Doctors and Dreams

Poor Mandy. This was supposed to be a week off. She so got jipped. There was no chemo this week, but holy flippin' cow, it has been one Doctor after another this week. She needs a better secretary in the worst way. One who only schedules pedicures and lunch with friends at food joints that give you a toy with the meal. Sadly, she is stuck with me. And I scheduled a whole big bunch of Dr appointments this week. I stink.

Monday, she had a neuro-pysch evaluation. This is an eval that should give us some indication of any neuro issues she is having. From processing deficiencies to learning disabilities, this is a barometer. I was worried about this one going inbecause of the information that may come out of it. Mandy has a bit of anxiety about new Dr's. For good reason, she doesn't so much trust them. So, we talked about it. This appointment was just a "talking appointment," as she calls it. Loosely translated into Mandy speak, "Stay the heck away from me with your Dr who-ha. If you have prove you have no needles and no blood pressure cuffs, I will CONSIDER allowing you to talk to me. Thankyouverymuch" This day, with this lovely Dr, Mandy was not so accommodating. She couldn't get through the tests. Her anxiety just got the best of her. So, after about 2.5 hours, we bailed with the very sweet Dr's blessings(she really was wonderful). We will take another swing at that one in a couple of weeks. Mandy will be more comfortable there the next time around. I hope. there is a lot of information to be gathered in this appointment. Frankly, some I really may not want to see. But, all of it I really need to see.

Tuesday, we drove to Orlando, about two hours away to see her neuro-ophthalmologist. It was a good appointment. Again, from time to time, her whole "unusual presentation" thing works in our favor. Doc said he was surprised that she had no vision impairment, given the size of the tumor on her right optic nerve. Frankly, given that I am not a doctor and don't play one on TV, I don't know why either, but I care even less. We will just take that blessing, tuck in our pocket, pay our copay and get the heck out of Dodge. Thank you God for the blessing of her eyesight being stable. 'Nuff said.

Wednesday, Oncology clinic for a finger stick to check those all-over-the-map lately counts. Good news on this one too. Her counts were great! Had I ordered them online and had them shipped in via Fed Ex from GoodBloodcountsRUs.com she could not have had better counts. And I didn't even have to pay shipping. Her ANC was 1670, platelets 211. This clears the way for the big event of the day....

MANDY'S DREAM PRESENTATION!!!!! Kristin from the Children's Dream Fund along with her new assistant Jennifer were supposed to meet us for lunch at Mandy's favorite lunch joint, Chic Fil A. Sadly, they were closed for remodeling, so we scooted across the street to McDonalds. Kristin, as always, was awesome!! She brought Mandy a stuffed dolphin that as you can see was as big as she is! Kritin, Mandy and her new dolphin named Didi, all with big smiles!


Check out his incredibly awesome cake they brought for the presentation!


We will have 4 days and 3 nights at Atlantis, just a week from now! Mandy is beyond excited! We will swim with dolphins, we will lounge pool side, we will go down waterslides until we can slide no more. We can't wait! This is such a hard time for all three of the kids. Seeing the smiles on their faces today made me giddy! Thank you so much Kristin and everybody at Children's Dream Fund!! Brace yourself to get really sick of pictures! Just to prepare you and get you in the groove for all the pictures you will be forced to say, "Awwwwwww, how cute" to after the trip, here are a few more pics from today.






Thank you so much to Kristin and Jennifer for making this day possible. Thank you Mary Ann and Shannon from the Childrens Cancer Center, Holly and her boys and Rob for coming to share Mandy's special day! You guys made it so much more special. We love all ya'll!

Tomorrow no Dr appointment. Only Family Group Night at the Children's Cancer Center. Scheduling us to be there for that tomorrow night may be the only thing that saves my job as Mandy's secretary.

Love to all~