Day 2 (or is it 3?)

Okay. Day 2 is when Mom is scheduled for her medi-port implant. Dr. Olinde's office called her and scheduled for Tuesday, May 13. Mom said they told her Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center (which is located at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital). I thought that was odd, thinking it would be at St. Mary's Tower where she had the bronchoscopy done. At any rate, we park at MBPCC, go in, and were told we were at the wrong place. Mom was told to be there for 11, and we got there about 10:45. I suggested Mom let me drop her off then park, but she insisted on walking. By the time we get inside and it's our turn at the Help Desk, it's 10:55. So, I go get the car, pick her up, and off to the parking garage we go. She said for me to drop her at the tunnel entrance and she would wait, because "we have plenty time". I told her not to wait on me, that I'd park and catch up to her because it was 5 mintues to 11. So, off she and I go, to accomplish our goals. I park, get to the tunnel, and notice she is not at the check in spot at St. Mary's. I did see her half way down a hall way that leads back to MBPCC. I caught up to her and asked where she was going. She said they told her it was this way. I ask if she wants a wheel chair, but she wanted to walk. So we go about 30 feet (Mom walks slow) and I noticed she was getting slower and slower, and more winded. I also had a feeling we were going the wrong way. I convinced her to wait where she was so I could at least get a wheel chair. Lucky me, I noticed an orderly coming down the hall with one. She let me use the wheel chair and I caught up to Mom who did not wait as instructed. So, off we go in the general direction of no where in particular. I parked her at MBPCC and waited for a very chatty patient to finish up with the clerk so I could ask if we were in the right spot. Surprise, we were not where we were supposed to be. Turns out, that feeling I had of being in the wrong place was correct. So, long story short (or short story way too long), we check in at 11:30. We waited for about 10-15 minutes before they brought us to the "bay" area. Got her dressed in her pretty hospital-issue gown, accessorized by her hospital bracelet and an IV. And, waited. It was 2:00 before they came for her (grrrrr). We finally left around 3:30. Dr. Olinde said she did fine during the procedure and the usual "call us if she has any problems" (but he won't be there - he's going out of town!). Oh, and remember that test that no one had heard of (not even the place where it was to be performed)? Well the nurse who took Mom's medical history found out it was some sort of lumbar puncture - I guess checking to see if there is cancer in her spine? She said it is to be in her Lumbar spine (the appointment print out page said "WBBS/LI"). I thought it was L-I, not L-1. All her diagnostic tests had that on there, like, MRI/LI and MM/LI (mammogram). They did not do an MRI of her L-1, nor was the mammogram for her L-1 spine. Turns out, that was a full body scan.... OY. And the LI stands for LAKE IMAGING, not Lumbar-1 vertebrae. This is all confusing to me, so I can imagine it being a whirl wind of confusion to Mom. I was fortunate that Kathy was able to take Wednesday thru Friday off because I had alot of catch-up work to do at the office. Remember the MRI of her brain that had to be rescheduled because she is claustrophobic? Well that was scheduled for today, but it was raining, so she rescheduled it for next week. That's a pretty minor thing, so she won't need a chaparone. Naturally, we won't know the results of any of this until she sees Dr. Billings again on 5/20 at 9:25 am. After we see him, I go the the Baton Rouge Airport and pick up Debbie. Then bring her to Lake Imaging and I will go in to work for a couple of hours. Gotta get things finalized for a 2 day conference coming up. Gotta finalize the menus, put packets together, yada yada blah blah. NEXT is the CHEMO TEACHING which will be tomorrow. Kathy did well in school, so I am sure she will take good notes for me. Well, that's it for now. Thanks for keeping updated with me. Keep praying. Love to all. Jeaux