More About How We Got To Where We Are

What I didn't include in my last post (which was supposed to publish yesterday, but I hit the wrong button) was how we got to this spot with Tess.

Dr. Franco is Tess' oncologist. He told her at some time in the past that chemo was not an option for her. Her age, the three major surgeries she has undergone the last two years and the fact that she only has one functioning kidney (and due to her age, it is only functioning at 50% or less). So he sent her to a surgeon who might be able to help. That surgeon, Dr. T, was the one who took care of the previously mentioned surgeries. Dr. T. looked at the CAT scan and told Tess that because the liposarcoma was located on her liver he could not operate.

Dr. T. then made a referral to another surgeon at a cutting edge institute. The referral was to see if there was anything new that he wasn't aware of. The note he put on the file was 'Research.' Well apparently, the surgeon didn't read the file. He walked into the room, asked Tess why she was there. She told him about her tumor (not really understanding the research bit probably) and he told her he couldn't operate on her and sent her to an oncologist. This surgeon dropped the ball as far as we are concerned. She went to this oncologist...no idea whether this person paid any attention to the file and why Tess was there or not. Our feeling is that the oncologist probably thought that Tess, like many, was looking for the glimmer of hope (we were told that chemo had a 15%-20% chance of helping).

So that's how we ended up with Tess in the hospital fighting for her life against infections that she shouldn't have been vulnerable to. We are glad it turned out as well as it did.

Again, this is just a bit more information that may help you in a similar situation.