So.

I have found myself in a conversation with someone who (understandably) thoroughly questions this entire process with Dr. Moon.  Okay, actually is adamant that this process is a fraud. 

The last thing I want to do is be a commercial for Goodgene.  I will be one when mom has been helped.  There are moments while I was there that took me aback - like what happened with Jackie's fiducials.  But you know what?  Mom had surgery in the US that was profoundly terrible.  Can anybody say they have never experienced a problem with US healthcare, doctors or hospitals?  Like I said before, no one (and no country) has this healthcare business right.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WORKS!  God help me, I pray that it does.

What does success mean?  Does it mean that 100% have to be "cured" of cancer?  25%?  10%?

Dr. Moon is working on opening a lab in Houston.  Obviously, continued research is key.  Mom is getting IGRT treatments (along with other treatments) in South Korea.  So, I feel comfortable with her there.  She is being treated, at least, there. 

As I previously wrote, not all who have come have survived.  There are those, however, that have.  Why?  Why them and not others?  What if you only get an extra year before your cancer comes back?  Is the money and time worth it?   Here is some reality:

 I spoke to the wife of a patient who died.  She said this:
"I would suggest doing everything in your power to get your mother to Dr. Moon. I have met with two people who went there. However, they were very straight forward and said that of the 20 people being treated at the same time as them, they are the only 2 still alive. They did say, though, that even the people who died were so happy when they died. They weren't in pain, they didn't die of some drawn out disease, it was in their sleep. I wish that was how my husband had died. Just going along and then died in his sleep instead of the steady decrease in his ability to do things, including see. I know that this man's treatments are expensive, but he does a fantastic job. He does stem cells, dendritic cell therapy, cyberknife... What you need to know about dendritic cell therapy is that it uses your white blood cells to attack your cancer. So if you have a low white blood cell count, depleted bone marrow, etc... they can not do the treatment for you. That is another problem with Tye going there. He had so much chemo that his body just stopped creating white blood cells and his count was very low".

And the son of a patient who died:
"Dr. Moon's treatments went very well for my mom. It knocked the lung cancer down by 30~40% according to the before and after tests we did. Unfortunately we were unaware that the cancer had spread to her brain prior to us leaving for Korea & the treatments we did specifically targeted her lungs. When we got back to California they found the brain cancer and did a series of whole brain radiation treatments. She's resting comfortably now but the brain cancer seems to be pretty advanced and she's not responding much to the radiation.  I wish I had a better story for you but what we originally went to Korea for was accomplished and from what I hear from the other families that were out there with us they've been successful too".

I reached out to some folks and some have reached out to me.  I am keeping my eye on those who are still out there, living their lives... praying for them too. 

False hope and blind faith is not what should take anyone to a country they know nothing about.  Have informed hope and thoughtful faith. Do your research!

Right now, we'll have to wait and see.  Mom, myself and her doctors are anxious to see her results.  As promised, I will share them.

~

Day Twelve

It's Saturday here so it was to the clinic at 8:30 am.  As it was snowing, getting into the building was interesting but we made it.  Mom got the 45 minute protein drip and one of those rump shots (she had it out of my view so I didn't ask) but it had to have been either the CK or the vaccine. 

For lunch, we decided to have real Korean food for a change, so we ventured downstains to Yura.  I really wish I had taken my camera.  We both ordered the Bulgogi Kettle (which is a marinated beef mixed with mushrooms, bean sprouts, carrots, etc.).  It was really very good.  They start you off with a salad, which had some kind of super cold relishy dressing.  Then they bring out the kimchi, cold bean sprouts, some kind of fish, what looked like small oysters and some kind of slimy mushroom sprouts (all in separate little bowls).  I tried everything except the small oysters.  It was all pretty good except the fish thing.  Ugh.  Mom only tried the cold bean sprouts and a piece of kimchi.  Then they brought out the Bulgogi with a side of (I think it was Jasmine) rice. This was obviously a lot of food for just two people but we did the best we could to eat what we could.                                               

This wasn't our table but lunch sort of looked something like this (the Bulgogi is in the middle).

Then they brought out a cold plum tea after the meal.  Mind you, all this they brought when all we ordered from the menu were "two Bulgogi Kettles, please".

We thought it would be nice to go the movie theatre across the street, just to do something different.  So, after we go back into the hotel room, I put my jacket back on and went across the bridge to buy tickets (it is reserved seating so wanted to be sure we pre-bought tickets).  I could not believe how crowded it was!  I actually had to take a number to buy the tickets.  Anyway, there were only two movies in English (with Korean subtitles)... Avatar and Sherlock Holmes.  After flipping a coin, we ended up with Sherlock Holmes.  Entertaining movie. 

Tomorrow, if mom is still up for it and it's not completely freezing outside, we'll take the shuttle over to Itaewon for a little shopping.  Will let you know how that goes!  How to ask "how much" in Korean:  Olma Imnika.