Day One. Ballroom Dancing

Today has been exhausting and amazing. Without getting into politics, let me say this: there is a reason why it has been suggested to use The Mayo Clinic as the Gold Standard for American Health Care reform. THEY FREAKING KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING!

Today we first met with the Psychiatrist coordinating Sam's care this week. He spent at least an hour and a half with us. He listened, he questioned and he educated. I was so impressed. And that takes a lot for me after all the doctors and hospitals I have been to. He did not condescend or patronize. Another of my pet peeves. Score two for Dr. Psychiatrist.


After the first appointment, we had several hours before the next one. Walking through the lobby, we found them setting up for a ballroom dancing exhibition. No joke. And get this - several of the dancers are physicians here at Mayo. Unbelievable. At the end, they introduce this sweet little 98 year old woman. She had spent 50+ years as a nurse at St. Mary's hospital (affliliated with Mayo) and is an avid dancer. SHE DANCED! And in introducing her, the MC points out that this sweet little 98 year old retired nurse remembers standing in front of St Mary's hospital and watching FDR drive by in a parade with the Mayo brothers. FDR; as in President Franklin Delano Roosevelt!!!!!


After lunch we met with a developmental pediatrician. Again, relaxed Q&A and spent at least an hour with us. Even better, Dr. Pediatrician had SPOKEN with Dr. Psychiatrist and he had already reviewed her notes from our meeting this morning. Can you say Collaborative Medicine? When we came up here, we had psychiatry, psychology, neurology and pediatrics on the schedule. Dr. Pediatrician interviews us, engages and exams Sam, steps out for about 20 minutes and tells us he just spoke with Dr. Psychiatrist and they agree that Sam will ALSO see a speech specialist tomorrow. And they would like to do genetic testing, conduct a sleep study and have an EEG done. Hopefully we can get all this done this week. If you have any connections at Mayo - let me know!

I will likely be paying for this week for the rest of my natural life. And my insurance pays 90%. And if we get answers, it will be worth every penny!