CONTACTS 

SUBJECTS
Options; Surgery - Conventional
Laser Treatment
Senior People Need Medical Management Support, Have Time for SDS
Medical Management Needs SDS
Medical Mistakes, Lucille Johnston

0707 -
0707 -    ..
0708 - Summary/Objective
0709 -
070901 - Follow up
070902 -
070903 - Lucille said she and Dee are just leaving for a meeting with MT on
070904 - plan to cut a hole in the cancer to restore functioning to her
070905 - bronchial tube, so she can breathe normally, per review on 930430.
070906 - ref SDS 5 KW60
070907 -
070909 -  ..
0710 -
0711 -
0712 - 1858 Lucille called
0713 -
071301 - She is going into UC Med School on Stockton Blvd (we did the cardio
071302 - pulminary in 1970), next Monday evening, 930510, for surgery the next
071303 - morning.  Expects to be in hospital 3 - 5 days.
071305 -  ..
071306 - She and Dee met with 2 doctors today.  One is the person who will
071307 - perform surgery.  He is a professor at the Med Center, and Lucille
071308 - understands he has done 400 of these operations.  There is a 10%
071309 - failure rate.
071310 -
071311 -    This doctor seems to have a good reputation with another of
071312 -    Lucille's doctors.
071314 -  ..
071315 - Procedure is to try sending a laser instrument through the nose
071316 - through the bronchial tube to the tumor, then cut a hole through the
071317 - tumor to clear the breathing lane.  They told Lucille today the tumor
071318 - is located in a difficult position for this type of operation.  My
071319 - understanding from Lucille is that the tumor is at the lower end of
071320 - this system.
071322 -  ..
071323 - If this procedure does not work, they will have to try conventional
071324 - surgery to clear her broncial tube so she can breath, which will be
071325 - much more traumatic to her system and entail a longer recovery period.
071326 -
071327 -    I asked if the MT is planning on standing down if the laser method
071328 -    does not work, or whether they intend to immediately proceed with
071329 -    conventional surgery?  Lucille is unsure on this point.
071331 -     ..
071332 -    I wonder if the laser specialist is equally experienced with
071333 -    conventional surgical procedures on this type of condition?
071335 -  ..
071336 - Lucille said she coughed up blood a few days ago.  Diane called the
071337 - hospital and was given instructions to take certain medication, which
071338 - seemed to provide relief.
071339 -
071341 -  ..
071342 - Medical Records
071343 -
071344 - Lucille said she was given her medical records to transport from one
071345 - location to another, and was able to read through some of the analysis
071346 - entered by her doctors.  She feels the record indicates considerable
071347 - care, diligence and competence is being given her situation.  We
071348 - discussed advantages of obtaining a copy to facilitate coordination
071349 - with the MT and supporting opinions.
071350 -
071351 -     [On 990912 articles on high cost of medical mistakes reports
071352 -     doctors deny problems to avoid charges of incompetence.
071353 -     ref SDS 6 3416
071355 -  ..
071356 - She was asked when her last EKG was given, and was able to provide
071357 - this information from the diary she is keeping.  This indicates that
071358 - despite significant efforts by MT, some administrative and clinical
071359 - details may not be fully represented in their record.
071360 -
071361 -
071362 -
071363 -
071364 -
0714 -

SUBJECTS
Brain Shadow
Testing

0804 -
080501 -  ..
080502 - Lucille said this has been done, but she is not sure whether it was
080503 - done last Friday, or this past Monday, 930503. Did not discuss
080504 - results.
080505 -
080507 -  ..
080508 - Sent following Mother's day card.
080510 -  ..
080511 - Dear Lucille,
080512 -
080513 -    On this Mother's day, Millie and I are reminded of your affection
080514 -    and strength in sustaining your family over 4 generations.  Now, as
080515 -    you test will against flesh, our thoughts are with you more than
080516 -    ever.  We marvel at your courage and wish for you and your family
080517 -    the very best that God wills.
080519 -     ..
080520 -    As you go forward, remember that along life's wonderous path you
080521 -    showed the way for so many who have been warmed and nutured by your
080522 -    light.  I am reminded daily of a lovely woman telling a tale of
080523 -    taking the cat across the river, then the chicken and the fox, or
080524 -    something like that.  And though I can never remember it correctly,
080525 -    the struggle to bring life to that idea, seems more and more to
080526 -    hold promise of brighter tomorrows.  On this Mother's day, it is an
080527 -    honor and a great joy to thank that lovely lady for those tomorrows
080528 -    yet to come.
080529 -
080530 -            [On 080712 letter to Lucille's grandson, Ross, commerates
080531 -            again the power she exhibited that can propel her great
080532 -            grandson, Hutch toward a good life. ref SDS 7 A54Q
080534 -     ..
080535 -    Thanks Lucille.  See you soon.
080537 -  ..
080538 - On 920315 example trying to solve the problem of the fox, the cat, and
080539 - the hen. ref SDS 1 GT42
080540 -
080541 -
080542 -
080543 -
080544 -
080545 -
080546 -
0806 -