I put a call in to The Dr. Too this morning asking for a call back. Like always, she called me back promptly. Any conversation with her is fun and challenging. This one was no exception. She is funny in a good way, although she is prone to riding any available tangent off into the sunset. The conversation went something like this:
her: Hi Russell. What's up?
me: The Dr. died. I have a big problem.
her: Yeah, I read the obit yesterday. What sad news. How did you find out? What can I do for you?
me: J called me yesterday to tell me and to tell me that my application for a lung transplant was still on his desk.
her: Wow. Slow down. Tell me what is going on.
me: Ok. I'll give you the story in short form. At the beginning of August The Dr. told me that we were ready to submit the application. All that was left was to have another CAT scan of the lung tumour. I had that done a couple of weeks later and the results were great. No growth between May and August. A week or two later I had a mild heart attack followed a few days later by a moderate one.
her: Wait, what, you had a heart attack? When? Two?
me: one at home, one in the hospital.
her: Did The Dr. know this? Wait, something here in your file. You had some tests done while you were in the hospital MIBI
me: Yeah I know. Just listen. I have this all worked out. Just let me tell you the facts in order, OK? Let me bring you up to speed, tell you what I need from you. OK?
her: So ok. Hospitalized for heart attack.
me: Right. Two. Had a MIBI done. Got out, saw Dr. A., my old cardiologist who read the MIBI and pronounced me ok and ready for a transplant. He did not make a report to The Dr. The Dr. saw me and the MIBI and promptly sent me to Dr. P., telling me no transplant application until my heart was certified up to it. Dr. P. sent me for an angiogram and subsequently spoke to and submitted a written report to The Dr. informing him that my heart was strong enough for transplant.
her: So, what's the problem
me: Everything is on his desk, nothing sent to Notre Dame, they don't know about me
her: What do you mean they don't know about you
me: Well, The damn thing has not been submitted
her how do you know
me: J called me yesterday. I asked. I had left 9 messages asking if it had been sent over the last 3 weeks. I left messages yesterday too. One of those she returned. Told me the news. I asked what about my application. J told me it was still on The Dr.'s desk. I asked her if she could send it. She said no, she did not know what to do with it. She said that she would try to have someone look at my chart.
her: So, give it some time. Let her work it out.
me: No. Sorry. I am going to get this to Notre Dame now, on my own if I have to, but I need your help.
her: Dr. P. would be better than me, you really should call him first.
me: No. He is a cardiologist, I have met him twice. You have known me for 15 years. I have spent a year reading, studying many different hospital's protocols for lung transplant, and believe me, the most important Dr. on that team is the Family Dr. They don't even look at someone who does not have the backing of a solid family physicians. You are it, Dr.
her: Russell, you need to let J work on it, you need to talk to Dr. P.
me: of course I will let her work on it. I love her, she is hurting now. It's just that I am going to drive this thing now. Me. I can't wait anymore for others to take care of this exclusively. I need you now. Am I legally allowed to have my chart? Do I have the right to obtain it physically?
her: Yes. Of course. It's yours. Did you ask for it?
me: No. I was in shock. She was mortified because the damn application was still on the farking desk! I expressed condolences, asked about what was going to happen.
her: And what did she tell you
me: She told me she was going to try to get someone to work on it.
her: So, let her Give her a time
me: NO It is not going to work exclusively like that. I will get my chart and bring it to you, now, ASAP. I want you to call Notre Dame, find the right people, get me in front of them. It's cool if J tries too. I don't think Notre Dame is going to get pissed at me because of two agencies working on my behalf. I have non small cell cancer, at death's door from lung disease and I do not have any specialists! I ain't waiting Dr! My best chance is to get to Notre Dame. If on the outside chance they do say yes I don't need any other Dr.'s. Everything will be done for me there. That is what we are doing first. Getting a yes or no from them.
her: Get your chart. Bring it to me. I will see what I can do.
me: No, Dr. I am bringing it to you and you are going to drive me down there and get me in.
her: Russell, you know I can't drive you there myself.
me: I know. It was said figuratively. I am going to put the chart in front of you, you are going to contact the thoracic surgeons at Notre Dame and explain the odd circumstances to them. You are going to get me to the door. Please.
her: Call J. Get your chart. Bring it to me. We'll think of something.
me: Cool. Thats what I need. I need you now. Right now. I need you to step up for me. I need you to save my life, The Dr. Too.
her: Russell, you know I am there for you. Stay healthy in the meantime. Stay good, positive. We'll get it done, we will, give J a chance. Be nice. Such a shame about The Dr.
me: Yes. J is suffering now, so sad. He really was a good Dr. Thanks. I'll call you soon. :) :) :)
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