Dear Family and Friends,
Our "Focus" yesterday April 21st was ALWAYS going to be the 2pm appointment with Dr.Kernstine.
At the exact hour we were both sitting in Room # 1; a good "omen"? We remarked to each other about ".....being on time"! However the first knock was from "Tommy" his RN. This buxom, Texan born nurse then clarified several of the entries in GSB's 7 page "Health" questionnaire and to inform us that another 'Board Sanctified Surgeon", would be assisting Dr,K; she added he was of Greek ancestry.
 So this next "visitor" turned out to be the "Adonis". Slim youthful with jet black hair ,which matched his eyes------Gisela noted ( she's not that sick I thought!)
He also had the questionnaire in hand , repeated similar questions as the RN and then questioned a couple of other replies GSB had made. At 2:45pm Dr.K arrived.
His "bedside" manner put us both at ease as he gently told us what he thought the road ahead would bring.
First he clarified that Gisela has Mesothelioma! A form of cancer but NOT Lung Cancer. He explained how the dreaded disease lays dormant. He asked her " How long do you think you have had this condition?". "Several months" she replied? His retort to her reply made us both gasp

                               " TRY THIRTY YEARS " he said.

He then outlined the plan of action both medically and philosophically Taking the second first he recommended:-
1. Setting up a three ring binder with 4 Sections-----"Your Engineer husband can help with this" he added. The FOUR are:-
                                  A.) An exercise plan that MUST be structured. GSB asked if she could "do-it" at our gym? " Preferably here at the Cancer Centre. under the supervision of the Physical Therapy Dept.. THREE days a week" he replied.

                                  B.) A dietary plan to "build-up" your strength. "Cancer HATES muscle " ! he added.
                                  C.) The third section should consist of ALL the information we could gather on Mesothelioma.
                                  Section D) should be a journal of Doctors visits, notes and  test results.
2. The establishment of a Web Site connection (DONE!) to the hospital. NO communication will be by email.

Medically he will complete with the other Physician's help the analysis of ALL the DATA accumulated over the last several weeks. He then "shared " the THREE step approach they would probably take medically.

STEP 1. A small incision into GSB and the insertion of a miniature camera for a complete reconnoiter of BOTH her lung cavities. The results would be shared with the "Team".
STEP 2.  Another small insertion but this time with the objective of taking small "sections" for biopsy analysis.
STEP 3. Assuming the pathological reports are "A GO" the fully fledged operation.

This would be a MAJOR event lasting 5 or 6 hours. He stressed that it would be "painful" post operation.

He ended by telling Gisela to await the hospital's timetable. Told her to build-up her "STRENGTH". They hugged. Wow