Paccretectomy/Islet cell Trans, NEWS!

December 30, 2001

Hi all List Members, I am writing to let you all know that my Bride (

Cindi ) is on for the surgery with Dr Sutherland in Minn. on 1/28/02. If

it were not for this list ( and Duncan and Shirley and Kay, et

all! ), we would have had no clue that a cure for CP is possible. We

have been through 2 years of HELL with this disease, and Drs who don't

have a clue about what to do about it. NOW we are close to the time that

Cindi will be FIXED! That is a big improvement from Drs who just give

pain meds and say " maybe it will heal up!?! " . We have been told by Drs

here that this procedure is not tested and proven. Well, is waiting for

your pancreas to self destruct " tested and proven " ? With this surgery

Cindi has a chance of living a normal life --- free from the godawfull

pain she has had. Sure, she will have to take Panc enzymes for the rest

of her life. Everytime she eats anything! But, I will be there to

remind her ( she probably will get sick of that, but too bad! ), and she

can eat anything she wants to. It's a damn sight better than not being

able to eat hardly anything and when she does , she still has to take

the enzymes. And then she may throw it up 3-4 hrs latter. That is a

pretty crappy way to do the rest of your life! So , we have signed up

for the only procedure that has a chance of FIXING her ( if there is any

other, I have not heard of it! ) and it will be done soon.

You all have seen the posts from Shirley and Kay and Gail and others who

have had this done. Why have not more folks had this done? The ins. co.

approval took all of about one week for us; it was not an issue with

them,they said " sounds good, go for it " . They are even reimbursing me

for travel expenses and the motel room I will need to take Cindi there.

If this was experimental " unproven " work , do you think they would do

that?

of this list is going to have hers done on 1/7/02. Cindi will

have it done on 1/28/02. So, we know they can ( at least ) do two per

month. I am very hopefull that this will fix my wifes CP; if it does

not, I will report that to the list! If it does, I will be one of the

people who endorses this ( and Dr Sutherland ) till you might well get

sick of hearing about it.

I just want to say again that if it were not for this list ( and the

members who e-mailed privately, THANKS esp! ) we would have

never heard about this cure. If it turns out bad, I will let everyone

know. If it turns out as I expect it will, you will hear that as well.

But, after all I have read on this list about this, I wonder; what are

you all waiting for!?!?

Regards, Larry

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