Oh Boy! Here We Go Again

 "It often seems, looking back, that the unexpected comes to define us, the paths we didn't see coming and may have wandered down by mistake. The older we get the more willing we are to follow those, to surprise ourselves." (Anna Quindlen)

 
Hello, my lovely, friends!

    Well, here we are again with another wild update regarding my mom’s health journey and the ongoing saga with Kaiser. Dealing with the medical system can feel like a rollercoaster, but I’m staying hopeful and keeping things moving forward with a lot of heart and a little bit of patience.

I promise to end this on a high note with something truly special. If you were following along with what I was up to last Sunday, you might already have a hunch about the surprise I’m saving for the finale.

    Since Mom got home from the hospital, it’s been a total rollercoaster on the pain front. She’s been a rockstar with her meds and those pain pads, though we’re still working on getting her to do those laps around the house! Just as she was finding a rhythm, her doctor called and threw a few curveballs: they’re cutting her "gabby" pills down from three to two, and—get this—they want her to do another biopsy. Even though she just had one at the top hospital in the state, Kaiser wants their own team to do it all over again.

To make matters worse, there’s a huge debate over whether she has an infection. The hospital specialist said she’s in the clear, but Kaiser is spotting something in the reports that has them worried. Because of that, they’re threatening to cancel the pain shots she’s been waiting two months for. Mom is rightfully frustrated and definitely put up a fight over the phone! Those shots are her lifeline for relief, and having them yanked away over conflicting opinions is beyond stressful.

    Ugh, guys, my heart is just breaking for my mom right now. We were so ready for Tuesday; I’d even triple-checked her appointment online to make sure her shots were finally happening. We get there, all geared up for some much-needed relief, only for the doctor to pull us aside. He told us his hands were tied because her primary doctor thinks there’s an infection. The kicker? He doesn't even agree with her, but because she’s the lead, the whole thing was a no-go.

It was a total gut punch. My mom actually started crying, and then the anger set in—and honestly, I don't blame her. She feels like Kaiser is just running her in circles at this point. She’s been jumping through every single hoop they’ve set out for a year now, all while her pain keeps getting worse, and we're still stuck at square one.

The doctor did promise to advocate for her and get those shots scheduled the second he gets the "all clear," but going from the hope of feeling better to another "maybe later" was devastating. She really thought the finish line was in sight, only to have the rug pulled out from under her. We’re just crossing our fingers that this gets cleared up fast because she has waited more than long enough.

    The current situation with Kaiser is beyond frustrating—they want to wait until July for a spine specialist consultation. Yes, you read that right, July! My sister wasn't having it and sent a very direct message letting them know that waiting four months while she's in pain is completely unacceptable. It’s so confusing; if there is a genuine concern about an infection, why aren't they moving with more urgency?

Because of the delay, she is officially pushing for an out-of-network referral. There’s a hospital ready and willing to help her right now, and her stance is simple: if Kaiser won't approve the referral, then they need to step up and provide the care immediately. It feels good to finally stand our ground and advocate for what she needs.

There is a bit of a silver lining today, though. My mom has a phone appointment with her primary doctor, and my sister is planning to jump on the call to make sure all the right questions get asked. We’re keeping our fingers crossed and staying hopeful that this will finally get things moving in the right direction. We will definitely keep you posted on what happens next!

    Whew! That was a lot to digest! On to the fun thing that happened Sunday. So, with my mom’s pain for the past couple of weeks she wasn’t sure if she would make it. I was going with or with out her, but so glad she came. 


    We just caught the 40th-anniversary tour of The Phantom of the Opera, and let me tell you, it was pure magic! Since it was the second-to-the-last show, we pulled out all the stops to make sure my mom was comfortable, packing every pain pad, cream, and gummy in our arsenal. It was so worth the effort the moment we reached our seats. I’d actually forgotten which ones I booked, but I managed to snag front-row center! Seeing my mom’s face light up when she realized how close we were was the best feeling.

    Even on our ninth time seeing it, the show blew us away. This Phantom was incredible, and Christine had such a powerhouse voice. We noticed a few fresh creative tweaks this time around, which is always fun when you’ve seen so many different takes on the production. By the finale, I was a total puddle of tears—I just can’t help it, it’s that moving! If the tour rolls into your city, please do yourself a favor and grab tickets. You’ll never be disappointed by this masterpiece.

So glad you could make it. Whether you’re starting your day or winding it down, I hope it’s a great one. Until we cross paths again—take care!