Nurse Kat...GOOD LUCK!!!

hey Kat, GOOD LUCK on your appointment Thursday!! I know you must be for joy!! Please let us know how everyhitng goes. Take care. willby

Hopefully Kat is all right... she lists New Orleans as her hometown. If she was affected by Hurricane Katrina she may not be having her appointment on Thursday, and she may have bigger things to contend with right now. Hoping she is ok first and foremost.

wow! tanja, I didnt even realize that thanks for pointing that out. Hopefully, she's ok. willby

Hi Willby, I knew she was from Louisiana, but had to check to see where... anyway, I thought it was a bit strange not to have seen a post from her in a few days. I went to the Louisiana Message Board, though, and there was a post from her stating she and her family are ok, but apparently they are now staying 80 miles away from home and their home/vehicles, etc. are under 8 feet of water. It doesn't look like she will make her appointment for awhile anyway. What a tragedy. We went through a devastating flood here in 1997, but nothing compared to what happened with this Hurricane. I can't even imagine... Take Care, Tanja

Hello Willby, Kat had to relocate and will unfortunately NOT be able to keep her appointments as they were originally scheduled. I am sure she would be happy to know you were thinking of her and wishing her well. She is safe and says that she feels better than some since she has some great family support. She thought she might return in a week but that may be changing as time and information about the area develop. Carolyn

I am sad to report that due to the hurricane... there is nothing left of the doctors offices in New Orleans (at this time) and no real expectation that it will change much for several months. It is very unlikely that "elective" surgeries will be done at my hospital. At the moment, it's the only fully functioning hospital in the city... and I hear that officials are trying to make them evacuate it too. Although we are managing well and getting on with life (started a temp job in the ED at the nearest hospital) it's very very hard to be thankful or cheerful right now. This month is 6 months that I've been struggling to get surgery... I finally found insurance willing to pay for it, only had to wait for Sept 1... and just literally 3 days before that I have my ENTIRE medical insurance network wiped out... No care providers who will be seeing patients other than EMERGENCY cases. I have found that I could live with the loss of my home, and my "things"... I still have my family... but the "death" of my HOPES... is extremely difficult to bear... today is not a good day for me... I find myself unable to sleep or to stop crying. Ah well, I do appreciate everyone thinking of me

Nurse Kat! So glad you are able to get to a computer and keep us posted to how you are doing. So sorry to here about the loss of your home. Thanks for posting.. you bring the reality of the tragedy in the gulf coast, home to people like myself in dry hot Arizona. My prayers go out to you, your friends and family. Please know that we are here for you. Please don't let your dreams of this WLS die. I too am pre-op and I don't know when or if I will be approved. I have to pull myself out of my "pitty-party" because there are so many more important things in life right now. I guess I just feel guilty for wanting something so bad when other's have so little. The "nurturer " in me is just frustrated in not knowing what to do for others. Take care Kat----hugs to you !!!

Kat, I am so sorry about everything thats going on in your life right now. To have 6 months of the supervised dieting under your belt and then be derailed by Katrina. you must be devastated for yourself and your WLS dreams. i am keeping you in my thoughts and hopes for the future. take care bridget

Kat, I watch the news and am overwhelmed at the devastation ... I cannot fathom how you must be feeling right now. You've been on my mind since I read the post on the Main Board about you. I'm so happy to know you and your family are alright. Please hang in and try not to worry about your surgery plans. It's a sad delay, but not an end to it ... a discouraging detour you certainly didn't want to make, but one you have to take right now. Everything you've accomplished so far toward surgery won't go to naught ... I just feel that's true. It took me 14 months and going through two insurance coverages to get my surgery. I didn't have to undergo the real life devastation of a catastrophe, like you are right now, but I was becoming sure it would never happen, and then, like a miracle, it was approved. Your will surgery will happen for you, I just know it. For now, just take care of you and yours, and know there are so many of us thinking of you and praying for you. There's power in prayer and it's coming your way. All best wishes and blessings, Myra