Dennis and I have been wanting to get away for a long time, but this really isn't what we had in mind. Sometime today, Dennis will be transferred from the UCD Med Center to the UCSF Hospital. We have no idea how long he'll be there, or how we're going to deal with this whole "living in Sacramento whilst traveling to SF regularly" thing, but we'll cross that (Bay) Bridge when we come to it. At least I know I have a place to stay if I need it - thanks, Becky & Kelly!
The reason for all this didn't really become clear to me until an ah-ha moment on Thursday. I just couldn't understand why the surgeons continued their reluctance to perform the abscess surgery. Yeah, it's risky - duh. But he's been cleared (twice) by Cardiology. He sailed through the angiogram with zero complications. Why the hesitation? Then, that 40 watt bulb over my head came on. All this is about getting him healthy enough to be listed for the transplant, right? So, if UCD doesn't have a Transplant Program, why spend the money and resources on the abscess surgery? While no one has actually come out and said that's what's happening, they haven't denied it, either. In fact, I've had a couple of doctors just look at me as if to say, "Well, yeah, but that sounds bad so we won't admit it". They will say, though, that this is our last chance. If UCSF won't do it, no one will. If no one will, we land in a gray area where no one knows what will happen next. Dennis says he'll heal himself if he has to - he's just the kind of guy who could pull it off, too. (I keep teasing him about finding some extra-strength Kinoki Foot Pads...) We're pretty optimistic, though, that it will never come down to the foot pads. UCSF is a progressive place, and it may actually be in our favor that they don't know us and haven't developed any emotional connection. At this point, we'd much rather have them lay it on the line and make some decisions than be too considerate of our feelings!
So, we prepare for the unknown. I haven't set foot in UCSF's hospital in 25 years, and I'm sure it's changed dramatically since then. As familiar as we are with the staff and overall operation of UCD, we are that unfamiliar with UCSF - no favorite nurses, no familiar faces in the hallway, no favorite parking spot in the garage. The whole thing makes me even more sympathetic to the patients of the Transplant Program who are being forced to make this same journey on their own, without the assistance of the hospital-to-hospital transfer process. Which reminds me, have you joined Facebook and my "Save the UC Davis Liver Transplant Program" yet?
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
One Step Forward...you know the rest
Wish I could say we've made more progress. One week ago, Dennis suffered a mild heart attack and was eventually transferred to the Cardiac ICU for closer observation. After several days in the ICU and some adjustments to his medications, he's now back out on the regular floor and doing well without any further complications.
What this means, unfortunately, is that he is no longer a transplant candidate - at least not for the time being. Cardiology has scheduled an Angiogram - one of those diagnostic tests that will give them an idea of how much (if any) damage was done to his heart. If the damage is slight as expected, the abscess surgery will go on as planned, he'll recover from the infection and we'll get back into the transplant system. The test will take place on Tuesday and I will do my best to update here as soon as we learn the outcome.
The crusade, of course, continues. I've heard back from Mayor Kevin Johnson's Chief of Staff, who assures me that Mayor Johnson will see my e-mail and help if possible. I've started a group on Facebook.com, Save The UC Davis Liver Transplant Program. With the help of friends & family, we're 28 members strong and growing - if you're on Facebook, I hope you'll join us.
Meanwhile, I have a new name for you: Ann Madden Rice. Ms. Rice (she's not hyphenated) is the CEO of the UCD Med Center. According to their website, she's a "nationally recognized expert in the management of health-care institutions". That would explain her salary of $584,300 annually, I suppose. I'll be sure to ask her about that when I write to her! I'll also ask how it is that a $45 million dollar profit last year translates to closing life-saving programs today, and what she did to deserve a $79,000 bonus last year when UCDMC must be broke, right? Feel free to join me in asking Ms. Rice what the hell they were thinking at that board meeting. Same address on Stockton Blvd., sadly, no direct e-mail address.
What this means, unfortunately, is that he is no longer a transplant candidate - at least not for the time being. Cardiology has scheduled an Angiogram - one of those diagnostic tests that will give them an idea of how much (if any) damage was done to his heart. If the damage is slight as expected, the abscess surgery will go on as planned, he'll recover from the infection and we'll get back into the transplant system. The test will take place on Tuesday and I will do my best to update here as soon as we learn the outcome.
