A Return to Sinai

Dear All,

Our big event today was Bernice's return to the Mount Sinai Medical Center from which she was discharged on September 7 and has not even been in the city since. All went well in spite of some trepidation and doubt about how the trip itself would be. A recent problem has been swollen ankles and legs unless her legs are elevated so she put the seat back and tried to keep her legs raised. We left the house at about 10:15 even though there was some talk about a departure before 10:00. The appointment for the CT scan was at 11:30 and there is always uncertainty about a trip to the city. Fortunately, the trip took about an hour and I thought Bernice might arrive at radiology early but that was not realized with the time taken to get into the center. Luckily, i squeezed the car into a just vacated space near the entrance. I went in and got a wheel chair and rolled Bernice into the lobby. Her recent short walks in the neighborhood were not enough to have her attempt the labyrinth of corridors to get to her destination. An aide wheeled her to radiology while I parked the car and joined her there. Bernice commented on the irony of the five minutes taken to actually perform the CT scan compared to travel time. Since our appointment with Dr M, her neurosurgeon, was at 1:00 we had time to go to the cafeteria and we each had a bowl of very good hot soup.

Dr. M had side-by-side views of two CT scans: one just before her surgery and the one taken today. The contrast was dramatic and Dr M was very pleased with what the new scan showed. The pre-op view was frightening for it clearly showed the large blood clot pushing the brain aside, off-center, and closing the spaces between the brain folds. The current scan showed the restoration of a healthy symmetry and all the other indications of a good medical outcome. Bernice will return in about three months for what will probably be a final checkup.

While we were there we stopped in to see the other Dr M, her oncologist/hematologist. Until Bernice would be able to make the trip more easily (months probably) she will under the care of our local Dr K but the two will confer. When mobility returns another drug trial may be considered.

The remainder of our day has been quiet. We are thankful for a good medical report.

Good night all,
Merwin