Shake, Rattle and Roll

Once a Tiger

Part of my diverse career path an accountant (CPA) and social worker (MSW) was working as an office manager in an GYN Oncology Clinic. I am the rare accountant who loves helping patients (or the social worker who tolerates numbers). But that's another story...

In late summer in the 1990s, I receive a phone call at work. Instead of "hello" there is a sob on the other line. I know it is important. I strain to understand some of the words beneath the crying. I piece it together, bit by bit. A woman's voice says she's calling from her OB-GYN office in the suburbs of Denver. A few minutes earlier, she finds out the results of her annual medical exams. It indicates she has ovarian cancer. She is shocked and needs to see an oncologist. She is the same age as me.

I ask her about her insurance to determine if she can see the oncologist and if surgery is required, if her insurance covers the surgery at the hospital where it will be performed. Her insurance doesn't cover the oncologist, the surgery or the hospital. I reluctantly inform her about this. She replies that she wants to see the specific oncologist, specific surgeon at the specific hospital. I suggest the option of scheduling an evaluation within the next couple of days, and in the meantime, I will contact her insurance company.

She arrives for the evaluation two days later with a large tumor, yet a smile on her face. Somehow I convince the insurance company of the urgency of her request and the need for them to pay for the evaluation, the oncologist and if surgery is required, to pay for the surgeon and the hospital even though the patient's policy does not cover this group of doctors or hospital.

The results of her evaluation reveal that she does indeed have advanced stage ovarian cancer, the type of cancer where patients don't normally live five years after diagnosis. Surgery is scheduled within the next few days.

***

When I met the patient about eight years later, she informed me that she was doing well and that she will never forget her phone call to me when she found out about her diagnosis and my warm response.

Her parting words were "When I asked my OB-GYN if I should help with the insurance issue, she said "No, stand back and let Kate do what she does best. She's a tiger."

I smiled knowing that I once was a tiger and that I had helped.   

     

Senior Spellers Succeed

As I type this post on my blog, senior spellers compete in the AARP's Magazine's National Spelling Bee in Cheyenne, Wyoming about 100 miles north of Denver. This year, 49 competitors range in age from 50 to 75 and come from 24 states and 1 Canadian province.

Founded by Cheyenne AARP members in 1996 to help keep their minds sharp, the bee is open to anyone at least 50 years old. Past winners cannot compete. Unlike the Scripps National Spelling Bee for school children, the senior spellers aren't booted out until they misspell three words, and everyone pays their way to get to Cheyenne.

The day starts with a written test. The top 15 scorers progress to the final to spell words out loud.

It can’t be the money that draws these competitors. The award winner gets a paltry $500. Perhaps it’s the bragging rights and the opportunity of being on nationwide TV. But it’s more likely their love of words, the challenge and the thrill of competition that keeps them coming back.

In elementary school, spelling was my favorite subject. On our weekly spelling tests, I usually earned 100%.The nuns scored it as “minus zero” not 100%, so I wouldn’t get a big head. “Nobody is perfect,” they would insist, “except for God.”

I would have been in word-heaven if there was a college degree in spelling. However, there is not a big demand for spellers in the job market.

I loathe people who downplay the importance of good spelling. I once had a boss who could never get the homonyms “heard” and “herd” quite right. I was embarrassed for him when he repeatedly mixed them up in his emails.

I think I will click on the spelling bee’s website and obtain an application for 2009.

Related Links:

'Botryoidal' a grape bee finish for N.D. man
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/global/story.asp?s=8492611

Catachresis by Patricia O'Hara at http://www.creativenonfiction.org/brevity/brev23/ohara_cata.htm

 

Whatever Happened to "You're Welcome"

Whatever happened to “you're welcome” as a polite response to “thank you”?

I cringe when I hear “no problem” or “no worries” in response to my thanks. It’s one of my pet peeves.

Other responses that are more palatable to me and that I can live with include:

“Not at all” is used in some cases in response to thank you to indicate that the offer to do something or an action that was done did not require thanks or was of so little trouble that thanks are unnecessary.

“Don't mention it.”

“No thanks are needed.”

“I was glad to do it.”

“Forget it” means to overlook it, it's not important; you're quite mistaken. For example, if I said “Thanks so much for helping,” I might get a response such as “Forget it, it was nothing.” This is a substitute for "Don't mention it" or “You're welcome.”

“My pleasure” implies not just that the speaker was not inconvenienced, but also that the speaker was pleased to provide the help. “Glad to do it” is a less formal version of "my pleasure."

