Dr. Julie Mitnick -- a second radiologist's opinion

Today we drove from Delaware to New York. A two hour and fifteen minute drive to the Lincoln Tunnel and then a 45 minute drive across town at HIGH FUCKING NOON! Is there anything worse than trying to get across town during lunch in NYC? Yes, actually there is. Trying to do it on 34th Street!

For all you non-New York types (you're called "hicks" by the way) the definition of "across town" is going from 9th Avenue ACROSS the island of Manhattan to 1st Avenue. The definition of 34th Street....watch that Christmas movie about Santa Claus and you'll understand.

I love it when I get honked at from behind because some jackass in an SUV sees my Delaware plates and wants me out of HIS city. Sorry pal but it takes all ove 30 seconds for one's breeding and upbringing to come back to them---get the fuck out of my way when I'm driving in the city or you and your girlfriend will never have children! It doesn't take much to remember HOW to drive in New York. It is a God-given gift and I have been blessed with the gift and skill of an expert.

We finally got across town and after finding the building I decided to take advantage of my "dual personality" and utilize my DE plates: I pulled into the right lane of 1st Avenue and drove REALLY SLOW in order to find a parking garage on either 37th or 38th Street within the block Dr. Mitnick's office was on. People saw the plates, gave me wide-berth and I spotted a parking garage entrance between her office's side entrance and the adjacent apartment building. My NY driving ability locked into gear and I peeled around the corner at breakneck speed and pulled up to the parking attendent. Mom was thoroughly impressed and I believe she was also quite proud. She taught me well!

Dr. Mitnick was wonderful. Mom had a REAL mammogram taken for the first time in years (the place in DE gave into her "I can't turn that way" stuff....the folks here pretty much said "tough shit" and made her twist and turn as much as possible in order to get decent films. As I did, Dr. Mitnick didn't even need the films to confirm what she knew just by looking at Mom's breast. The films merely confirmed the presence of the very large mass in her right breast and the possibility of another small mass in her left breast.

After consultation and discussion with Mom, myself, and the entourage of cousins who all live in NYC and came for support (that's another story for another blog), she got Mom an appointment with Dr. Karen Hiotis at the NYU Cancer Institute for the very next afternoon! Dr. Hiotis is a breast surgeon and an oncologist and was willing to see my Mom prior to the July 4th holiday. THAT was great work by Dr. Mitnick!

My aunt and cousins don't understand....while their invitations were real and we were both welcome to stay, Mom wanted to go home and drive BACK to New York the next day for the appointment with Dr. Hiotis. Why? Go back and read about her physical condition. Now do you really think she is going to be comfortable in anyone's apartment that is not handicap accessible? Heck she wouldn't even be able to go to the bathroom without gouging the door frame! And as crazy as it sounds, both of us love driving in the car and 2 hours and change of no traffic on the NJ Turnpike is a simple commute (that's right, you read correctly, no traffic!).

So home we went....and besides, she was all worried about her cat and if her cat is what keeps her wanting to live then so be it!