11/21 - Well let's see.... a few new things to report. We are very excited that David has accepted a position as Senior VP with UBS (Paine Webber) as they have asked him to help them open a wealth management office right on Main Street in Barrington. He and I are both so pleased that he will be just a few blocks away from home. They will move into the newly renovated offices of the former Merrill Lynch building by the end of January. So, the one fly in the ointment is that with the change in insurance, Loyola would no longer be covered for me. David, of course, was a prince and said we would simply pay to stay at Loyola, but I tried to keep an open mind and said I would look at other options (my bills in 4 months have been over $60,000. This is NOT how I would choose to spend our life savings. It's time we took advantage of 33 years of premiums we've been paying!) Fortunately, we knew this ahead of time and I did my homework, and with great references from a number of good friends, I have moved into the practice of Dr. Dean Tsarwhas who has an office right here in little'ol Barrington (and Lake Forest). I was very pleased with my initial meeting and he has already called me about my last CAT scan at Loyola. I think he's top-notch. My doctors at Loyola have been extremely supportive, and although this is my first experience with such things, they go through this all the time with patients going in and out of network. Dr. Tsarwhas agreed with all that I have been told by LUMC and all that has been done so far. He's a heck of a nice guy, and has great baby blue eyes. And as I left my appointment (his offices are in the building attached to the hospital) I thought to myself, "If I ever need to be hospitalized, this is where I want to be; not at a big city hospital, but right here in my own community." It was very comforting to me. And since David is on the governing board of the hospital, maybe I'll get special meals!!

So, at the moment everything is stable. I will have tests every three months until something pops up, and then we'll treat it. Dr. Tsarwhas was very upbeat about my condition. There's one little spot that we'll probably take a closer look at, but Dr. Barton wasn't terribly concerned. These scans show EVERYthing, and many times they disappear, or it's not what it appears to be and you have to have X-rays and ultra-sounds to be sure.

I see Dr. Ahmad on Tuesday and my eye feels MUCH better. I will finish up with him and then go back to Dr. Morno, who first found the tumors. She is in Barrington, and Dr. Ahmad says he will keep in close touch with her. He says he is confident in her ability to remove my catarac, should I need that (she was his resident.)

Anyway, I am very much looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas when all the children will be home - my favorite thing of all. Wishing you wonderful holidays ahead!   3:51:13 PM