Broken Machines
Today the phone rang at 7:30 am. Phones ringing that early in the morning generally signal bad news, but today it was simply my radiation therapist calling to tell me that my radiation machine is on the fritz. "Could you come in this afternoon," Jason inquired? "My life is all yours," I replied. "Dr. Mary Ann wants to make sure you have your treatment today, so I will call you back with a time." He then indicated that it would probably be after two.
I have to admit that I had mixed feelings. Part of me wanted a respite for my skin; more of me wants to finish the treatments in 2005. And in fact, it turns out that everyone in this department knows about my year-end obsession. Originally Dr. Mary Ann was insulted that I wanted to finish in 2005. She simply misunderstood when I said that I didn't want 2006 polluted with treatments.
When Jason called back, he told me to come in a 3:30. He was redoing all of my mapping to move the treatment from one machine to another, a long and tedious job. Of course I arrived on Susan-time, 3:15 pm and then waited. Finally at 4:45 the treatment plan had been redone for the other machine, and I was escorted to a different room. The radiation therapist supervisor was on hand to ensure that my new coordinates made sense. [Actually, she has been treating me a lot lately. Wonder if I should think about that.] It took them three tries to line me up correctly.
This machine sounds different. Instead of a constant sound, the machine creates its own Doppler effect. The pitch swoops from below and then reaches its pitch, holding a high tone until the end of the dose. Each time the swoop varied, but it always made it back to its same sing song tone.
When I left the hospital at 5:15, my machine was still dismantled and the repair technician was staring at a computer screen looking irritated. Nicole told me that tomorrow, patients would be cancelled again, but not me. My treatment plan has already been remapped so I am on the schedule at a new time. Only three patients from the broken room received treatment today; the rest are in a delay pattern.
My folks all know about my 2005 pledge, and they all worked extra to make this happen. How amazing is this? In full gratitude mode, I made a walnut bread to bring to them in the morning. Now if they could stop burning me, I might make them a full cake with candles.
I have to admit that I had mixed feelings. Part of me wanted a respite for my skin; more of me wants to finish the treatments in 2005. And in fact, it turns out that everyone in this department knows about my year-end obsession. Originally Dr. Mary Ann was insulted that I wanted to finish in 2005. She simply misunderstood when I said that I didn't want 2006 polluted with treatments.
When Jason called back, he told me to come in a 3:30. He was redoing all of my mapping to move the treatment from one machine to another, a long and tedious job. Of course I arrived on Susan-time, 3:15 pm and then waited. Finally at 4:45 the treatment plan had been redone for the other machine, and I was escorted to a different room. The radiation therapist supervisor was on hand to ensure that my new coordinates made sense. [Actually, she has been treating me a lot lately. Wonder if I should think about that.] It took them three tries to line me up correctly.
This machine sounds different. Instead of a constant sound, the machine creates its own Doppler effect. The pitch swoops from below and then reaches its pitch, holding a high tone until the end of the dose. Each time the swoop varied, but it always made it back to its same sing song tone.
When I left the hospital at 5:15, my machine was still dismantled and the repair technician was staring at a computer screen looking irritated. Nicole told me that tomorrow, patients would be cancelled again, but not me. My treatment plan has already been remapped so I am on the schedule at a new time. Only three patients from the broken room received treatment today; the rest are in a delay pattern.
My folks all know about my 2005 pledge, and they all worked extra to make this happen. How amazing is this? In full gratitude mode, I made a walnut bread to bring to them in the morning. Now if they could stop burning me, I might make them a full cake with candles.
posted by *susan* at
10:46 PM
2 Comments:
I think most radiation therapists "get it" -- sounds like yours do for sure. Hard to think about a delay in a process you just flat want over with.
Love & done in 2005,
gr
By
The Green Cedar, at 3:29 PM
I am so relieved that you are going to hit your "done in 2005" goal. Let 2006 be full of only good news & healing! Love, K
By
Kristina, at 12:05 AM
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