Last night I got a lengthy voicemail from my scheduler at Mayo.  She listed the appointments they’ve scheduled for me over the next week, including a new one for today.  Dan and I are taking the morning easy, but pretty soon we will head up to the Specialty Building for…

My Sixth Appointment

January 12, 2011 @ 11:30 am

Mayo Clinic Specialty Building 2nd Floor Check In
Radiology General X-ray
Rad Cervical Spine X-ray

I’d say they have this down to a science, but that sounds a bit obvious when it comes to medical things.

After checking in 15 minutes early, I was called back before I had time to take my seat.  (What a pleasant deviation from the typical doctor’s office experience.)  The kind lady verified my birthday (11th time, I think), showed me to an expansive and impeccably clean room of dressing rooms, explained just how much I had to remove,  and let me be.  If not for the whole hospital gown thing, I’d have felt like I was in a high-end department store with my personal shopper.

With some maneuvering and clever mirror usage, I was able to fasten my gown so as to prevent an unnecessarily awkward moment while I waited for my turn.  I took the time to text Dan to tell him I spoke too soon about being grateful my conditions rarely require me to remove my clothes, locked my dressing room with my stuff inside, put the curly 1980’s keychain around my wrist, and headed to the prescribed secondary waiting room… where I got to sit on a bar-height waiting room chair.  Who knew such a thing existed?  Not I.

Within give minutes a young-looking lady called me back.  She asked what was up and what we’d be shooting today.  I explained my understanding of the task at hand, she verified my birthday (12) and full name.  Although it took nearly a dozen, “just a smidge to the left”s, she was able to line me up just so into two different positions, take her x-rays, and send me packing in less than five minutes.  Perfect, I tell you.  Perfect.

Lunch Date

We had an almost two hours to burn before my next appointment, so we pulled out our UrbanSpoon app and went to work.  Long story short, it led us to a development with a Kona Grill (one of my favorite summer internship business trip stops).  Dan had never been, so it was the obvious and necessary choice for lunch.

While looking for parking on the way to Kona, I spotted a MoJo Frozen Yogurt place, so after lunch we strolled down High Street to grab some for the road.  I went for a mix of Original Tart and Apple Pie with kiwi and blueberries.  I think Daniel got cookies and cream.  Anyway, it was delicious.  The shop was immaculate, and the frozen yogurt was the best I’ve had.

We headed back to the hospital with me feeling a bit like a small child.  Why or how does frozen yogurt always seem to get all over your face?  It’s not that you can see it, or that it’s really even there, but it feels like your face is as sticky as sweaty baby fists. No fun, but totally worth it.

If you’re planning to make a trip to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, I recommend you add CityCenter of CityNorth to your list of time-fillers.  It’s located just north of the 101 on the west side of 56th Street… less than two minutes from the Mayo Clinic Hospital and Specialty Building.  Shops, restaurants, and almost no people.  That part is a bit eerie, but the service was wonderful.

My Seventh Appointment

January 12, 2011 @ 1:45 pm

Mayo Clinic Hospital 5th Floor 5 East
Neurosurgery Consultation
Dr. M. K. Lyons

This was fairly short and sweet.  After the usual name and birthdate verifications, Dan and I were invited back to an office where we waited just a few minutes for Dr. Lyons.  He asked who Dan was, then proceeded to look directly at him while addressing me.  I had not realized how strange it is to have a conversation with someone who is not looking at you.  At first I thought, maybe he’s just like that.  Maybe that’s just how his eyes work, but then I remembered, “This guy is a NEUROsurgeon, I suppose his eyes can’t just be like that.”

About that time he began looking at me, when he spoke to me.  He went on to explain that he’d reviewed my MRI from late 2009 and he found no sign of a cyst.

Whoa.

What?

The three folks who diagnosed me were wrong?

He assured me he’d reviewed his opinion with their top folks and they agreed.  If there is any cyst in my brain, it’s tiny.  So small as to be lost between MRI slices.

Lovely.  Best news in a long time.

This is why I am here.  Smart people, on a schedule, who make things happen.

In Other News

• Dan’s decided he and I are aging amateurs… not young professionals.  I suppose I agree.
• How do you pick the perfect gift?  This year I’m sharing my gift shopping process.
• I can’t think of a more sweet or lasting way to spend $240. The Commission Project
• I agree with POTUS: “If this tragedy prompts reflection & debate… let’s make sure it’s worthy of those we have lost.”