Tom saw his vascular doc yesterday -- the one that wants to do a very, very risky procedure to stent Tom's left leg and, perhaps, do a bypass from the right. He had conferred with Tom's cardiologist last week, and, since Dr. Cunningham (cardiologist) is a very conservative and cautious man (which I much admire in a cardiologist!) and our appointment with him was labelled "no hurry", I figured Dr. C had nixed the idea...and he had. There is also no immediate risk to doing absolutely nothing (while making sure the wounds don't become infected, of course).

I think Tom is very relieved that he's not facing serious surgery. Come to think of it, so am I. None of us are getting out of this world alive, but I really don't want to see Tom's exit hastened.

I need to do more research on non-surgical things that can help (I don't actually believe the vascular doc that massage or nutrition is useless). And there are a couple other doctors whose brains I'd like to pick. We talk to Dr. C on the 17th if not sooner.

Got myself a present yesterday -- I'd stopped at the local herbalist's for goldenseal to rinse my mouth (tongue still irritated from the broken molar) and splurged and got some perfume oils -- rose (which I'd actually gone in for), amber (which I was almost out of) and SANDALWOOD (which I haven't had for years and years; I LOVE sandalwood!). And when I got home, my "Instant Audience" from Archie McPhee was in the mailbox. Sometimes ya just gotta carry your own cheering audience or rimshot with ya...

Linn