However, when I hear the response of “no problem” or “no worries,” my blood pressure rises, and I get angry, feeling as though my thank you is discounted.

I did a little research on Answers.com to find out more about the origin of “no problem” and similar expressions. The phrase "no problem" is a stock phrase that carries a variety of meanings. Some people associate it with the British Empire and certain former colonies, e.g. Jamaica, Nigeria.

It is typically used to mean "I've taken care of it" or in place of "You're welcome," in response to "Thank you". (i.e. "No thanks are necessary; my effort was no problem for me.") It has no real meaning outside of the context in which it is used.

A phrase or idiom dictionary translation of "no problem" might read "I'll take care of it" or "there's nothing to worry about". However, it effectively means "I'm not going to give you any other assurances," and thus ends a conversation about whatever risk is about to be incurred.

“No problem” implies that the person was not inconvenienced.

In Internet slang, "no problem" is often abbreviated "np" or "NP".

It has also been used in a fake Spanish format as "no problemo."

A British and Australian variation of the phrase is "no worries". I understand that the phrase “no worries” actually doesn’t mean that the person saying it has no worries or that that person is wishing the other person no worries. It is just an empty phrase that has become popular like “Have a nice day” or “How are you?”

It looks like “you’re welcome” has morphed into “no problem.”

“Thanks for listening.”

“No problem.”

Source: Answers.com

Happy Thanksgiving to Our Canadian Friends

October 8, 2007–My husband, Tom and I celebrated 15 Canadian Thanksgivings when we lived in Canada from 1972 to 1986. This holiday falls on the second Monday in October, unlike American Thanksgiving, which falls on the fourth Thursday in November.

Some people believe this is because Canada, being farther north, has an earlier harvest. Others think that having Thanksgiving in November interfered with Remembrance Day, a day set apart each year on November 11th to remember those who died in wars.

Thanksgiving in Canada provides an opportunity to give thanks to live in a bountiful, free country (with free health insurance), and to celebrate that day by feasting with family and friends.

Learn more about the history of Canadian Thanksgiving and how it differs from American Thanksgiving, at these websites:

Thanksgiving in Canada – What Gives?
http://www.canadafirst.net/our_heritage/thanksgiving/

and

How Much Do You Know about the Canadian Thanksgiving?
http://proudcanadiankids.ca/Canadian%20Thanksgiving%20Truth.htm#How%20much

Act FAST

Act FAST if you think you are or someone near you is having a stroke, otherwise known as a brain attack. Time lost translates into the loss of brain cells. Recognizing stroke's symptoms and acting fast can make the difference between life and death.

While forgetting the acronym for the Great Lakes (Hint: HOMES) may not be a life or death matter, the acronym FAST is one not to forget. Remember the acronym FAST to recognize the most common stroke symptoms:

F for Face: Weakness or a drooping, crooked smile; sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes. What to do: Look at the person’s face. Is there any visible drooping around the mouth and eyes? Ask the person to smile or show the teeth. This will determine if there is a facial weakness on one-side, which is usually the case with a stroke.

A for Arms: Weak or drooping arm. What to do: Ask the person to close their eyes and raise their arms straight out in front of them. Does one arm drift downward? Stroke victims usually will have trouble maintaining the same level with both arms.

S for Speech: Slurred speech, or inability to understand or be understood, inability to speak. What to do: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase, like a nursery rhyme, the Lord’s Prayer, or the words to a song. Listen for slurred speech, impaired speech, or difficulty understanding your directions.

T for Time: What to do: If the person shows any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Brain cells are dying.

Often the one suffering a stroke doesn’t even feel the seriousness of the situation, and drives himself to ER. A patient who arrives to the ER on foot may lose precious time waiting to be seen. Transport by an ambulance is best for getting to the ER. Patients arriving by ambulance receive faster evaluation by ER personnel. In addition, the EMS personnel can mobilize resources at the hospital ahead of the patient's arrival (e.g., CAT scan and stroke teams).

Within the first three hours of the onset of a stroke, a victim might have clot-busting medications and other treatments administered.

Why it is important to act FAST?

A stroke is:

• the third leading cause of death in the US

• the first leading cause of adult disability in the US. The effects of a stroke may include paralysis, poor memory and loss of speech.

Strokes afflict approximately 700,000 people per year in the US.

This FAST test should not be substituted for the appropriate medical advice and evaluation. However, you just may save a life if you act FAST.

