MEET THE BUS DRIVER!

Our Bus Driver - Dr. Connealy

After spending most of the day last Thursday at Oasis CA, we came home with a LOT more new information and recommendations.  Then Valerie's blood work came back - and parts of it are still coming back - we were feeling overwhelmed.  We scheduled to see Dr. Connealy again this morning before she leaves town for 2.5 weeks on Wednesday.

She was very sensitive to the issue of our budget and wanting to do as much as we can, but also spacing things out if possible to get the best bang for our buck.  She also was able to answer our many questions quickly and ably.  Such a relief.

Valerie's blood work showed low red blood cells and low platelets - thus the transfusion Friday and Saturday.  It also showed that she may be diabetic - that her adrenals are shot - her sodium is low - and that her thyroid funcion is very low.  In other words, the past 2 years have given her body a beat down.  Dr. Connealy was quite impressed with how well Valerie was and is functioning given those numbers.  It was also somewhat validating for Valerie to see the numbers and know that there are real things going on in her body causing her to be severely fatigued and suppressing her desire and ability to be more active.

They used biofeedback (see Valerie's left hand laying on a
biofeedback gizmo) to see what product would be best
to treat her depleted adrenals.

Dr. Connealy immediately checked all of these things as a routine check to see what all is going on in Valerie's body.  Dr. Chen (the oncologist here in CA) won't even order blood work for thyroid, let alone adrenals, or anything out of his box.  And even Dr. Cecena (oncologist at Oasis MX) never checked those.

Dr. Connealy is officially our bus driver.  She is competent, compassionate, and has the facility and knowledge to assist Valerie in her recovery - no question.

Here's an example of something that she tested for and is treating immediately - Valerie's low adrenal function.  If you google low adrenal function, you will find that it impacts just about everything:  weakness, nervousness, difficulty building muscle, depression, dry and thin skin, insomnia, dizziness that occurs upon standing, palpitations, feelings of frustration, etc. etc.  I mean, no wonder the doctor looked at her (with a DHEA level of 3.4 and normal is 35.4-256) and said "you are doing wonderfully."  These are all things Valerie has experienced.

The main treatment room at Oasis CA - all
of them are recliners that recline at the push
of a button.  And they all have massage.
This is where you sit while getting IVs.

She is a trooper for sure.  And she is far more tolerant and persistent than anyone else I know.  It's also no wonder that so many times throughout this process -- a hospitalization with calcium levels at 14.8 and normal is 8.4-10.2 or a blood transfusion with hemoglobin at 5.4 and normal is 11.7-15.5 -- that doctors have looked at her and said "it's a wonder you are walking and talking as well as you are."  While many of us - for sure ME - would be laying in a bed moaning and holding up our wrist with the "Fall Risk" bracelet on, Valerie gets up and goes to work, does errands around the house, goes to an all day Reiki class, organizes a meetup, prepares all of our records to get our taxes done, and generally keeps up good spirits.  A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

Right now we are a little bit overwhelmed getting a handle on the new home treatments Dr. Connealy wants Valerie to do - here are a few:  eat portions of raw liver to help with iron / put A LOT of non-aluminum baking soda in her water to help her body be more alkaline instead of acidic (tumors thrive in acidic environments and can't survive in alkaline ones) / add more supplements between meals (in addition to the ones she takes with meals).  We are working on getting these, and many others, started asap.  It really is a full time job just getting in all the home stuff that the Dr. wants her to do.

I LOVE this picture.  She looks like she's glowing.  I also
love how all of the chairs in this medical clinic are these
fancy detailed wood chairs.  We are in a "traditional"
doctor's office treatment room with exam table
and fancy chairs.

Dr. Connealy has been nothing but positive about Valerie's prospects of getting stronger - of reversing these negative effects that cancer has had on her body - and of being healthy in general for the long term.  It is a wonderful place and we are thankful to have found them.