Stupider -- Word for the Day -- Thursday, May 7, 2009

Stupider is how I felt when I went to the doctor this morning. Well, to be accurate, that's how HE made me feel. Yes, I know I shouldn't have been pulling and pushing. Yes, I know I should ask for help instead of trying to do it myself. Yes, I won't do anything like that again. If I didn't like him so much I would have gotten a little perturbed.

Had three x-rays after he felt a spot that made me almost jump off the table. X-rays couldn't reveal anything so they are requesting a back scan. IF our insurance approves it. He gave me a muscle relaxer/pain (Soma) prescript and steroids with instructions to go home directly, go to bed and lie on a heating pad. I guess he didn't understand the part about my need to work. I don't think he remembers that if I take steroids I am prone to move furniture, clean windows and mow the yard.

ChemoSabe's wart fell off yesterday. It was frozen last week. It looks very good and seems to be healing appropriately.

We had another run in with his insurance. If you remember, his limit a year is $125,000. It started back up in January. After phone calls about the agencies we have been turned over to we were alerted that insurance has paid NOTHING this year. I just had to make ChemoSabe make that call. I have been getting so frustrated with that part of it after handling it for a year. He was on the phone for over 1-1/2 hours (how does it feel?). At first the young lady told him he had reached his 'lifetime' limit of $1 million. WHAT THA??? After the initial shock and doing some mental calculating, we figured there was no way.

He asked to speak with the supervisor and after another 30 min. was told the first young lady had no clue. They will be writing UAMS a letter that they made a mistake and he is covered, thus far, for this year. What a bunch of crap and I don't mean his blood test!

My sister-in-law improved massively yesterday. She is having a weak conversation with us and is coherent. She is raising her arms some. The report this morning was she still has pneumonia and a lung infection, but she has improved. She has not eaten in three days so my little 6 ft. 3 in. brother told them yesterday he was going to feed her soft foods. They proclaimed -- liquid. He refused. She got applesauce.

He got into a major argument with one doctor and they asked Mike to leave. I was so proud of him...... He is so meek and humble. This morning he apologized to the same doctor and the doctor told him not to worry. He bragged that Mike was taking extremely good care of Sharon and they didn't have to worry about her. The nurses were even relieved he took such an interest.

Your prayers have worked, but we still have a long way to go.

Son and I are hosting a 'surprise' one year survivor party on Saturday. We have about 30 people attending. People that have helped us to survive this last year. These are in town folks. If we invited the out-of-town folks we would probably have over 100. We have been so blessed.

He has no clue about the surprise. I am planning on finding some masks and have everyone put them on before we enter the facility. Since the swine flu I cannot find any so I will probably buy a bunch of white handkerchiefs. He needs some new ones anyway. I am so excited.

Good afternoon and Love -- Pepper