Fucking cancer!!! You wanna talk about one’s life being turned upside down?!? After 5 days in the hospital. In the process of getting 10 radiation treatments. Time came to meet with a pulmonary specialist and also to find an oncologist. In my time at Scripps Hospital Encinitas, I met with several doctors and higher ups. The Chief of Staff of the hospital visited me on more than on occasion. I also met an oncologist at the hospital who I was very impressed with (we talked on 2 occasions while I was in the hospital). Life after getting out of the hospital was a bit crazy to say the least. Many Dr. appointments, working, trying to keep things as normal as I can for my boys. After getting out of the hospital on Nov. 14, I met with Dr. Makani of Coastal Pulmonary Associates on November 16. I was very impressed with him and we had a great meeting. He talked to me about finding an oncologist being my next step. I learn that my oncologist would basically be the quarterback of my team. I told him I was to meet with Dr. Bessudo, whom I met in the hospital. But I also asked Dr. Makani for referral to other oncologists. I wanted to meet with at least 2 oncologists. Given I don’t think I have even used the word oncologist before my diagnosis, this was quite the daunting task! I need my quarterback to be THE BEST! And I have never shopped for an oncologist before. The next day (Nov. 17), I meet with Dr. Bessudo (oncologist) at his office in Encinitas. While I was very impressed with him in my 2 meetings with him in the hospital, he seemed a bit scatter brained in our meeting — and on top of that, I was not overly impressed with his office and his staff. From my meeting with Bessudo, I decide that I for sure want to meet with a 2nd oncologist. In my looking for referrals and my parents looking for referrals, one name kept coming up: Dr. Bazhenova at UCSD. I ping Dr. Makani asking if he can get me an appt. with Dr. Bazhenova. I send this message on a Sunday and by that Monday afternoon, I get a call asking if I can come in that very same day. I unfortunately could not due to my radiation appointment that afternoon. They were able to get me in 2 days later – on Wed, Nov. 22 (the day before Thanksgiving). We have a 1 hour appt. at 3:30pm on the Wed before Thanksgiving – Mo and my parents join me – and I will tell you what! When it is right, it is right. We all fell in love with both Dr. Bazhenova and her nurse practitioner, Jennifer Dvorak. The 2 of them have been working together for 7 years. They only deal with Lung Cancer … where as some oncologists deal with different cancers, Bazhenova only does lung cancer. And not only that, she also writes about lung cancer. She really knows her stuff. The meeting went so great. I told them I was going to take the weekend to make a decision, but the reality, decision was made – we found my quarterback!