Tag Team Medicine

Something that I find disconcerting in this process is that we rarely see the same medical person twice in a row. We report to a clinic and see whoever happens to be available and that person may or may not be familiar with our case so sometimes there is miscommunication. This does not inspire confidence in me….I get the feeling that they might be pulling someone in out of the hall to look at me.

Example: Last March they told me that they would remove my left kidney and put it in Dan’s left side. Two weeks ago during the final pre-surgery physical the P.A. told me that they were removing my right kidney. “No it is my left,” I tell her. She flips through my file and says, “No, they are removing your right kidney.” I guess it doesn’t matter, I think to myself.

Well, last Thursday during the final surgeon meeting (we had a substitute surgeon) she matter-of-factly says, …”And we will take out your left kidney….” “Which kidney is it?” I impatiently ask. She flips through the file and states, “Your left.” And I signed a consent form to that effect. I just hope that they don’t take out both kidneys.

Dan tells me that it is this way at the Mayo Clinic and in big teaching hospitals. He has a higher degree of tolerance for it than I do….but I am going to be assertive and form my own tag team to go in if someone on the transplant team goes down.

O.K. if a surgeon goes down then Jim will step in…he should bring his scalpels to Omaha with him and the 70’s music that he listens to during surgery. If two surgeons go down then David will step in. He has his doctorate (juris doctor) and he took Mr. Petersen’s class on dissecting a cat. I figure that that is close enough.

Chris did not take anatomy classes so he will hold the flashlight for his brothers and more importantly he will keep count of the number of kidneys that are removed from me. When one kidney is removed then he will follow that kidney from me to Dan to make sure it gets there.

In all fairness I will say that I have met hard-working, talented, dedicated, extremely careful and precise people. I have faith that they will do an excellent job…but it doesn’t hurt to have a back-up plan.

Other Information:

Dan has a full day of treatments on Tuesday. He will have the two treatments that he usually has plus an IV of anti-rejection medication. He will be in clinics for at least 8 hours. Kids and grandkids will be arriving all day and night on Tuesday.

On surgery day we report to Clarkson Hospital at 7:00am. Sandy’s surgery is from 8:30am to 1:30pm. Dan’s surgery is from 10:30am until 3:30pm. Nurses will call Dave, Jim, and Chris to let them know how things are going.

Dave, Jim, and Chris will call people. Bridget is going to update the blog. Linda will send out an e-mail to those in Sandy’s transplant group.

Sandy will be sent to Clarkson’s fifth floor (don’t know which tower) and Dan will be sent to Clarkson’s intensive care (don’t know which tower.) Sandy will probably be dismissed on Saturday and Dan will probably be dismissed on Monday…depending on how everything goes. Sandy’s sister Joan is coming on Thursday.