If You Are Able to Help, Here's How

I was asked how people can help out with my medical and living and other expenses while my sisters and I travel down the healing path.

We have set up a "Go Fund Me" page if you are able to financially assist us. Because I live in an isolated town, three and a half hours away from the hospitals where I will have surgery, travel and lodging expenses must be figured into the equation.

Her is the link:  Anne's Medical and Healing Fund . Just click on it and you will be directed to our page.

I thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.

How Am I Now?

How am I now? Mostly tired. And somewhat encouraged.

What seemed totally dire a week or so ago now seems inevitable and even mundane. Getting used to the idea of two major surgeries back-to-back and starting to trust the Western medical system.

Absolutely thrilled with Medicaid, at the moment. Tests that would normally cost me thousands of dollars are billed at $7 each. Seriously. Unfortunately, the benefits do not extend to my teeth. Still raising money online to get the dental bills paid for - tooth problems can cause bacterial infections during surgery.

I am world's worst dental patient. I need nitrus oxide for cleanings. My mouth is very sensitive and I have childhood dental trauma. Mother is a tooth-fetishist. 

 Driving 3 and a half hours one-way to get to two different hospitals. Spending lots of time on hotel discount websites, as my sister and I have had to stay in Albuquerque or Santa Fe, in order to make appointments. Becoming very familiar with lodging one step up the food chain from Motel 6. Thanking OPEC for lowering gas prices during this crucial time.

Hard to believe people are donating money to assist in all of these medical and related costs. Very grateful.

One day of running all over equals a second day spent mostly in bed. Today is a stay-in-bed day.

Nobody Wants to Touch Me

Just got back from my endocrinologist appointment. Luckily, my enchanting goiter has no cancer cells - but it has no thyroid cells, either. A huge cyst filled with gooey stuff, encasing my thyroid. But, this lovely goiter has pushed my trachea over an inch to the right. Because of this, the cardiac surgeon I was assigned, by Medicaid, won't replace my heart's aorta (with Dacron) until the trachea is moved back into place, so the ventilator can be inserted during the operation, without complications.

Now I learn that it is unlikely the ear, nose and throat surgeon will operate on my goiter until the heart is repaired. Because, it might erupt if my blood pressure rises during surgery. Endocrinologist said it was the second largest goiter she has ever seen. Perhaps I should name it. What do you think of the name, 'Gilbert'? Gilbert Goiter.

The doctors are consulting with each other. I can imagine the conversation:

"I'm not gonna touch her until you do".
"Uh no. You gotta go first - I am not going to take responsibility for this"
"Fuck that! I don't want to get sued"
And so on, and so on.

I feel like the last kid picked for dodge ball.