Hi - we are safe and dry!

Yes my dear friends, we made it safely to our son's house! Thank you all for your continued prayers and good thoughts. Please don't e-mail me yet as I'm using my son and DIL's computer. Beggars can't be choosers!! George and I tried to view pictures of neighborhoods taken by air since the hurricane. As best we could tell, our house has no water (we are on the west bank of the river, and the flooding is on the east bank). We really couldn't tell if there is roof damage. We are hoping one or all of the three pine trees have not fallen on our house. Thank God all of our family is safe. We are praying our friends and coworkers are all OK. Many of George's and my coworkers live in St. Bernard Parish which is pretty much all under water. We are now about 30 - 35 miles north of N.O. in LaPlace, LA. There is virtually no hurricane damage here, but yesterday there was a torrential thunderstorm and my DIL's car was flooded and floated a few blocks down the street. This storm knocked out their electricity, but it is now back on. The only problem here is very low water pressure. Oh, one very nice thing about staying here is we are with Ethan. He will definitely keep our minds occupied. I'll try to keep in touch as much as possible from here. It looks as if we will be here for at least four weeks. to all of you! Debbie

Glad you are safe thanks for posting.

Debbie, I'm so glad to hear that you are OK. OH and local groups are working together to meet the unique needs of bariatric patients displaced by the storm or were treated at centers in Covington and New Orleans. Let us know if you have a specific need or items. Supplies will be coming in soon and we can get stuff to you in LaPlace. Also, there's a list started of doctors who will provide bariatric surgery aftercare and follow-up appointments. If you are in need of being seen, we have someone that can help you. If you know of others from your area and support group, please let them know of this effort start especially for them. A special meeting open to all bariatric patients across the state will be held next week in Baton Rouge. Details will be posted here. Take care, Frances

Frances Thank you so much. As of now, we are fine. One good thing about being one year post-op and down 96 lbs. I can find clothes in most regular stores if I need them. Luckily I was able to pack a few changes. Now if everything is gone when we do finally get home, that may be a different story. Debbie

Frances, you read my mind about the list and meeting I've been to busy to post it yet and figured I would give the folks time to get rescued first... but I am on the same page... let me know if I can help you... I've already had a request for a Baton Rouge doc to do a fill for a band patient.... know any?

Hi Kat, Excuse me for not calling yet. My phone only achieves 1/10 of the calls attempted. It's still getting worse, not better. The meeting will be Thursday around 6:30 right off Interstate 12 at Sherwood Forest. I was thinking this is good because this is the end of town near Denham and close to you. Dr. Karl LeBlanc is located in the Physician's Plaza at Our Lady of the Lake and he and his bariatric partner Mark Hausmann have agreed to do fills and aftercare for patients displaced by the storm and also for those who had their surgeries at centers in New Orleans and Covington. They don't charge for fills and aftercare and are ready to I'll try calling tomorrow and hope for better lines. If I don't reach you, I'll email numbers and dates. I can't wait to meet you, but I feel like we are old friends already. Onward! Frances

Yeah, my phone's not getting better either... I will be there I can't wait to meet you guys!! You've done a great job setting things up! Kat