LOCATION IS EVERYTHING

A very good friend had stomach bypass surgery last Tuesday at one of the better Los Angeles Hospitals. Including me, we now have a group of 5 who have had the surgery in the past two years (don't forget we are Moose members and the slogan is "it's all about food"). The only difference between our surgeries is the doctors and hospitals. The other 4 have horror stories, not of the results of the surgery, but the hospital stay mainly. I on the other hand really lucked out because I don't have one single complaint about Huntington Memorial Hospital.

When I first considered having the surgery, I found a doctor in my area. After attending his seminar, I decided to stick with him, however, my insurance didn't agree. They had no objection to the surgeon, they took exception to the hospitals in my county. which they didn't consider qualified to do bariatric surgery. The insurance company insisted I have the surgery at Huntington Memorial in Pasadena which is known as a center of excellence. It's also 50 miles from my home. I fought this vigorously, contacting not only the insurance company, but also my employer representative to no avail. Finally I decided not to fight it and found a surgeon in Pasadena where my cousin and I attended his lecture. Fortunately it was exactly as the surgeon in my county's seminar, and I immediately set an appointmet to start the process. I will address the surgery and results in a later blog. This particular blog is about the difference in hospitals and care.

Back to my friend who had the surgery Tuesday. The hospital is a very well known Los Angeles Hospital. He was admitted after a lengthy process. After the surgery, it took 6 hours to place him in his room (the hospital was short beds apparently). When he requested water something very necessary, the nurse told him he would have to wait and then reminded him that he chose to have this surgery. Apparently, this hospital considers bariatric surgery an elective, not exactly required. When he was released two days later, his incisions were not covered or protected and he began to bleed and had to buy his own bandages and tape to cover the wounds. All my other friends had similar horror stories, some weren't given enough information on how to react after the surgery, and others were not prepared mentally for a month of liquids only and to give up food we always took for granted. This caused depression until they came to grips with their future and their choices. It was very tough on all of them.

I, on the other hand, was prepared by my Doctor for everything. The Doctor walked my cousin (she has been a rock though this and has attended every appointment with me) and I though the entire process before and after. He informed me exactly what to expect every step of the way and told me exactly how my body would react.

The best part was actually the pre-surgery and post surgery. The night before my surgery, I had the opportunity to stay at the hospital where they have a hotel in the hospital. This gives one the opportunity to check in the night before. They also give a certificate for dinner, but since was on liquid in preparation for the surgery, I declined this gift. In the morning, they wheeled me down to the pre-operation room where I met all the people who would be involved. It was a very comforting feeling. After the surgery, I was in my room within 15 minutes, water on the table beside me in a little 1 oz cup, just as required. My incisions were covered in with a product called "second skin" which allows no bleeding and, therefore, no bandages or stitches. All very clean and pain free. The next day, my doctor examined me before 10:00 and gave me permission to not only go home but he also said I could start driving the next day. Within two days I was out and about and a week later attended a Moose convention in Irvine.

The bottom line is that Huntington Memorial is called a center of excellence for this type of surgery for a very good reason. Everything and everyone on the third floor is geared especially for bariatric surgery. The nurses are trained to understand exactly what the patients are going through. The beds are made for people up to 1000 pounds and so are the wheelchairs. The feeling of comfort and acceptance is everywhere. It's a very warm, fuzzy and safe hospital. These words are not usually associated with hospitals but that's exactly how I felt the entire time from the first tests until I walked out the door the day after surgery unlike my friends who have had to negotiate the minefield alone. Fortunately we have a very strong mentor group together and share all the good and bad information.

As I said, location is everything. I consider myself very lucky that my insurance company insisted on Huntington Memorial. This experience has not been painful in the least and now that I have lost all this weight, I am grateful every day . I am especially grateful for my surgeon and this wonderfull hospital.

TOO MANY CANDIDATES

I have been watching all the potential candidates announce their intention to apply for permission to form an exploratory committee to run for President of the United States - I think 10 at last count,including Hillary and Obama (would you choose a President whose name sound like Osama Ben Laden), and a few other famous people have announced that they have filed the infamous application to form an exploratory committee. I kept wondering if all these people really believe they have a shot at being President until I found out what it takes to file.

I was watching the news the other night and one of the reporters visited the Government office where the filing is done. All it takes to file an application to form an exploratory committee to run for President is $37.50. The manager of the office said they usually get at least 1000 applications, however, most are people who want to impress their family and friends by showing them a piece of paper with their name on, indicating they are thinking of running for President of the United States.

It got me thinking. I can afford $37.50, and I am sure I can come up with enough friends and family members to form an exploratory committee and I might even be qualified to be President. Didn't a peanut farmer named Jimmy Carter and George W, the former owner of a baseball team make it? I love peanuts and I love baseball so right there I qualify! Why shouldn't I add my name to the many people already on the application train for the White House?

There is one catch - isn't there is always a catch with Government? In order to qualify for President of the United States there are actually only 2 manditory requirements. The person must be at least 36 years of age (hey I'm good there with a few extra years to spare) and must be born in the Unites States or it's territories. Oh oh....Canada isn't a territory of the United States yet!!! My application won't even make it across the desk before it's tossed in the round file. Well there goes all my ambition for higher office. Now there will only 1010 potential candidates.

Maybe I still have a chance to achieve a top position. I wonder how much it costs to fill out an application to form an exploratory committee to run for Prime Minister???

