Day before the surgery

Today I'm grateful for...

Only one more day until this surgery is over for Lulu

My sister and sister-in-law for their help

Great care for my wife

Prayers from many

Wow, what a busy and stressful day. We started out early for the UCSF cancer clinic (at 8 AM) and didn't return until 6 PM. It was a day filled with anticipation, trepidation, and frustration for us all. We Lulu, Doris, and I all started with our spirits high and looking forward to getting lots of great pre-surgery information, and mostly that happened; however, I have to say that we're very disappointed in the insurance/hospital game. After a couple of hours and talking with a few different individuals the clinic couldn't give us an estimate on the costs of the surgery. (anesthesia, OR room, 3 nights hospital bed, and the surgeons fees). All that they could tell us is that they would have a better idea after the surgery is done. I was very surprised by this response, and I have to see a bit angered. I spent the rest of the day thinking of what other occupation just tells the consumer that they need a certain service, but they can't tell them (estimate) what is the cost going to be. Why are we putting up with that? Lulu and I got no where with the administration at UCSF. I got to thinking how quickly I'd go out of business as a dentist if I was to tell a patient that I need to place a crown on their tooth, but until I'm finished I can't tell them the cost. No one would come to me. And besides honor and integrity want would keep me from charging whatever I wanted? Do people having surgeries in the US just don't ask these questions because their insurance pays the difference? Lulu and I are paying out of network and we care what the charges are going to be and what portion we will be responsible for. Unfortunately, we don't have the time to investigate the issue as the surgery is tomorrow at 7 AM. Why should patients have to worry about the finances and insurance coverage of their medical costs, especially days before their surgeries?

Lulu was stressed about a few more issues also. We met with the pre-op nurse in the morning to discuss the anesthesia for her surgery. As it turns out UCSF has nurse anesthetist providing the anesthesia for the hospital. While that fact wasn't the main issue, Lulu asked the nurse how's in charge and how many surgeries is are they over seeing? The nurse wasn't exactly sure of this, but said that it was normally a attending anesthesiologist and they were in charge of 2 to 4 cases (nurse anesthetist). Again this wasn't the main factor for Lulu either, but the nurse told Lulu that she didn't know who the anesthesiologist was, so she thought that he was new to the hospital. Because Lulu has a lot of experience with providing patients general anesthesia at the hospital, she's a little more critical about what is the procedures especially since it's her body that's getting operated on. I could tell that she was visibly shaken by these facts, and I did my best to calm her and renew her confidence.

Lourdes traveled along with us, and she helping to keep us occupied. Between Doris and I we managed to keep her happy most of the day. Lourdes has gained so much weight this last couple of weeks. So even though you want to continuously hold her, her size (13 pds) limits you to only 10 to 15 minutes at a time. I ended up walking Lourdes all over the neighborhoods around the UCSF breast cancer clinic in the stroller while Lulu had her pre-op appointments with the surgeons (since I had been with Lulu to all the morning appointments, I thought that it would be nice to have Lulu's sister accompany her). I think that Lulu's just ready to get this surgery over with? I can sure understand that!

After meeting my cousin Chris out for dinner in the city (the last supper), we all retired to the flat to get some needed sleep before having to get up super early to get to the hospital by 6 AM.