The crusade, of course, continues. I've heard back from Mayor Kevin Johnson's Chief of Staff, who assures me that Mayor Johnson will see my e-mail and help if possible. I've started a group on Facebook.com, Save The UC Davis Liver Transplant Program. With the help of friends & family, we're 28 members strong and growing - if you're on Facebook, I hope you'll join us.
Meanwhile, I have a new name for you: Ann Madden Rice. Ms. Rice (she's not hyphenated) is the CEO of the UCD Med Center. According to their website, she's a "nationally recognized expert in the management of health-care institutions". That would explain her salary of $584,300 annually, I suppose. I'll be sure to ask her about that when I write to her! I'll also ask how it is that a $45 million dollar profit last year translates to closing life-saving programs today, and what she did to deserve a $79,000 bonus last year when UCDMC must be broke, right? Feel free to join me in asking Ms. Rice what the hell they were thinking at that board meeting. Same address on Stockton Blvd., sadly, no direct e-mail address.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Activism Update - We're Not Done Yet
Sigh...where to begin...
Let's start by saying that your letters/e-mails have not gone unnoticed. Dennis and I met with Dr. McVicar (the poor guy I asked you to bombard with correspondence) yesterday. I had spoken to the Transplant Coordinator earlier in the week. She assured me that Dr. McVicar was about to add Dennis to the list, needing only to see him in person before making it official.
All this would have made me the happiest woman on the planet, if it had gone as planned. Late last week, Dennis's infection came back. Instead of adding him to the wait list, Dr. McVicar admitted him to the hospital, where he will remain for a while, probably a couple of weeks, at least. Since antibiotics and drain tubes haven't done the job, there is only one alternative treatment for the infection, and that's surgery. It is extremely risky - this is the procedure they wanted to do a few months ago but didn't dare to because Dennis is so fragile. He's no less fragile now, but they keep reminding me that there are simply no other alternatives.
Meanwhile, we have won a battle in getting Dr. McVicar directly involved in Dennis's case, but we haven't won the war. What about all those other people we can't speak for? In talking to various staff members at the clinic, I've learned that money is the ONLY reason the program was closed. There's not enough profit, so they cut it, plain and simple. Since when should doctors and hospitals care more about making a profit than they care about their patients lives?
Let's start by saying that your letters/e-mails have not gone unnoticed. Dennis and I met with Dr. McVicar (the poor guy I asked you to bombard with correspondence) yesterday. I had spoken to the Transplant Coordinator earlier in the week. She assured me that Dr. McVicar was about to add Dennis to the list, needing only to see him in person before making it official.
All this would have made me the happiest woman on the planet, if it had gone as planned. Late last week, Dennis's infection came back. Instead of adding him to the wait list, Dr. McVicar admitted him to the hospital, where he will remain for a while, probably a couple of weeks, at least. Since antibiotics and drain tubes haven't done the job, there is only one alternative treatment for the infection, and that's surgery. It is extremely risky - this is the procedure they wanted to do a few months ago but didn't dare to because Dennis is so fragile. He's no less fragile now, but they keep reminding me that there are simply no other alternatives.
Meanwhile, we have won a battle in getting Dr. McVicar directly involved in Dennis's case, but we haven't won the war. What about all those other people we can't speak for? In talking to various staff members at the clinic, I've learned that money is the ONLY reason the program was closed. There's not enough profit, so they cut it, plain and simple. Since when should doctors and hospitals care more about making a profit than they care about their patients lives?
Poor Dr. McVicar has probably heard enough from us. I do, however, have the name of the Chief Medical Officer (Allan D. Siefkin). It was his office that made the decision and needs to hear how stupid it was. If anyone reading this has any media connections in the Sacramento area, talk to me. Staffers at the clinic believe that media attention may make the decision-makers rethink what they've done. Pressure, pressure, pressure. I've sent an e-mail to the Chief of Staff for Sacramento's Mayor Kevin Johnson (Mr. Kunal Merchant, e-mail KMerchant@cityofsacramento.org), just for good measure.
The UC Davis Community Advisory Board may also be a good avenue to pursue. http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/community_relations/board.html. The Chair of the 2008/2009 Board, Karen Vicari, even has her own Facebook page... :)
Have I told you yet how much I appreciate your help? Say a prayer (or whatever you do) for my hubby when you can...
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