Cristina Ladas

Organized by tango pulse
a letter from cristina
Hi Jackie,
 
Oh my god!!!  I'm sitting here, contemplating about taking two more zofran(for nausea) and I just started reading my e-mail.  It's been a while.  I can't express my gratitude well enough.  Right now, it's a challenge just keeping my eyes dry and my heart from constricting with the emotions going through me.....I am truly overwhelmed and floored with humility with this outpouring of support from everyone....I've been kept adept of the many, many wonderful efforts that folks like yourself have been doing for us.  Our deepest gratitude to everyone, to those who don't even know us well,  for their kindness and generosity.  Never in our lifetime did we expect such coming together of many different tango communities to opening their hearts to help us through this difficult time.  No matter how different we may feel about tango, we are all connected someway, somehow and when something like this happens we all shine in our most glorious way!  I am so proud to be a part of all this.
 
All the e-mails, get well cards, pears, chocolates, etc., it's these things that really kept my spirits up and not succumb to that black hole called depression.  I still get bad days from the chemo drug and the steroids, but that's physiological.  My mind and heart are in a different place.  Physically, I may be f****** up, but my mind refuses and will keep refusing to just give up.  I've got you guys rooting for me, can't risk disappointing such wonderful folks.  I wanted to let you know that.  Please let everyone who's been so kind that I am so grateful for everything and that I can't wait to thank them personally sometime soon, God willing.
 
My love and hugs and kisses to Paulie, Molly and Chad...BTW, Homer just taught me how to play Uno, I've gotten pretty good...Uno anyone?  Take care you guys and we love you!
 
Cristina
a letter from jackie
hi tangueros/as
chipin offers an easy way to make contributions to cristina via paypal.  please help us reach our goal of $2000.  thank dhara for the suggestion!

thanks
jackie wong 
www.tangopulse.net
picture of cristina in pittsburgh
letter from homer
Cristina was discharged from the UCSF hospital on May 19th.  While it appears that the kidney disease has gone into remission, all the medical doctors we've consulted with (have recommended that Cristina continue her treatment of chemo & steroids for the next two ).
Since then we have begun a process of home care. On a positive note, Cristina's plasmapheresis catheter was recently removed - so her mobility will improve in the next week or so.
Lastly, our insurance company has started to bill us.  Unfortunately both  the home care treatment and the insurance process are turning out to be notso pleasant...
Home Care:In this past week of home care Cristina has had to monitor her vitals , and has set up a dailyregiment of taking her dozen plus medications.  There are, unfortunately,many side-effects of taking daily chemo and steroid pills.  (nausea, pain, high blood pressure or blood sugar, tiredness, depression, hair thinning, etc). 
Insurance:Unfortunately our insurance company appears to be adding insult to injury.We are not very pleased with the unexpected and apparently very wrongstatements and bills which have started to matriculate with-in the past fewdays...  For example, we have been billed the full amount of our first day's (4/23/07) hospital experience in the Emergency Room (total 9K).  While we do expect to clear this up (and only pay our deductibles & co-pays, which should total under 10K for the entire year) it adds extra stress to the healing process.  
Benefits/Donations:Thanks once again to all the folks who have contributed both as individuals and in groups to help Cristina out.  We have received and deposited a total of $9,446.  Already, this money has been very useful in taking care of many unforeseen expenses (doctor & pharmacy co-payments, adjustable shower bar, air purifier, medical supplies/equipment, etc) and reduced income.
Take Care,
Homer & Cristina ;)







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