“The Jerk”

How many of you have seen Steve Martin’s memorable, hysterical, most quotable comedy, “The Jerk?”  OK, you may be wondering why this of all things has jumped into my head as something to share in my blog.  Well, remember when Steve Martin’s character, Navin R. Johnson, first sees his name in the phone book?

 

Navin R. Johnson:  “The new phone book's here!  The new phone book's here! 
Page 73 - Johnson, Navin R.!  I'm somebody now!  Millions of people look at this book everyday!  This is the kind of spontaneous publicity - your name in print - that makes people.  I'm in print!  Things are going to start happening to me now.”

 

Well, MD Anderson has something just about as cool.  MyMDAnderson.org.  I just log in with my patient ID number and password and there before me is everything I need to know about me and my treatment at MD Anderson.  It has all my personal information, blood type, test results, my team of doctors and nurses, support personnel and information, educational material, and my appointment schedule…complete with directions, including floor and elevator bay!  I AM somebody now…at least at MD Anderson!  :) 

This was very helpful today because when I logged in this morning I saw that the good doctor had already contacted the folks at MD Anderson about the possibility of scheduling a CT Scan.  (I learned that CAT scan and CT scan are one in the same.)  However, my two teams (transplant and CLL) BOTH ordered the same tests, so I had them scheduled for this Friday and for next Tuesday.  A couple phone calls and an email to my patient advocate got everything worked out.  I also learned that the reason we haven’t gotten the results back on my and Ron’s HLA typing was because my insurance company has not communicated back with the business center at MD Anderson to give approval.  So if anyone would like a specific prayer request, please pray that the insurance company would move forward in a timely manner and contact MDA with its approval. 

Now again, it may seem unusual to find correlation between “The Jerk” and my current situation, but I have always heard that laughter is the best medicine.  So I need to find humor where I can. 

Navin R. Johnson:  “I don't need anything. Except this ashtray.  Just this ashtray...and this paddle game.  The ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need.  And this remote control.  The ashtray, the paddle game, and the remote control, and that's all I need.  And these matches.  The ashtray, and these matches, and the remote control, and the paddle ball...and this lamp.  The ashtray, this paddle game, and the remote control, and the lamp, and that's all I need.  I don't need one other thing, not one... I need this.  The paddle game, and the chair, and the remote control, and the matches for sure.  And this. That's all I need.  The ashtray, the remote control, the paddle game, and this magazine, and the chair.  And I don't need one other thing, except my dog.”

I’ve got all I need too.  I have the love and support of my sweet husband, my kids, family, and friends.  I have the knowledge that God is in control and loves me too.  And I have confidence in a great team of doctors. 

I am somebody.  And I’ve got all I need.