The Plan

Going into this weekend I knew that one of my goals was to get the whole new doctor thing sorted out so that we could get moving on that front this week.

But sorting out doctors and information for a serious medical condition you have never heard of before is like ordering off a menu written in Cantonese. You are pretty sure it is all food of some sort but you know that half of it is bad, half of it is good and there is really only one or two entrees that are really good. It's one of those two you need to pick . . .

Its overwhelming.

Where to begin?

And then my e-mail box started filling up and friends started calling . . .

A friend called to say that she bumped into and old friend she hadn't seen in over a decade. He happens to be a neurosurgeon who works with one of the best pediatric neurosurgeons in America. The practice is in LA.

Miracles.

I spoke with another friend who, through her connections in California State Government, actually has one of the VPs for the San Diego Children's Hospital and UCSD Medical Center hunting down a referral for us.

Miracles.

Many of our friends and family members have been scouring the Internet for help and have come up with the following resources for us:

Children's Hospital
Spina Defects Clinic
3020 Children's Way
San Diego, CA 92123
Phone: 858-576-1700 Ext.4641

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
(888) 663-4637 or (914) 428-7100

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
P.O. Box 1492
Washington, DC 20013-1492
(800) 695-0285 or (202) 884-8200

Spina Bifida Association of America
4590 MacArthur Blvd NW, Suite 250
Washington DC 20007-4226
(800) 621-3141 or (202) 944-3285

First study results in on fetal surgery pioneered at VUMC

More miracles.

All that is before even mentioning that many of our friends have been asking their pediatricians for referrals. One friend, because of her profession, was actually in a position to take a survey of the actual nurses themselves at the San Diego Children's hospital!

Unbelievable.

Almost without exception, all the referrals we have received point to the same medical group at Children's and three doctors within that group in particular.

Miracles.

It's surreal.

We are connected with one of the best pediatric neuro surgeons in the country - I have VP's at the hospital hunting down referrals - someone actually surveyed the nurses of all things! - all referrals are pointing in the same direction.

And I didn't do anything.

It was all from the love and support of our friends and family.

I cannot tell you how grateful I am to be surrounded by such a wonderful family of friends.

We truly are each other's blessing.

So. The Plan.

The plan for today is to decided on a doctor and make an appointment.

Your prayers for wisdom and guidence are appreciated.