Friday, February 2, 2007

Best of Both Worlds

We aren't really sure how the insurance thing is going to play out (it has been a long week of much effort without any final results yet), but we decided to at least get the first treatment started in New York even though we realize we may have to self-pay. Hopefully things will be worked out before the second treatment starts. When we told Dr. M of our decision, he said he would work to do as much of the first round of treament locally, since it is very similar to the ICE treatment I would have if I wasn't in the trial, and I could be covered by my local insurance. So next week I will get some pre-treatment testing work finished up and then fly up to New York to sign a consent towards the end of the week. If all goes well, I will come back here for the first round if treatment. So this is my reason for the Hannah Montana post title - New York protocol, locally administered, best of both worlds! After that, we will have to make a decision on continuing in the trial (hopefully insurance will be resolved) up in NY, or drop out of the trial and finish chemo and stem cell transplant under the standard protocol locally.

Thanks SOOO much for all of the cards and prayers and letters and offers to help. You guys are awesome and Brant and I feel so blessed to have such a great circle of friends and family.

1 comment:

George said...

Rachel - Glad to hear that your treatment is about to get underway. It must be a huge relief to get that sorted at least to the extent that you can get started.

What's a "Hannah Montana"? I always thought the 'the best of both worlds' was a reference to Charles Dickens and his formidable

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,
we had everything before us, we had nothing before us,
we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct
the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present
period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its
being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree
of comparison only.

There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face,
on the throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw and
a queen with a fair face, on the throne of France. In both
countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State
preserves of loaves and fishes, that things in general were
settled for ever."

Of course that could just be me that draws these types of references.

Thanks for the update. It really helps - we think about you all the time.

Love,
George