A Unicorn in Healthcare

 My oncologist is AMAZING. 

I've known him since 1994 when he was my bone marrow transplant doctor. He introduced himself to my friends when they visited while he shook their hands and said, "Hi. I'm Greg. I work for Jeanne."

He's currently my oncologist and manages my care.

Yesterday, I woke up with a very bad sore throat and worried about COVID. We'd gone to the state fair to an outdoor concert, masked. We rode public transit to and from, masked. But I heard that bad sore throats can be a signal for the current COVID variant.

The home test was negative but they're nose swabs. And unreliable. I wanted a PCR COVID test. They're pretty easy for me to get during the day, during the week. I call my oncologist's nurse and they get me in the same day. 

But yesterday was a Saturday. The beginning of Labor Day weekend. So I called my favorite clinic system and yes, one of their urgent care clinics has PCR tests, but they take 8 days to get results. 

My oncologist clinic takes 24-48 hours. WTF.

So out of desperation I emailed Greg in the off chance he was in the office on a holiday weekend. I had NO hope he'd respond.

I called another clinic system to see if *their* urgent care clinics had a PCR test. Yes, yes they did. So I made my way there.

On the way, my oncologist responded. From his phone. He was going to order one, at the clinic I was going to. When he returned home from wherever he was on this lovely day.

He responded. Away from his home. On a holiday weekend.

He understands how much COVID would be a threat to my life.

Yeah, Greg *still* works for me.

I am so lucky.