Everything's On Hold!

It's been a rough day. I have been dreading checking my emails not wanting to hear from the medical department on that double checking with Madagascar medical staff.  Sure enough, an email let me know there was a message. 

It read:

---ON: 1/26/2023 1:12 PM   BY: Office of Medical Services -------

Hi Rick,

Thanks for your patience as our advisors have been in communication with the staff in Madagascar.  It turns out that they are looking for some additional information.  We acknowledge that this is close to your planned date of departure.

Some abnormalities were noted in your blood work.  These are more prevalent in people from Northern Africa, Mediterranean regions, and Southeast Asia- are you or your parents from any of these areas?

We need to see the result for a blood test called a peripheral smear and an iron level.  Hopefully these tests have already been done.  Please check with your doctor's office.  If they don't have results for a peripheral smear and an iron level, let me know if you can have the tests now and submit the results by Monday morning.

FYI, the concern is that you may have thalassemia.

I'm sorry for the last minute request.  Please let me know if you can make the submission by Monday.

Best,
Lisa

I jumped into action and responded back:

---ON: 1/26/2023 1:42:17 PM   BY: r.lawrence.porter@gmail.com-------

I have no ancestry from North Africa, the Mediterranean region or Southeast Asia. I will try and track down my DNA that was done a few years back.

I am also in contact with my doctor's office to see if we have that info on file or if I need it done.

A urgent call and note to my doctor's office:

I am scheduled to go to Madagascar with the Peace Corps the second week of February but the medical staff just asked for one more thing related to my possibly having thalassemia.

I doubt it as I have no ancestry in those regions but would like to either get some helpful info from Dr. Barkdull and or my records or come in immediately for that peripheral smear and iron level. Thanks. This is urgent as I would hate for them to dismiss me in the final hours of departure.

If needed please schedule me for that blood draw ASAP if possible or necessary though I would hope Dr. Barkdull could write a note dismissing the possibility.

Rick Porter

I even had Natalie run by the doctor's office as she works just a couple miles away. But they could only get me in right away on another blood draw. I showered and was in there at record time.

Another quick note to the Medical staff at the Peace Corps:

---ON: 1/26/2023 2:21:11 PM   BY: r.lawrence.porter@gmail.com-------

I am running out to get this hopefully last blood draw for those items. They have told me it could take 3-5 days for the results. I will send a copy of my DNA as soon as I find it again. 

But please, please, please if you can help me not get terminated just because we don't yet have these last minute results in - I would greatly appreciate it. They have already issued my flight plans and you can imagine this is a big surprise.

If it turns out negative nothing needs to change. 

Thank You, I will get you the results or let you know how soon just as quick as I can.

Rick

I had the blood drawn and it doesn't look like they can do anything to expedite the results.

Another note to the Peace Corps Medical:

--ON: 1/26/2023 2:51:57 PM   BY: r.lawrence.porter@gmail.com-------

Blood is taken and being sent out on those two items. 1-4 days on that smear, sorry.

They responded:

---ON: 1/26/2023 3:17 PM   BY: Office of Medical Services -------

Hi Rick,

That was fast!  I'll keep an eye out for the results :)

Best,
Lisa

I got it all taken care of in just a couple hours and am now at the mercy of the results. I spent the afternoon on an update video that can be found on the two channels at:

Everything's on Hold!

I need to give it a day or two to think this through. Certainly, it could be a sign that I just shouldn't go. But I'd rather think of this as a show of my determinization to pull it off at great effort and passion.