Thanks Kat.
    Mom's gone but definitely not forgotten. My infant nephew inherited her
maiden name as his middle name, which delights me, Dad and my maternal
aunts.If I can get his parents permission, I'll try posting a picture of us
to CP Adults.
    Susan

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kat" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 5:30 PM
Subject: Re: Hey all


> Genia,
>
> If Kyle'd wanted the discussion to be private, he'd not have brought it
> up on the list.  We all know him and so we all butt in. LOL
>
> Susan, sorry about your mum...
>
> Kat
>
> Genia Voitsekhovskaya wrote:
> > Susan Moskowitz <[log in to unmask]> wrote:  susan, i think
that the decision about kyle's surgery should be up to his family but thats
a good idea.  all we can do right now is let kyle know that we are here for
him and pray.
> >
> > genia
> > Kyle,
> > I'm going to risk playing the devil's advocate for a moment. If your
> > ability to breath or to compen-sate for your spasms truly is at risk,
then
> > fight for the reconstruction by all means. However, if the
reconstruction is
> > not medically necessary,and you can envision a satisfactory future with
"one
> > headlight" as I believe you phrased it yesterday, you might want to
> > seriously consider going without reconstruction. My mother lived with
breast
> > cancer for 15 years and repeatedly told me that she would have died at
least
> > ten years sooner if she had had reconstructive work done, because the
> > reconstruction would have masked the second tumor which developed years
> > after her initial mastectomy. I'm truly sorry to have to bring up the
> > possibility of recurrence, but it ought to be considered when you are
> > contemplating your surgical options. Please know that I wish nothing but
the
> > best possible outcome for you and your family and that you will continue
to
> > have my concern and support whichever treatment options you choose
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Cleveland, Kyle E."
> > To:
> > Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 8:59 AM
> > Subject: Re: Hey all
> >
> >
> >
> >>Thanks, Beth. Yeah, I already approached my surgeon with that one and he
> >>said that he would only cut the bare minimum. He's a really good "Joe",
> >
> > and
> >
> >>I trust him on this one. Laura had surgery about ten years back and he
> >
> > was
> >
> >>the cutter. I was really impressed with his bedside manner and suturing.
> >>
> >>I've been fighting with "peer review" already at the insurance co. At
> >
> > best,
> >
> >>these folks are LPNs, most don't have any formal medical education at
all.
> >>The doc is as frustrated as I am about their reticence to have someone
> >
> > else
> >
> >>close. He admits that a plastic surgeon could close better, even with no
> >>reconstruction. They are pretty adamant about the whole thing--because
> >
> > "the
> >
> >>book says it's not 'medically or psychologically necessary' for men to
> >
> > have
> >
> >>reconstruction." If it ain't in the "book", they ain't payin'--pure and
> >>simple. Our benefits administrator said to me that I have to be careful
> >>when deciding whether to fight or stand-down as the carriers are
becoming
> >>"hip" to all of the arguments. She said that I've already become a
> >>statistical liability to the carrier, so I need to pick my battles
> >>carefully. Still, the "breathing" angle is one I hadn't considered.
> >>Thanks! I'll call my cutter today and run that past him. Who knows?
> >
> > Maybe
> >
> >>he can plead the case that with my spastic CP, a second pair of
> >
> > experienced
> >
> >>hands might be cheaper in the long haul.
> >>
> >>Kyle
> >>
> >>
> >>-----Original Message-----
> >>From: Elizabeth H. Thiers [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> >>Sent: Monday, July 28, 2003 4:52 PM
> >>To: [log in to unmask]
> >>Subject: Re: Hey all
> >>
> >>
> >>You know, it may delay your surgery a bit but, you can ask for a plastic
> >>surgeon to close for you. My friend did this when she had her bilateral
> >>mastectomy. You can tell them you need all the muscles and soft fascia
> >
> > you
> >
> >>can in order to breath properly. (the pecs are an auxillary breathing
> >>muscle).
> >>
> >>I'd keep harrassing the insurance.
> >>
> >>beth t.
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------
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