HI ALL! TODAY WENT GREAT!!!! he WILL be doing the surgery (2nd cous guy most of you know) on July 14th. i cannot begin to tell you how relieved we are and from what we learned today my reservations about my first surgeon were certainly justified. i was right that i need a re-scan (and should not have had to ask) to check for the new growth and will now be having both a CT and MRI the week before. during the consult today he had a radiologist come in to review my last CT with all of us. he was hoping to perhaps risk some of the 1/2 margin to save more of the sinus support but unfortunately the tumor is right on the midline (got happy there for a moment). however, the MRI will reveal a different spin on it and there may be a chance to save some of the bone behind the area. this was never considered before and obviously, even if it is not possible, it is great that it is least being investigated. the entire time everyone was real "careful" not to "name" anyone, but then he started talking about the "skin graph". lance and i were like, WHAT SKIN GRAPH??? he was at this point VERY SURPRISED, explaining that it was part of the protocal. even added that he was going to speak with him because not only was i not properly consulted, but wanted to make sure that the first surgeon planned on doing the graph at all! i, as you all know, was already plenty concerned after last weeks apt, that was pretty much upgraded to alarmed at that point. mostly just incrediably glad i went with my gut. of course he could still be a very very good surgeon, but our impression still remains that it is not often done by him, nor done as often in his dept. so anyhow, we left feeling relieved. he was incrediably thorough and surprisingly personable, compassionate and even funny! yes, not what i expected. who knows, maybe i got him on a good day, he certainly made mine better. it was worth the fight to get in and worth the wait. funny, the reality of the surgery itself kinda hit us right back on the way home. the distraction was nice while it lasted. but at least i feel much more comfortable now with my care, which is a whole lot better than last week : ) THANKS ALL FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND HOPES TODAY, I BELIEVE THEY FOUND THEIR WAY TO PHILLY!!!
talk soon, hugs, marieka