moat. Well, not a moat exactly. There are a couple dozen ponds and fountains surrounding the complex. I was surprised to see eyes peering at me from one such pond. I grabbed Doug's arm in terror. "There's an alligator in that pond! Do you suppose they feed them the naughty patients? We must be on our best behavior!"
We were prompt to our 8:00 appointment. People were going in seventeen different directions. Everyone seemed to know where they were going but us. Our first stop was registration and a couple paperwork stops. All very efficient. Then up to see the oncologist.
While in the waiting room I could hear a man snoring. (Yes, it had to be a man!) Behind us was a screen. I glimpsed some recliners with patients relaxing or sleeping in them. A nurse appeared beside the snoring man with a warm blanket. I jumped to the conclusion she was about to cover his face and gag him. However, she delicately placed the blanket over him and tucked him in.
Another nurse ushered us into the examining room. She informed us the fellow would be in shortly. I thought is was beyond belief that she would call the doctor fellow. Then a woman, a very pregnant woman, breezed in announcing she was the "fellow." Oh. A doctor student of sorts.
After talking to us and taking notes, she returned with the "real" oncologist. A large authoritative man. He had reviewed Doug's records and had a plan. A plan that required more testing and possible routes for treatment.
We were whisked off to see the radiation oncologist a few floors down. She also had Doug's records and scans. Her and her resident asked more questions and took more notes. She also asked if we would like to see the scans. We had not seen any and were anxious to do so.
We were told in Iowa Doug had about a two and a half inch mass in his lung. Our mouths fell open as we saw almost all of his left lung was covered. How could he breath? He has been laboring outside with the push mower and chain saw. How was that possible?
The radiation oncologist devised a tentative plan in her head on how to attack Doug's massive brain. She also saw some things on the MRI that were not mentioned in the report from Des Moines. However, this doctor would meet with the tumor board to decide the final course of treatment.
One educated brain is good. More than one can only lead to the correct path.
Our next stop was the lab. I'm convinced the lab is housed in a space ship. The frosted glass doors slide open and shut. People disappear behind them and may or may not reappear. I was waiting for someone to come out and shout "Beam me up Scottie!"
The next three days were a blur of more testing. They shoved a microscope down Doug's throat and did an ultrasound of the inside of his lung. Tissue was aspirated from the lymph nodes above the lung. Another day Doug passed a breathing test with flying colors.
Now we wait for next week to have all the results and a definitive plan.
Amidst all this testing my mother-in-law was pampering us. Not! My new name became Cinderella. Her sun room tile had just been replaced. Now things needed to be cleaned and put back in order. Plants needed to be re-potted. Sticks needed gathering and weeds needed uprooting in 96 degree temperatures and 156% humidity. "Cinderella! Cinderella!"
In all honesty, she allowed me to help with chores. It is therapeutic. It makes time pass. Time at the moment is passing like syrup dripping from a maple tree.
Once again we wait...
Pr. 15.22-Get all the advice you can, and you will succeed; without it you will fail. GNB
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