Exhaustion Causing Title Delay

So, back from St. Louis: another pin in the globe. Not much to report on the trip itself, it was rather uneventful for me, just nice to get away. Everyone is a lot nicer in STL than in NJ, a few things are cheaper, and slower, however the weather was about the same. Spent the first day at the Science Center and the Zoo, and an early night in. 2nd day (yes, the entire day) was spent drinking at Tigrin's Irish Pub, where I made some new friends and even met a guy named Mike, my age, from NJ. Third day was spent sleeping in and a quick trip to the Arch at night. Although it seems like not much was accomplished - I was exhausted easily on this trip. Fourth day was spent traveling home... and finally seeing Ava :) I missed her so much. 

Unfortunately our trip started the same day that M was scheduled to go to Sloan Kettering for the first time. I was really bummed about not being there for her. I can only imagine what M and her travel companions went through on October 4 when she made her first trip to Sloan being that I saw it firsthand yesterday. What a disaster it is trying to get there. She was told last Thursday to come back Monday (yesterday, October 8) for a bone marrow biopsy and to be admitted. 

Mon (10/8) Up at 530 am- straight from my trip I ventured into the city with M, an aunt and an uncle. We left at about 7 am from Dunellen and got to our destination at about 850 am; we spent too much time ignoring the two GPS's that were giving us different directions. Anyway, once we got there we were told that her appointment wasn't until 11 am, but a little after 9 one office called to say that they knew she should be in at 9 am, but her DR was in a meeting. So screwed up. We ate breakfast in the cafeteria and relaxed until 11 am, and went to M's first appointment. She got all her cultures done, and was advised that she could hang around to wait for her bone biopsy; back to the cafeteria we went. We were told that they weren't admitting her on Monday but INSTEAD on TUESDAY and that we should make plans to come back. (Really?) 

Whilst in the Lobby, we received a phone call from Financial Services expressing that her insurance didn't include pre-existing conditions and that no further treatment would be done for her unless it was out of pocket; we were then advised to go to the Financial Services Department. M, Aunt and myself explained that the insurance INDEED covers pre-existing's and they weren't hearing it. Some of you may know how heartless and condescending insurance reps can be, you should see the Financial Services (FS) Department of Sloan Kettering. We were told that should have the biopsy done even if she wouldn't be admitted, or if she had to pay out of pocket. Now, imagine you are told you are going to be hospitalized for a month after you've been out of the hospital for a month from being in the hospital for a month. Imagine just knowing someone who has gone through that. Now imagine hearing that your insurance might not work in this new hospital and you'd have to pay out of pocket for services, or wait 6 months, or yadayadayada. This is not something you want to hear after you were just told you still weren't being admitted today but tomorrow because they have no rooms available. After discussing on the phone with another family member they said "Go back in there and argue! They are not right! It's not correct!"  After about a dozen phone calls made from our FS planner in Sloan to BCBSNJ - they finally realized that we were right, and her insurance surely covers pre-existing and existing conditions. (Duh, you jackasses, that's why we chose this insurance). Why would you scare anyone like that? Especially a person sick with Leukemia about to go into the hospital for a 2nd round of intense chemo? 

Anyway, after that whole ordeal, we went back up to the suite we were originally in to hear the results of M's blood cultures. At this time, it's about 2:30 pm. We are told Ms #s are borderline and she needs two bags of blood transfused right away. If you've ever seen or witnessed blood being transfused, you will know that one bag takes about 2-3 hours. We brought M up into the suite where they perform transfusions and left for some fresh air. After all the commotion of the day, someone had three Guinness's, someone had two Captain and Cokes and someone else had a Xanax and a cocktail at an Irish Pub around the corner. It was well needed. On our way back to the hospital about 5pm we brought M a sandwich and sat with her until she was done  being transfused - that was about 730 pm. We made it home about 845 pm. 

Tues (10/9) M and two aunts made it to hospital in record time. Her admitting time was 3 pm but they made it there before 130. I believe they sat and had lunch. She should be admitted as I type this. 

I do not know the outcome of the bone biopsy that was performed yesterday. The results of that test determine whether or not M is getting straight chemo like before (5 days on, about 28 days rest cycle) or that combined with a clinical trial. I will know more about that tomorrow and will be traveling in the upcoming days so I will try to update when I have the time. 

Don't forget to donate or visit Minnie's Miracles Home Page - my team is walking this Saturday in Morristown. 

& as always - donate your blood and platelets! Someone out there needs them!!! 

Maybe tomorrow I will post some pictures from St Louis :) 

“I might be confused sometimes in my head but it is not something you need to talk about. Before you can talk you have to line it all up in order and I had rather just let it swirl around until I am too tired to think. You just let the motion in your head wear you out. Never think about it. You just make a bigger mess that way.” 

― Kaye Gibbons, Ellen Foster