NIH - Bethesda, MD - DC

We arrived Monday nite late - given the 3 hour time difference, it wass really late. Checked into this funky little hotel near NIH with a shuttle that runs to and from. The hotel? Very nice architecture, nicely furnished, good bed and shower. Both drains drain. Good sheets. And then we get to the cost cutting measures: thin towels, motel six soap, no hot water at night. A bit shaky elevator; view of the building next door. Of course, it costs about 1/3 as much as the nicer places. Some good, some bad, inexpensive, we'll take it.

I'd guess within a mile there are 15 different ethnic restaurants. Two miles away we found my favorite salad bar ever. Organic, vegan, or chicken/tuna. Did you know falafel is a great source of protein?

We had Tuesday to get the lay of the land and went to the Viet nam Memorial Wall, and the Lincoln monument. I cannot describe the welling up of a feeling of what? Patriotism. A proud sense of our own history as well as the sacrifices made. Whatever political stance or sense of right and wrong, these monuments stand for something gut level important. As a nation we have not always done the right thing, but our soldiers have died for our ability to try and get it right. I was amazed at how standing in the presence of so much history overwhelmed me.

NIH. National Institute of health. This is a government run center for medical research. Already we have me people with numerous types of cancer cells destructively wandering around in our bodies. The chins are up I think because we all know we are doing something good, perhaps for ourselves, but for sure for the next guy. The people who work at NIH: nurses, doctors, research statisticians, cafeteria, drivers, security, on and on, all seem full of a positive attitude of doing something good. We see medical personnel, some of the best in their field, unfettered by insurance companies, and allowed to put patient care first. How much money they make set aside because they get to do what they trained to do. I am inspired.

Apparently they find my case quite interesting. It all boils down to a tiny little type of cancerous cell - slight possibility it is not papillary, but if not then a new twist on what has been IDed before. They took a couple small samples of my kidney tumor today, to be analyzed by a super pathologist like House, but differfent specialty, and with people skills.In ten days or so I will have that info and a team of kidney cancer research doctors will have recommendation about where my case fits in their research and drug trials picture. Hopefully another thread in a blanket f solutions.
Bill