Small World?

My wife, Gerry has been suffering with right hip pain for eight months and it has become debilitating the past month. She has seen an orthopedic surgeon and he diagnosed extensive osteoarthritis and the x-rays clearly show significant bone spurs above and below the hip socket. Surgery scheduled for September 13.

Before the actual surgery can happen, Gerry had to schedule appointments with our family doctor for a physical examination and a complete blood work up. She also had to see her cardiologist for an EKG and examination. It is mandated that those doctors sign off on the surgery. The cardiologist gave the green light immediately but there was a glitch with blood work. The blood work indicated a high white blood cell count and it was determined not to be from bacteria or a viral infection...some other 'underlying cause.'

Next reference? A hematologist at the Decatur Cancer Care. Of course, you're told not to be frightened by being sent to a cancer treatment center but let's be honest, its more than surreal. The doctor was complete with regard to every detail about Gerry's white blood cell abnormalities. The one high indicator was elevated due to her joint inflammation and the body's response to long-term pain. The second high marker was more indicative of some possible blood disorder characteristic found in the older population. He was not alarmed but wishes to follow up with blood work come next spring...so thus the surgery is a GO! I'll invite your prayers with mine for a skillfully executed performance and a complete recovery for my sweetheart.

Oh, that part about the blog title? Well, the hematologist/oncologist doctor is from the Philippines. During the visit, I asked the doctor when he left the Philippines? He said in 1994. As the doctor continued typing some information on his computer, I continued saying that I coached high school basketball for thirty-nine years and I coached a kid at Edwardsville who later played for the Philippine National Basketball team, his name was Ricardo 'Dick' Brown. The doctor spun on his chair to face me and said, "Oh, Ricardo Brown was our great three point shooter...I was in high school at the time he played for us. China could not stop him!" Small world, eh?
(Touch)
Its a Small World