Update on my GCS consultation appointment:
When the "front desk administrator" called last Wednesday with an appointment date of March 9th, I wasn't at home where I could look at calendars and so on. I also asked whether I'd be able to see Dr. Ting at the same appointment, as the first email I'd received had indicated. She said she'd have to check, but would be off work on Thursday and Friday, and they were closed on Monday. She told me to call on Tuesday, which I did. I left two messages, and of course she called back when I was out and in an area with no cell coverage.
So I called again today, leaving multiple messages with no call-backs. Finally on the fourth call she picked up. It turns out you have to meet with three different people: a social worker, a mental health professional, and someone on the medical team. Since I didn't grab the March 9th appointment last Wednesday, the next one to meet with all three is on March 16th. But... If I wanted to add Dr. Ting to the appointments, the earliest date would be in September.(!) She said if I would agree to see Dr. Ting on his own, they could get me an appointment with him much earlier than September. Apparently the problem is coordinating all those schedules.
The lady I was talking to couldn't tell me whether, after meeting with all four people in September, there was any chance of getting GCS finished before the end of the year. And she couldn't tell me when I could get an individual appointment with Dr. Ting. All she could do is set up the March 16th appointment with the other three people.
So my choice was either make two trips to New York to see the three professionals and Dr. Ting separately, or wait until September before I could even get the process started. Not a great choice, but if making two trips (plus another for the surgery) to New York means getting it done before the end of the year, I guess I'll have to eat the extra expense. I signed up for the March 16th appointment.
Now I need to decide how we're getting there, and where we're staying. I've gotten help from some sisters here who are local New Yorkers. I'm leaning toward AirBNB. Seems like you can get a pretty good deal compared to a hotel. If anybody listening has been to NYC and has any hints for me (I've never been there), please fill me in!
Stephanie
