A Whirlwind of a September

Sept. 2nd, 2008. I had been having what I thought gas and some slight difficulty swallowing so on my birthday I had an Endoscopic exam where they stick a camera down the throat. On Sept. 3rd the Doc called and said it was Esophegeal cancer. The following day a CAT scan did not disclose that it has spread but it is inconclusive so set up another test called Endoscopic Ultra sound for Sept 12--tried to get in to see an Oncologist--at Olathe Med, KU and MD Anderson in Houston. The earliest appt. I could get was 9-17. Olathe Doc had cancellation and finally got in to see him on Sept 9th. He suggested a PET to be able to stage the cancer and set it for Monday 9-15. Then MD Anderson called and said they could see me on 9-11. So we threw everthing we thought we might need for the next few weeks in the car and made arrangements to go to Houston for staging and treatment. I have a brother that is a builder in Houston and has a house in Pearland, Tx---10 miles from MD and it is furnished and vacant--sounds perfect, highly rated cancer clinic, near family and ready to go. We arrive in Houston on Wed 9-10 and we of course are on the eve of Hurricane Ike. We arrive at MD Anderson on Thursday and they are suppose to start testing Thursday and Friday. MD is a zoo--they are going to close the outpatient clinic Friday due to IKE and so they are only able to do one test on Thursday--cancelled Friday's test (endoscopic ultra sound--I had cancelled the one schedule in KC for 9-12 because MD had called) and now MD had set it off for another week and do not scedule the PET---everything was on hold due to Hurricane IKE----so there I am staying with m brother at Lake Conroe--just north of Houston--the Pearland house is in a potential flood zone if IKE hits--nothing scheduled for a 10 days in Houston and waiting on a Hurricane.
Luckily I had not cancelled the PET scan I had scheduled at the Olathe Med Center and I had not cancelled an appointment I had with a KU Oncologists. So back in the car on Friday on the phone trying to re-schedule the Endoscopic ultra sound--got it scheduled for Sept. 16th.
Arrived back in Olathe---helped my son with his first Barbecue contest---came in 12th out of 27 teams.
Monday Sept 15th had the PET, today I am scheduled for the Orthoscopic Ultra sound. I am to meet with the KU oncologists this afternoon and have an appointment with the Olathe oncologists for Thusday 9-18. I am hopeful that we can get this staged and get a treatment plan and fearful that they will tell me what's the point?
Since many people (including me) think positive thoughts and/or prayers work I would ask you all to engage in them.
It sounds like best case scenario is an arduous 3-4 months or worst case...well let's not go there. Last but not least the Walnut Valley Music Festival starts this week. I had to cancel MCing because of this minor distraction--BUT IF THE DOCTORS DO NOT SCHEDULE SOMETHING I AM HEADING FOR WINFIELD AND A LITTLE PICKIN' LATE THURSDAY OR EARLY FRIDAY. NOW THAT IS PRAYER!!!

I will try to keep you posted