Crack Den Drama

On the way to Philly

I know we call it the 24-hour meth binge, but I never expected CNMC to give us the hospital crack den.  After a morning at CHOP, anything else is like going from the Four Seasons to the Sheraton. 

But this was more like a Motel 6.  Or 5.8.

No we are not getting medical treatment in Hondouras 

Room 433 was peeling paint, peeling fabric on a broken sofa that moves as if possessed, strange spatter marks on the wall, a sticky floor, and it was our assigned room.  Our usual 'home' 423 was already occupied.  And we understand that kids coming for a month need the larger rooms.  Without making a scene, I notified every important person I knew, from shift nurse Erin, to charge nurse Nancy, to our fabulous navigators Eileen & Sarah, and the NP Jessica - so maybe I did go a bit over board, but we did get moved.  And the best news is that room 433 is getting a makeover.  So now everyone knows when you need a room redone, just put me in it.  I'll make certain that facilities, environmental science and the President's office get involved.
As I mentioned, the day started at CHOP.  Or, rather, before CHOP at High Street on Market, Bon Appetit's 2nd best new restaurant (after Rose's Luxury). Breakfast was a Forager Sandwich (mushroom, kale, cheese) and a beet-cured gravlax on a pretzel role with whipped celery cream cheese, cheese scones and several loaves of bread.  Yes, loaves.  This is gluten at its very best and in so many forms.

But onto CHOP.  Dr. Sandy Burnham felt that Harry's back and sacroiliac joints, the source of his ankylosing spondylitis, seemed fine.  His knees, however, were filled with fluid and definitely rheumatic.  The groin pain may be nerve-related, so there may be another specialty to add to our Hardy Boys' list of unsolved  mysteries.  (Did the Hardy boys wind up in med school?)

Uncle Michael Solomon

Afterwards, we sauntered up Locust walk and Harry went into Steinberg Dietrich to sit in on a few Wharton classes.  He would have stayed all afternoon if not for lunch and a master class in finance with Uncle Michael.  At Han Dynasty over Dan Dan noodles, they talked investment strategies and biking (Harry - ever channeling his Jillian Michaels- told Michael to get his rate up higher.)

Must be a good issue of the DP

We trained back, making a quick stop at Union Market to get gravlax and cheese for our High Street bread (if you thought this was a cancer blog, your wrong.  It's all about the food.).  And into room 433. As of this morning room 433 has been sealed off and they are working to improve it.

We are now in room 409 for the first days of Sukkot.  Hopefully being released before or after Shabbat.  Email me if you want to drop by.   And Harry has 6 more days to raise money for Best Buddies. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to Harry's Best Buddies race on October 18.  He has raised three times the amount of his original goal and has increased his goal since he first set it!  When you open his page, the photo is Harry leading the pack in last year's ride -- when he took the lead over numerous former U.S. champions and former Olympians for several miles. http://mydc2014.bestbuddieschallenge.org/harryweinstein.  We are very grateful for everyone's support so far and hope Harry makes it to the top 25 fundraisers in the DC area.