The Smile Stash: Humans (Angels) of My Life- The Doctors!

Humans (Angels) of My Life- The Doctors!

It's been exactly a year since my craniotomy surgery and looking back at this day last year makes me feel like I really have been born again.

The updates Bhaskar sent to keep our local friends informed during my hospital stay are in this blog post here:

https://tumorsandtravels.blogspot.com/.../hospital...

I also feel that I have aged a decade just this past year. I am still struggling with constant headaches, eye aches, and lack of energy, most of which get unnoticed because they don't come with visible bruises.

An army of people have been there for me through this surgery and recovery. With all the positivity that surrounds me, I am hopeful that I will recover soon from all that continues to ail me. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the amazing doctors that have made this surgery and recovery possible.

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Without further ado, next on my series - Humans of my life- are the angels that showed up in my life just at the right time, disguised as doctors.

First, it was the team of ER doctors at St. Vincent's on Feb 16th, 2024. Dr. E and his two other colleagues made some strategic decisions that literally saved my life. They ordered a CT scan even though my symptoms aligned with a normal migraine. The MRI they originally suggested to be done at my convenience was later ordered while I was still in ER. If it weren't for their abundance of caution, my tumor wouldn't have been diagnosed in a timely manner. Knowing my resistance for any doctors visits or medical procedures, that MRI would have been indefinitely put off.

I sat with that initial diagnosis for more than a week before I could see a neurosurgeon. I didn't share the tumor news with my parents or extended family/friends, and I was very anxious about what that all meant. Then came Dr. R, through my storytelling circles, who introduced me to his neurosurgeon-friend, Dr. M. It was Dr. M that gave me the much-needed initial prognosis, the options and choices ahead of me, and most importantly the confidence that I will most likely be alright.

Then it was Dr. H. whom I only saw that day for the first time because my regular ophthalmologist was unavailable. Towards the end of my checkup, I casually mentioned my meningioma and the need for a surgery. She stopped typing up my prescription immediately, swiveled in her chair towards me and said- "you HAVE to see Dr. G". She showed the scars from her own brain surgery from five years ago and said Dr. G was the best of the lot.

A quick google search for Dr. G told me he was related to a dear friend. She was able to make an introduction, and, by that weekend, I had moved to Dr. G's care. Everywhere I went to, from MRI technicians to the administrative personnel, I heard lavish praises of Dr. G. Even the nurse who shaved parts of my head the night before surgery said Dr. G was the best. Though it all seemed comical and staged at one point, it filled me with immense respect and trust for Dr. G. I had visions of him dressed as Lord Rama, holding my hand and walking me to the other end of a busy road. One might argue that my visions were the effect of the 'good stuff' I was getting as part of pain medication,

Then there is the chair of radiation oncology at UW, Dr. RR, yet another connection that just literally knocked on my door exactly when I needed, via an Intel friend that I met with for the first time in months. Dr.RR patiently educated me on the pros and cons of going for traditional radiation as opposed to Proton Therapy and helped me make an informed decision.

Finally, radiation oncologist Dr. L, and her team of radiation technicians at Fred Hutch that made the 8 weeks of radiation treatment, away from home and family, seem bearable.

These angels, disguised as doctors, are the reason I was able to get through this past year. I will forever be indebted to every one of them.

I have one more individual to mention here - the unleashed dog that chased me this afternoon on NW Madrone street, twice. I have serious childhood trauma from dogs pouncing onto me and biting me, and I am still quite shaken by the whole incident. I am thankful that this dog did not undo the collective work of all my doctor angels, on the very day I got another lease on life only a year ago, though he nearly did just that.