Don’t Blame It All on Parkinson’s

I tend to blame all my medical woes on Parkinson’s. Two neurologists said to me, “I can’t believe that you weren’t afraid of brain surgery, but you’re scared to have carpal tunnel surgery.” They were right–I wasn’t afraid of brain surgery (but should have been), and I’m afraid of the carpal tunnel procedure (I don’t know if they even call it surgery).

When I mentioned that my fears were based on stories of patients ending up with clenched claws in lieu of functioning hands, one neurologist said “Oh, that surgeon isn’t in town anymore,” as if that would alleviate my anxiety.

My left hand and wrist are far worse than my right, so the “procedure” tomorrow will be on my left, with the option of getting my right side done at a later time.

I can‘t blame carpal tunnel syndrome on Parkinson’s (although the dyskinesia in my left hand from Parkinson’s worsens the carpal tunnel problem). In fact, I can’t scapegoat anyone or anything on this one. No one or no thing is to blame. Wish me luck.

Sick about “Sicko”

I was just sick about what I saw in Michael Moore ‘s film, Sicko. In fact, I cried through this entire film that was billed as “hilarious.”

Even if some of the statistics may have been distorted or some of the facts not entirely accurate, I agree with the film’s overall portrayal of what is wrong with the health care system in the US.

I am an American who lived in Canada for 14 years (1972-1986). During those years, I was young and healthy, and, in fact, never remember going to the doctor, much less going to the hospital (except for one incident when I looked for a hotel for the night and went inside Hotel-Dieu in Windsor, Ontario to discover that it was a hospital, not a hotel).

Considering that I’ve been a healthy person up until being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease eleven years ago while living in the states, I am not a very good person to compare the US and Canadian health care systems. However, I do remember that health care was a non-issue in Canada–for me, because I never used it and for those who used it, they always received medical care and/or never complained about it.

My questions for my Canadian friends are as follows:
What kind of waiting lists do you have for essential or elective surgery?
How long do you wait when going to an emergency room?
Have you ever been turned down for a medical procedure or surgery?
Have you ever had to go to the states for a medical procedure or surgery? If so, who paid the medical bills?
I know you believe that your health care is free, but in reality you pay through taxes. What are your tax rates?

Although I was seldom sick while living in Canada, I do remember my first professional job where I worked full-time at 35 hours a week and was eligible for five weeks a year of vacation from day one.

Now where is my passport?

For more information about Michael Moore and Sicko, check out the following links:

http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/yourlife/sicko.html

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/07/11/michael-moore-responds-to-cnn-quot-fact-fudging-quot-accusations.aspx

You Gotta Have Heart

While I’ve always enjoyed the Grammy awards, this year I developed a new award, the Katie award, for my favorite song from all time. The first annual Katie award was granted to Heart from the musical Damn Yankees which opened on Broadway in 1955.

Peggy Lee’s 1959 version of Heart is my favorite, with her South-of-the-Border-tinged rendition.

In Damn Yankees, America's favorite pastime meets the bright lights of Broadway. An ordinary Joe sells his soul to the devil, who transforms Joe into a home run hitter for the former Washington Senators. His hitting prowess enables the Senators to win the American League pennant over the then-dominant Yankees.

Happy Valentine’s Day to our family, friends and those affected by Parkinson’s Disease – all those with heart.

Heart
Words and Music by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
Copyright 1955
From the Broadway Musical Damn Yankees

You gotta have heart
All you really need is heart
When the odds are saying you'll never win
That's when the grin should start

You gotta have hope
Mustn't sit around and mope
Nothing's half as bad as it may appear
Wait'll next year and hope

When your luck is battin' zero
Get your chin up off the floor
Mister, you can be a hero
You can open any door
There's nothing to it
But to do it

You've gotta have heart
Miles and miles and miles of heart
Oh, it's fine to be a genius, of course
But keep that old horse before the cart
First, you gotta have heart

We're so happy that we're hummin'
That's the hearty thing to do
'Cause we know our ship will come in
So it's ten years overdue

So what the heck's the use of cryin'
Why should we curse
Things can only get better
`Cause they can't get worse

And to add to it
We've got heart
We've got heart
We've got heart

Pure Inspiration

Pure Inspiration
Author Unknown*

The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window.

"I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an 8-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room. Just wait."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied.

"Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged, it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.

It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away, just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories."

Thank you for your part in filling my memory bank. I am still depositing. Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

*A story found on the website of http://www.plazapcg.com/inspiration.html. The author is unknown.