Columbus and the Valley

Early to Bed

I had a nice conversation with Dr. Tamorie Smith this morning. I was up front with her that I had beaten her up pretty badly in my last evening blog post. She was really nice and we had a great, although short, conversation. She answered all my questions with professional ease and I feel good about the medication Dr. Shah prescribed and the prospects of controlling the gout for the future. The pain is almost completely gone in my toe and I’m able to move it with ease.

That is a good thing, because I’ll be doing some walking tomorrow in New York City before our appointment with Dr. Dutcher. We fly very early in the morning, so we’re just about to turn in and try to get some sleep.

Jill and I really appreciate the outpouring of love and support from so many people as we prepare to take this next step on the journey to beat this cancer. I got a call tonight from someone who has a very similar tumor in his spine to the one I had. He is seeking some feedback from my neurosurgeon, Dr. Mike Gorum, because of the good outcome I had from my very tricky operation.

I also want to thank Chuck Williams and photographer Mike Haskey for the very nice Sunday story and photos in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. They did a great job and I’m particularly happy that the Salvation Army got some great ink during a vital part of their year. They do so much good work across the country for people who are in need, especially during the holidays. I was happy to ring that bell again this year!

Just a short post to say thank you to our legion of supporters. We go tomorrow with hope, determination and the knowledge that our “Verizon Network” of supporters will be right there with us throughout the entire trip. I just wish Dr. Pippas could be with us. And Gayla and Sandy (two Hardaway High School classmates and also medical professionals who volunteered to go along with us) who are just trying to wrangle a shopping trip to NYC, I’m sure.

Goodnight. I’ll post again tomorrow as soon as I can. I also hope I’ll be able to upload some video of the meeting with Dr. D.

No Call, That’s All

Jill and I are getting ready for the trip to lower Manhattan on Friday. Someone with access to a plane has generously given us some of their flight time for this trip, so we’ll be leaving early Friday morning and coming back on Friday evening. The opportunity to go up and back is a real blessing right now and has, honestly, allowed the trip to happen so quickly.

I just got off the phone with Dr. Dutcher’s office and she has given her approval for me to shoot digital video at our office visit on Friday. I wanted to do that for a couple of reasons. I want to remember every word she says, so that I can share them with Dr. Pippas, who I’d really like to have with us on Friday. I’d love for my incredible, mad-scientist oncologist, Dr. Andy Pippas, to have a conversation with HDIL-2 guru, Dr. Janice Dutcher,  while I was a fly on the wall watching. That would be great. But the video will have to do, in this case.

Also, I’m going to consider posting some, or all, of the video on my blog for people to see Dr. Dutcher in action. She is a world-class renal cell cancer oncologist and is highly sought out for her knowledge about this insidious disease.

If a couple of back surgeries and cancer were not enough, I have developed a case of gout in my right great toe. It hurts like hell. I was able to reach my friend and podiatrist, Dr. Alap Shah, who prescribed a kidney-friendly medication to relieve me of the gout condition. He also recommended that I make contact with my regular family physician, Dr. Clark Gillett to manage the issue going forward. I think all doctors are taking a much-needed vacation here at the end of the year. ALL of my docs are out of the office today.

I’m a little bummed out that we now have gout to go along with all of my other health concerns on the table as we leave for New York to see Dr. Dutcher. I hope this won’t muddy the water for what we need to do going forward. But gout is caused by an elevation of uric acid in the blood. I figure uric acid must also have something to do with my kidney and I’m worried about it. So, I called my nephrologist to get him to weigh in on this.

By the way, my nephrologist, Dr. Raj Alappan, who was also not in his office today was supposed to be covered by Dr. Tamorie Smith. I talked to Linda at Dr. Alappan’s office three times today. Twice, when I called her to confirm that I would be getting a call by the end of the day today and once when she called me to confirm my date of birth and that I would be getting a call today. Dr. Tamorie Smith, whoever she is did not call me as promised. Thanks a lot, Dr. Tamorie Smith. No call, that’s all!

I think this is the first time since the diagnosis of my cancer that I have been left hanging with what I consider to be an important medical question. Other than Dr. Tamorie Smith, I have received prompt attention to my every medical situation.

Wow, I just realized what I said in the previous sentence. “My” cancer. Not “my” diagnosis of cancer, but “the” diagnosis of “my cancer.” Now that I think about this, I’ve heard most other people refer to their illness as “their” cancer. I can understand that feeling, because it literally takes over your life. In fact, it becomes your life. I will not give it that much power over me again. From this very second forward, I will refer to this damn disease as the life-robbing interloper that it is. It is not mine. I don’t want it. I will not lay claim to it again in this blog or in conversation, so help me God.

I have my Flipcam charged up. We’re ready to fly. On to the Big Apple with a great, hopeful attitude. And, thanks again, Dr. Tamorie Smith.