October 4th Update

Yesterday was the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.  Felt his presence during our visit to Mayo for a few additional tests, one an echocardiogram which turned out pretty normal.  In fact, I was joking seriously with the sonographer about seeing my heart through all the fat.  She said, "I have pretty pictures of your heart.  Your heart is very photogenic!"  It made me laugh.  Wasn't expecting that.

Again, everyone we met or had appointments with was so pleasant and helpful and authentically engaging.  This has been consistent everytime we go.  I believe it's a working climate that has been deliberately cultivated and produces, because of that, an entirely different spirit than we are used to when dealing with clinics and hospitals.  In fact, I met a couple of medical center administrators from Arkansas who have been going to Mayo for their own personal care for decades.  They have tried to bring some of what they see working at Mayo to their own work in Arkansas.  The woman said that it isn't rocket science.  It can be done.  Obviously, Mayo is proof of that.

My other appointment was with a dermatologist for what seemed like a suspicious mole.  The endocrinologist noticed it when she was listening to my lungs and wanted it checked.  The doctor came in to take a look and like many of the doctors there, he was full of smiles and said he was so pleased to meet me.  I know that sounds normal, but it isn't always the experience with Doctors visits.  Anyway, he almost immediately said:  No, it's A-ok.  It's a seborrheic keratosis.  That's a kind of benign skin growth that can look something like a mole but isn't.  No signs of abnormality or melanoma.  He was not concerned though he said it could be removed so that there is no further worry about it.  In the meantime, he had some pictures taken of it for my file so that there is a record of its examination and identification.

Then the Doctor moved to talking about Iowa, what we Sisters do here and what team you all favor here in Iowa.  Iowa State, Iowa Hawkeyes, Nebraska Cornhuskers?

All in all a very blessed day.  We are so grateful.

Please, if I could ask whoever reads this to pray a Hail Mary, or a prayer of your choosing, for John.  He is from North Carolina and has been coming to Mayo for 30 years.  He said 30 years ago Mayo saved his life.  He was very sick and no one could figure out what was wrong.  He came to Mayo and within 36 hours they knew what it was:  a very rare form of blood cancer.  Their treatments have worked well.  But yesterday he was to go for results to an important test that he was very concerned about.  I do not know if he was worried about his blood cancer not responding or recurring, or what.  But I promised him we would pray for him and he was grateful.

God bless you all.  May He continue to deepen your own faith and fill you with wonder at His awesome Fatherly love and care for you in all the details of your life.