Ooops!

What's the worst thing that can happen when you are waiting for the report on a biopsy? To hear that it was malignant. Yeah, that's a bummer, but there is something worse. To hear that it is malignant and inoperable. Yes, that is worse, but there is something else that is a contender.

When your doctor calls and tells you the lab lost your sample, and you have to do it all over again--that's worse! All the other horrible consequences may still be there, but the anxiety of waiting to hear gets put on hold for two more weeks. It's like hearing the doctor say, "Oops!" during brain surgery. It is very difficult to be understanding and patient with that kind of incompetency.

Yes, Barbara's doctor called late today to tell her just that. One sample made it to the lab that determined that she does not have lymphoma. But the sample that was sent to the pathologist cannot be found. How does that happen? Barbara's doctor said she has been calling all day around the Kaiser system to see if she could find it, and that is why she called late in the day.

Now it takes about a week to get an appointment. And it takes about a week to get the lab results (if you get them). The process includes preparation, sedation and last time it took from early in the morning until 3 in the afternoon. Kaiser simply says, "Sorry" and schedules the whole process again. Will they have the audacity to expect us to pay another $5o for their games?

As you pray for us, be sure to ask the Lord to give us grace to deal kindly with people. We surely do not feel like doing that just now.