This blog is dedicated to my favorite Republican Freda Saller who encouraged me to become an American so that I could vote for my favorite candidate.

A MIRACLE NAMED KYLIE

When one reads the Bible, it seems like a true miracle happened every day but these days, it's hard to find much less believe in miracles but sometimes a real miracle happens which is just too hard to ignore. Such a miracle was Kylie Williams.

Kylie had cystic fibrosis which was diagnosed when she was about 4. By then, her lungs which is what this particular disease affects, were pretty beat up. Kylie was always a fighter of this disease and did her best, no matter what, to be like every other kid, so much so that most of her friends had no idea how sick she was even though they had to realize how much smaller she was. Still, by her demeanor, it was hard for everyone to accept how tough it was on her for a very long time.

Three years ago, it became very hard to ignore as she was hospitalized more than a few times. Each time, the doctors were convinced the disease would soon win yet Kylie continued to be optomistic, never giving up the fight or hope. Even when she was unconcious she continue to fight and would return to us, probably never realizing how sick she had been.

In December 2005, Kylie and her family moved to Iowa for a couple of reasons. One to be near her mom's family and two to try to get Kylie a lung transplant. It turns out she required a double lung transplant and we witnessed a miracle because for 4 months at the age of 13, she finally got to live the life which every kid is entitled to, riding a dune buggy, laughing with friends with wild abandonment and just being herself.

In March of 2006 Kylie again slipped into a coma state and it looked like the fight was over. The family gathered around her but once more Kylie opened her eyes, looked around and asked why everyone was there. This was yet another miracle and we started taking them for granted, assuming that she would not only survive but continue to thrive. We couldn't understand why God would keep bringing her back to us if he intended to keep her, so we just accepted the fact that she would sometimes go spend time with him ( while in her coma state) and then come back to us after she and God were done visiting. This occured 2 more times and still she returned to us. With each return, the doctors learned more and more about how cystic fibrosis affects the lungs and tried different medicines and treatments. Kylie was always a good sport, willing to try anything and still managed to keep cheering no matter how lousy she felt.

In October, Kylie again fell into a deep coma. This one seemed like all the others, and everyone kept praying that another miracle would happen, yet the hold was stronger than before and this time she didn't return. God must have finally realized how much he enjoyed visiting with her and how tough it was for him to part with her each time she returned to us, and just before Thanksgiving, he talked her into staying with him forever. He gave her a brand new set of lungs and I truly believe the most beatiful wings, telling the other angels to show her how to fly and soar all over creation for she truly deserves the best Heaven has to offer.

So what was the miracle of Kylie. There are quite a few. The first was that she was born into a wonderful loving family who never held her back and allowed her every chance to be the kid she wanted to be. The second miracle was allowing everyone who met her (especially the Moose members) the chance to be part of her life. Kylie never doubted how much we all loved her. The third miracle will continue in each child who is helped by something the doctors learned while treating Kylie. The best miracle, however, is Kylie herself and I can't think of one person who isn't grateful for the chance to witness the miracle called Kylie.

The Mamas and the Papas

One of my favorite groups (among many) was always the Mamas and the Papas. The harmony in their music was perfect although it turned out after only 2 short years, the harmony in their lives was not and they broke up. Nonetheless, they managed to creat the perfect sound which allowed them many number one hits. Even though the group broke up in 1969, their songs are still played and enjoyed, and not too long ago the PBS channel aired a program about them.

Today the third member of the group passed away. Cass died at a much too young age in the early 70's and John in the 90"s. I mourn Denny's passing more than I did the others. Maybe it was because he was Canadian, maybe it's just because the group was part of my youth and wonderful memories. No matter, I mourn Denny's passing today like a close friend. Of course, I never actually met any of them but still it's a loss of a time gone past but not forgotten. Now Michelle is the only member still with us and I imagine her loss is even more biting.

I thank these wonderful people for giving us the perfect sound and wish Michelle a continued and, hopefully, happy life. She definitely deserves it for the joy she gave all of us.

A Very Long Career

I have been an electronics buyer since 1969. That's a very long time. It's been a great career for me. When I started there were only a handful of women doing purchasing, and I loved hanging out with the guys including co-buyers and salesmen. Now that I am about 2 years away from retirement, I have been reflecting upon my life as a buyer. Most of the time was spent buying electronic components for the assorted companies I have worked for but every once in a while I've had the chance to buy something different. I have issued purchase orders for cars, banquet halls (too many to count), assorted electronics including transistor radios (as I said I have been a buyer for a very long time), microwave ovens for the lunchrooms, and by the name of this blog, you might have guessed that I also had the opportunity to buy a moose head. I will elaborate on in a future blog.

I have been given the chance to spend 3 months in Atlanta buying for a subsidiary and over the years have spent too many days in too many cities to remember.

Now, with only a couple of years before I retire you may wonder what the most unusual and best opportunity in 38 purchasing years was. Well it was the chance to hold an Academy Award. One of the companies I worked for manufactured lighting equipment for television studios, concert locations like Universal Amplitheatre, and movie set lighting. We won a special Academy Award for making the movie set of "The Mollie McGuires" (a true story about the striking coal miner's union in the 1800's) look exactly like inside of a very deep coal mine. Just holding the award, even if it wasn't mine to keep was truly an awsome experience to cherish a lifetime.

Yes, it has been a great career.