Deal or No Deal?

For the better part of my life, I have been under the military healthcare system.  There, I always assumed that whatever the doctors told me to do, that's what I did - after all, I was Government Issue.

Last Thursday, some of that changed.  I was surprised to hear that the Great Klavern of dentists and oral surgeons had upped the ante from three molars on the right side to five, four on the bottom and one on top.  Why, I asked?  Because the radio-oncologists had now mapped the beams and more teeth were in the path.  Oh, and just be sure, the recommendation now included molars on the left side as well.

Well, not so well.  I objected to any left side teeth being taken since everyone previously had said that they would be at little risk.  So, the docs said "It's your call," perhaps to raise the stakes with left teeth so that I would fold on the five right.  I made the deal, but I recognized for the first time, that there was actually a deal possible.

Armed with that new knowledge, I asked for my gold crowns to be returned to me.  When they objected on policy grounds, I reopened the gambit on right side teeth.  So, the policy was changed and you saw the  gold on Sam's post.

The teeth spaces are actually healing pretty well, and Victoria makes a great smoothie.

The feeding tube insertion was different.  For my Ranger friends, recall when your buddy (like my nice guy, Mark Bailey) didn't kick you hard enough after he put you down with some throw or another.  Then, our friends, the Ranger Cadre, would come over and show both of you how to kick someone when they're down.  That's what my gut feels like right now.  For you civilians, imagine two rounds with Mohammed Ali working on your ribs...

But this too shall pass.  My son-in-law, Travis Lee, bought me an EASY button at Staples, and I drove the folks in the Hospital crazy, at least while I was conscious.  "Well, that was easy" was heard after every attempt to get me under control.

Some healing time now for a week or two, but still appointments at NNMC to prepare for the beginning of radio and chemotherapy on Super Bowl +1.

Thank you for all your prayers and support.

Grip Hands,  Ken