March 11, 2000 - I had my first appointment with Dr Rutledge today. I really like
him as well as the way he handles things, at least what I've seen... For all of you who
may be seeing him in the future and would like to know what the first appointment
will be like here is what happened to me. I arrived just about 9 am. I went up to the
desk and said hello to Debbie and she had me fill out a few forms. One was for consent
to be treated at the clinic, one was for insurance purposes, and the last one was to say
that I would pay anything owed if the insurance company decided to pay. Then she
gave me the insurance submission form to fill out again so that Dr R would remember
who I was and to give him a quick rundown of me and my symptoms. She also gave
me a general form to fill out with my name, address, birth date, etc., and she also
gave me a copy of the patient manual. While all this was going on, Dr R had come out
and started talking to us. He told us who he was and why he does the surgery as well
as how he originally got into doing obesity surgery. He also asked everyone to tell
everyone their name, how they heard about him, where we were from and what
kind of experience we had if we have had the surgery already. He also showed us a
video of the surgery and gave us the run down of what he was doing in them. Then he
left and those who were second visits and post op were starting to be called back and
everyone else was called back to get their weight and waist measured. After that was
all done, they began calling the rest of us back. I finally got my chance to meet the
famous Dr R just about 11:30 or so.. We went to a room where we both sat down and
he looked over the form I had just filled out. He commented that I was pretty healthy
overall <Dont get me wrong, I have a BMI of 55.5 so, I am definitely a good candidate
for this surgery!> and asked me if I had any questions. I told him that as of right now I
have done all the research that I can and told him that I only have two more things to
do before I was finished with the patient criteria. He told me that was great, shook my
hand and I left. I was a little let down that I was not going to spend more time being that
it took me 3 months of not being able to get transportation there and then 2 hours of
travel on top of it to actually get to the office but, at least he's not one of these Dr's that
go on and on about little things that make no sense to you. Overall, I am very pleased
with him. Now we just have to wait and see what the insurance is going to do...
 

March 19, 2000 - I spoke with my mother tonight and found out some bad news. My
brother had a test for colon cancer done and found out that he has a "mass" that is
about 4 cm... Colon cancer runs in our family <everyone on my mothers side has
died from colon cancer, and her uncle was only 26 when he died of it> and my
mother had this same thing happen to her years ago. Luckily they caught it in time
and they were able to get it all out of her before it spread..  She was told that this
type of mass is almost always cancerous. The chance that it is not is about 1 in 10...
Not very good odds.. My brother is only 32 years old.. He will be in surgery on
Friday March 24th.. Please, I beg all of you. Please pray that they will be able to get
it all and he will be free of cancer. God hears many voices easier than just one
voice!!!
 

March 25, 2000 - I am still waiting for my medical records to be sent to Debbie from
Wilmington.. Cant send anything to the insurance company until that happens.. So,
I am still Playing the waiting game... But, I've gotten my 10 contacts and now only
have to have the pre-op tests and physician support letter done and I will be finished
with my requirements.. On another note, As most of you know, my brother had
surgery done to remove a "mass" in his colon.. Well, when they went in, they
found out that it was cancerous and it had spread to his liver.. They took part of
his liver out but they won't know for sure if they got it all yet.. So now, my brother
who is only 32, gets to play the waiting game for his life.. For about the first 10
minutes after getting off the phone with my mother I was numb.. And "it spread
to his liver" just kept playing over and over like a broken record in my head..
Thoughts of my brother raced through my mind.. I finally broke down and cried...
When I finally calmed down, I rolled over and tried to get some sleep and then
broke down again.. I finally did get to sleep.. Then woke up and cried again.. I just
cant believe it.. He's only 32!!! It scares me to death because there is a good chance
that I could have cancer already too.. So, I will talk to my Dr about getting
checked next week.. I know how stupid it is but, I feel guilty.. I mean, he was
always the good one.. he was always the smart one.. he's a vegetarian.. he took care
of himself.. he was always thin.. He never got in trouble when he was growing
up.. He was the perfect kid... It just goes to show that cancer isn't racist.. isn't
biased... Don't have gender preference.. Cancer don't care how good you look or
how thin you are.. Please.. Embrace life now.. Even if you feel you have nothing,
you still have everything.. You just never know what is going to happen tomorrow!