I was Hoodwinked

When I first found the lump on my breast

I went to the University of Utah Hospital

where my primary care doctor was.

Except, of course, I couldn’t get in with her

on short notice,

so I went to the guy who was available.

He thought I needed a biopsy

and since it was Friday afternoon

and a holiday weekend,

he suggested I go to

the Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful.

I still waited until Tuesday.

Why didn’t I just wait for the U?

Without asking,

when I went back to get the results

to find out I had cancer,

they had me lined up with the four or five

different procedures and doctors

in four or five different locations

until I was cured.

They gave me a large loose-leaf

with all my appointments and instructions.

It was an ordeal to change and

get in with the Huntsman Cancer Center.

More waiting and anxiety.

They don’t care.

I specifically went to the Women’s Center

so I would have all women doctors.

Women surgeons, women anesthesiologists,

women oncologists, women gynecologists and obstetricians, women radiologists, technologists.

Women running all the machines:

MRI, CAT scans, X-rays, bone scans.

Women power!

Yesterday,

I got hoodwinked.

When I went in for my regular appointment

with Dr. Catherine Beck,

her name was on the door,

the same nurses came in and out taking vitals.

Eventually in walked a brown young man with an

accent

followed by his nurse.

He explained that he is doing a pre-check.

Since this is a teaching hospital, this was not

unusual.

I still expected Dr. Beck.

Finally I asked: “Isn’t Dr. Beck coming in?”

“No. I’m Dr. Beck.”

And there I was with a new doctor.

He had to use her name

because he’s not cleared to handle Medicare patients.

A man-boy breast cancer doctor!

After all my efforts.

Update Nov. 5, 2019

His name is Christos Vaklavas

Where would a name like that originate?