Hi everyone,  Thursday morning I got a call from Morgan (onc nurse) saying she needed to schedule chemo for me.  I says well I got an automated call that confirmed a 2:15 PM appointment at Holy Cross.  She said really? Well ok, she would write the order.  huh???? anyway I kept my date and all was well, they still had to track down the blood report before they could start, but the girls at Onstad's office were on the job and had the report to them before they could find the one that was already approved and in my file (yeah right!) at the hospital.  Anyway, I was treated, they made future appointments, all on Thursdays and all is well. 
I was also getting messages from Moffitt about scans and bloodwork required before i get there on 12/3.  You know, when you miss their calls there is no "just call me back."  There are no direct lines so it takes a good 5-10 minutes just to get to the right recording to leave a message!
Anyway Gloria got in, we got Linda and Ken, Cori and Jillian, Greg and Kim and Cassie to Carrabbas for a wonderful family dinner.  Then home and in bed about 8:30 PM.
Gloria is the youngest, a cruise agency owner from Dallas, another type A of course.  Love her lots!!
I have a picture of us, but cant access it.  I will try again later.

All is well and on schedule.

6 PM, just got the call.  I am ON for chemo this Thursday 2:15 PM.  Yeah.  Missed one week, oh well.  Gloria my baby sister will be here on Thursday,  we will spend Thursday night and Friday together.  She will even come to the club with me on Friday afternoon.  Later.

No news the girl from Holy Cross Hospital says, the 48 hour authorization for payment is a minimum!  It has to go to 3 different places to be approved the 3rd place being the actual insurance company.  So I wait for the chemo appointment. 

OMG, Holy Cross is not covered and now i cannot get chemo treatment.  I am so fucked! Because of insurance,  self pay was $1104 per treatment.  Now they are talking 10,000, 20,000 or more for one treatment and it would cost me more than without insurance.  OMG.  I am so screwed!  Am I going to have to cancel the insurance I prayed and prayed for?
I am not convinced that I would be better off without insurance and the public county hospitals are in the network so I will to ahead and leave Holy Cross, probably to go to North Broward General.  There the insurance will pay 80% of the cost.  Also, Moffitt is in the network.   

December 3rd, after 2 rounds of chemo, I will travel to the Moffitt Center and find out about surgery.  I imagine all will go according to plan since I am strong and without bad reactions to the treatments. I start again next week.  This date is my choice, I will have to get it scheduled on Monday.  I like having choices and I choose sooner than later.  Season will be busy,  no time is a good time for surgery, but I am a working lady and happy to be the manager of a wonderful full time bridge club.  You are up-to-date.  Thanks for your support, next and last benefit game is November 4th,  Larry Cohen is donating money from his lecture ($20pp) to the trust!  Really nice of him to do this!

Left 9 AM this morning for Moffitt,  got there 2 PM and finally saw the oncologist at 3:30.  He was very very very pleased.  He said I could delay surgery for another 2 rounds of chemo and that would help keep the area of the surgery smaller.  I asked him what he would do if it were him.  He said he would wait 2 more months.  I told him I am busy in January!  Then he said 2 more rounds of chemo would be necessary after the surgery.  So I wont have hair for a long time.  Oh well....at least we have killed the monster and reduced it to smaller than visible!  It might still exist in the skin on my forehead since there is still a mark on my head.  Then about 5:15 the PA (physician's assistant?) came in and said Rick Gonzales, the surgeon was too busy to see me.  I kinda got upset but I had already decided to wait so I really didnt need to see him.  Heather Bridge (yep!) the PA said they could possibly take a large area down to my eyebrow, I said I would object to that but would accept the area that is still marked on my head.  Then I said, is it possible it is gone and I wont need surgery? She said we would  get another biopsy!! Which means to me that there is doubt!  On the way home Dr. Rick Gonzalez himself called me and we talked about the next visit the 3rd week of January.  He agreed!  So chemo til then, just like before,  3 weeks on 1 week off.  If the tumor shows back up or of I have a bad reaction to the chemo, I make an appointment in Tampa for surgery immediately.  See how this works?  Your prayers have been extemely powerful and the medicine is working well.  Just keep it up, I will do my part,  dont get sick, stay calm (ugh, so hard for me), smile and be really positive,  exercise and pray hard.  I can do this folks, you are helping me sooooo much.  Paul as usual got us there post haste and safly home by 10 PM.  He waited with me and kept me calm.  Gotta admit, I took another xanax, waiting for the doctor -  I dont wait very well, not even with a good book.    Love you and thanks.  Back to work, see you at the club.  Stay away if you get a cold.

Hi anxiety,  that is how I describle today.  I was wound tight, picked on Paul for his bidding.  After all, when it goes 1D on your left and 3D on your right alerted as WEAK, should you not take action with 15 HCP?  Not Paul, so we got a bad score. I was wound up all day.  Home now,  took an anxiety pill - dont worry I have not even refilled the prescription.  But today is a good day for it. I hate not being in control of my schedule and I dont know when surgery will be.  I find out tomorrow at Moffitt in Tampa.  Til then I will try to be calm.  Have a wonderful day and I will be in touch tomorrow for sure.

Other than feeling huge, I am feeling fine.  The stretch pants are too small.  Groan.......I have been at the club day and night and still not exhausted.  All reports are good.  Blood work is good too.  Saturday I am even putting on lunch at the club. So I walked 3 miles of the 5 mile tape, success or failure?  Success.  Keep praying for a small area, must be small, we cant even see it on the CT's.  I do have a spot on my throat, wonder what they will do about that.  If I have my druthers, I would like to work on myself with health products.  Then see whats up in a year.  Etc......So many sick and dying right now.  Thanks for keeping me in your prayers.

At the club.
Happy Halloween.

I am so happy right now.  The spot on my forehead has become just that, a little bigger than one square inch.  As compared to the devil monster it had become before chemo.  The doctors are pleased with my progress. And I am very interested to see what they see on the CT's since I dont see anything cept my beautiful dental implants.  Honestly there is not a difference in the color and nothing "lights up" cept my mouth jewelry.  So then I talked to Dr. Onstad who said the same thing.  Well well well.
I am going to post all my insurance information here so that I will know where to find it.  United Health Integrated.  Policy # 24367286 - group # 78360002 - $505 per month.
Blood work Thursday.  Moffitt on Tuesday.  The Bergen Lecture Benefit for the Trust/Manager Party went well and raised $2200,  Marty was terrific as usual.  I feel good.  Mom left early this morning.  I will miss her.

I just called National Finance Center, PCIP is now in effect.  I have a policy # and a group # .  I called Moffit.  I am sure they are going to take my insurance and she says most expenses will be 20% out of pocket.   Whew...... Now on to the surgery and completion of this ordeal.   Thanks for your support and help.  Benefit today with Marty Bergen.  People still helping and helping.  I feel the love.  Thank you God for listening to my friends and for your devine intervention.  Keep guiding my path and the hands of my doctors.