Doctors Visit - April
Tiffany went to the doctors yesterday for her continued evaluation. Aside from a slight fever, which we are pretty sure was due to her getting up early and working out, nothing to do with why she was there, the doctor gave her a clean bill of health and told her not to come in for three months.
And then a rather interesting conversation ensued. Tiffany talked to one of the nurses or administration staff, and she told Tiffany about some of the behind the scenes talk that went on in the office back last November and December.
The oncologist, apparently, came out from meeting with Tiffany and I after giving us the news and talking to this assistant said, something to the effect of,
‘It’s just not right… She is too young, and with children… To face only 18 months left in life.’
Tiffany, hearing this 4 months after the fact, had a realization. Her words last night to me were that she really didn’t see the cliff she was dangling off of until now. It has caused her to think and ponder on where she has been, and where she is. She is realizing that second chance in life. Not that she (or we) didn’t see the drop off then, but now that the ordeal is all but over, she is considering how our life could have been and how it currently is. To which we honestly couldn’t feel more blessed.
You see, no doctor ever told Tiffany or me any prognosis – except that 75% of people walk away from this – Which both Tiffany and I, after doing our research, always felt that was just a show of optimism and were pretty sure that statistic was pulled out of the air to give us hope. It did give us hope so the doctor said the right thing, though our own study of the prognosis was far more dark. What we found was exactly what the oncologist told his assistant - that the prognosis was bleak, and that, on average, 18 months was all people had from prognosis to passing on.
But to hear it from the office staff that they knew all along the difficult prognosis, caused Tiffany to pause and consider it.
Thankfully, she was also told by this assistant that the doctor became somewhat emotional over this situation. That the doctor cared was wonderful to hear – though he always made us feel like he did. It was just nice to hear it from a different source. We have had too many doctors that don’t seem to care. And I won’t fault them for that. They see all sorts of diseases, injuries, and even death. At some point in their career, I would assume that many check their emotions as they walk into work, as the daily emotional struggle likely would simply tare at them insomuch that they themselves would emotionally suffer, and perhaps so much that it may become difficult to do their job.
But the doctors who show that emotion, who seem to care, make you believe that they are on your side and will do anything they can to either cure you, or to help you feel as best as you can through whatever process you have to go through. And to me, that is comforting to know.
Tiffany continues to be fine. I get questions asking me all the time how she is doing, literally every day. And I can’t report anything other than no news is good news and that we don’t expect any news on this issue.
We continue to joy in her good health, and in this journey we are experiencing.
Cheers,
Nathan
And then a rather interesting conversation ensued. Tiffany talked to one of the nurses or administration staff, and she told Tiffany about some of the behind the scenes talk that went on in the office back last November and December.
The oncologist, apparently, came out from meeting with Tiffany and I after giving us the news and talking to this assistant said, something to the effect of,
‘It’s just not right… She is too young, and with children… To face only 18 months left in life.’
Tiffany, hearing this 4 months after the fact, had a realization. Her words last night to me were that she really didn’t see the cliff she was dangling off of until now. It has caused her to think and ponder on where she has been, and where she is. She is realizing that second chance in life. Not that she (or we) didn’t see the drop off then, but now that the ordeal is all but over, she is considering how our life could have been and how it currently is. To which we honestly couldn’t feel more blessed.
You see, no doctor ever told Tiffany or me any prognosis – except that 75% of people walk away from this – Which both Tiffany and I, after doing our research, always felt that was just a show of optimism and were pretty sure that statistic was pulled out of the air to give us hope. It did give us hope so the doctor said the right thing, though our own study of the prognosis was far more dark. What we found was exactly what the oncologist told his assistant - that the prognosis was bleak, and that, on average, 18 months was all people had from prognosis to passing on.
But to hear it from the office staff that they knew all along the difficult prognosis, caused Tiffany to pause and consider it.
Thankfully, she was also told by this assistant that the doctor became somewhat emotional over this situation. That the doctor cared was wonderful to hear – though he always made us feel like he did. It was just nice to hear it from a different source. We have had too many doctors that don’t seem to care. And I won’t fault them for that. They see all sorts of diseases, injuries, and even death. At some point in their career, I would assume that many check their emotions as they walk into work, as the daily emotional struggle likely would simply tare at them insomuch that they themselves would emotionally suffer, and perhaps so much that it may become difficult to do their job.
But the doctors who show that emotion, who seem to care, make you believe that they are on your side and will do anything they can to either cure you, or to help you feel as best as you can through whatever process you have to go through. And to me, that is comforting to know.
Tiffany continues to be fine. I get questions asking me all the time how she is doing, literally every day. And I can’t report anything other than no news is good news and that we don’t expect any news on this issue.
We continue to joy in her good health, and in this journey we are experiencing.
Cheers,
Nathan
How grateful I am that we can be looking forward to the future knowing that the unfortunate and devastating news is a thing of the past...I know I don't see you guys much and we all get caught up in life, but I check your blog often and pray for you always, and love you all very much.
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