Here we go again

I’ve delayed writing this entry because I wanted to have some specific information before sharing the latest news, but it may be a few days before I have the exact details, but I wanted to let everyone know where things stand.

On Friday, I spoke with the nurse at the Transplant Center at Beth Israel Hospital and began the process of getting an appointment with the surgeon Dr. Nauta has chosen for me. Right now it looks like I’ll be meeting with the chief of the transplant team sometime in the next week. If he agrees to take me on and if Pat and I feel he understands and respects our wishes and decisions, like quality of life then we’ll set up the surgery. After our experience in DC and the phenomenal care we’ve received at Mt. Auburn, we are very cautious when it comes to surgery outside our comfort zone. However since this doctor was handpicked by Dr. Nauta I’m certain we’ll like him.

It seems likely that my surgery will be sometime in the next 2 to 3 weeks – we don’t know how quickly the new team will want to proceed. Fortunately this stent isn’t causing too much discomfort and being off the Erbitux means I don’t have too many other side effects to deal with. I got my Sandostatin shot last week which should keep my diarrhea under control. And I got the last part of my infected toenail removed on Friday, so hopefully that will begin to heal and I can wear my pointy toed shoes once again.

Lastly, in the middle of all of this doom and gloom - I got some good news. I don’t have MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)!!! Turns out I did have it back in November 2004 after my last surgery, but I don’t still have it. The nurse who read my chart must not have turned the page to find out that I had done the antibiotics and been declared MRSA free when I was discharged. WooHoo!! We’re learning to celebrate the small stuff.

I’ll write again when there is more to report.