Confections For Cats

This was my first experience with a team of doctors. Dr. Reed, the Sarcoma doctor, was the head of Mathew’s team. There was surgical oncology in the beginning, though Dr. Gonzalez was on the tumor board, which met one a week. The Interventional Radiology doctors, a medicine team, the Chaplain, and a Social Worker. An important part of Mathew’s team was the pain and palliative clinic. Dr. Knight, the pain and palliative doctor, a psychiatrist and a therapist, Dr. Donovan. They cared for Mathew, both inpatient and outpatient appointments. There were also physical therapists and even a massage therapist that came to see Mathew a few times when he was inpatient.  We made so many visits to the Pain and Palliative Clinic that it got to the point that as soon as we walked in, Dr. Knight was notified that Mathew was there. Often when Mathew had other appointments, but not a scheduled Pain and Pailiative appointment, Dr. Knight would text me and tell us to stop by afterward. She would

From Mathew’s Journal 4-24-14 I am a bit hung up on this post because in Mathew’s Journal he talks about a book he was reading, written by a famous person who went through cancer and Chemotherapy. I hesitate because I am not certain about quoting etc. So consider this somewhat of a placeholder post.  One point is not to deprive someone of hope, which is something I saw happen when Mathew was first told he would probably die.  In an earlier post, I mentioned that eventually, I would see a difference in what Mathew’s choices were as a ‘regular’ patient, as opposed to someone with money.  At this time, Mathew took comfort and hope from reading this book. Later I would realize the difference.