[Muncle]

I know it's easiest and most fashionable to complain, but I guess I've been cursed. Prior to moving here, I had a wonderful internist in the DC area. Moving here in '05, I was lucky enough to pick the same Dr. Jag that Gatb discusses above. Both he and his nurse Lori are absolutely caring and professional. I'll never forget the empathy they both demonstrated when the had to give me difficult test results.

Then Dr, Jag's office took over, setting appointments with an oncology practice and a pulmonologist who took my insurance and could see me immediately. Dr Iyengar and her cancer treatment staff have been wonderful --- Chemo sucks, but the people were wonderful. And when we had an occasional downturn, I felt it more my task to console and buck up Dr. Iyengar and my sister than to overworry about my health.

The pulmonologist was a trip. There's a sign in Dr. Albino's office explaining that he tries as hard as he can to stay on schedule but emergencies and an occasional patient requiring more attention might cause him to run late. If you as the patient could not tolerate periodic delays, you were more than welcome to seek a different pulmonologist. Damn, I thought, what an egotistical bast**d. However, 5 minutes into his examination room, I began to think the guy was pretty sharp. 10 minutes later, I was convinced this was one of the smartest, most caring doctors I'd ever met.

Not long later, I fell in the night, shattering my radius. Into TV hospital emergency room, I was well-treated, the wrist stabilized, and I was thoroughly examined. Problem was that no one could determine why I fell, so they had to assume the worse. I was put in the cardiac wing, and after the bone surgeon consulted with the Albino and Iyengar, surgery was scheduled. Jag's hospitalist was there a couple times a day, Albino visited as much as the dinner cart lady. Iyengar's partner kept a close eye on everything and visited daily. And since there was the great unknown, I got me a cardiologist, Dr. Valliban. He quickly ruled out the probability of a heart issue, but kept an eye on me for my hospital stay and two follow-up before giving me a complete pass on the heart. After 2+ days, Dr. Tankson did the surgery and I guess he did a good job -- hey, I can play golf just as miserably today as I ever did.

A couple months later, I started a very long treatment at the Robert Boissoneault Oncology Institute next to the hospital. Yeah, the first half of the treatments caused a lot of pain -- I could swallow nothing for a couple months -- but the technicians who gave me my daily blast were absolutely superb. They did everything possible to keep my spirits up and almost became family. And my doctor, Sheilaine Mabanta, was, as expected by now, wonderful. How could I possibly stay down in the dumps with her positive attitude, regular encouragement, and bright prognosis.

I have no idea today how everything will turn out, but I do know that regardless, I've received the best and most positive treatment feasible.

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Y'know, maybe I have less problem with the hospital and with many caregivers because I realize the sun doesn't rise and set on me and my issues. I realize that there are others who might actually be sicker than me or need the chemo station ahead of me for whatever reason. And I realize that not all days are the same, that occasionally someone might be out sick and throw the schedule awry or maybe the receptionist/nurse/doctor just might have had that final spousal argument this AM or maybe one of their kids or parents are critically ill. Give caregivers the same consideration you expect from the.

Okay, one more thing --- rumors suck! Do not believe rumors! Go to the source and verify, especially before you propagate them.