Thursday

March 20, 2025

    When things have moved quickly during this process, Cathy and I often joke, "Should we be impressed with their efficiency, or should we be worried that they think I need to be taken care of so quickly?" We met with Dr. Harris last week, the radiation oncologist, and he said we would hear from someone in a week or more to schedule the CT Simulation, the first step in the planning and preparing process for radiation treatments.  I got a phone call on Friday asking me to come in on Wednesday. 

    The CT simulation machine is what they use to plan the angles and shapes of the radiation beams. They had told me they would make a mold of the area, but it wasn't anything like I expected (I had joked with Cathy that if we got to keep it, we could use it as a salad bowl). I was laid down on a table with a flat beach bag like structure underneath my legs. They molded the bag around my legs and then took the air out of it. This will be used to keep me still, and in the same position each time for treatments. They also placed something under the affected area.  It looked like a sheet of gel inside a gallon-sized plastic bag. This is used to keep the radiation directed and diffused to the area, so it doesn't go too deep into my body. The table was then inserted in a scanning tube for CT scans and MRI's of my hip and buttock to make as accurate a plan as possible.  Lastly, they put a temporary tattoo on me in the shape of a gun sight target.  I thought that would be where the rays are directed but it's located on the front of me.  It's actually another tool to make sure I'm lined up right each time.

    While I was going through the simulation, they were talking to Cathy and setting up the schedule for my treatments.  We had already discussed this, so she knew what my thoughts were. I'm going to go there every day at 1 PM.  That gives me time to get things done in the morning (walking, golfing, errands, scripture of the day) and then time to rest in the afternoon before any evening plans.  We also thought the traffic at 12:30 and 1:30, coming and going, shouldn't be too bad. The interesting news, they want me to start on March 31, earlier than expected (see sentence 1). 

Ecclesiastes 3:1

There is an appointed time for everything.  And there is a time for every event under heaven --

Psalm 130:5

I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. 

    Today was my brain MRI, the last original test Dr. Tran wanted me to take to confirm that the cancer had not spread. When they called to set up the appointment, they offered me 6 AM as the best option, arriving by 5:30 AM. I woke myself up at 3:45 and got out of the bedroom before the alarm went off and without waking up Cathy. By 4:45 AM I was on the road.  I arrived early so I walked around the UCI hospital campus for a bit.  Two things stood out to me. There aren't many times and places in the city where you can feel isolated and alone. For the first couple of minutes leaving the parking garage I was completely alone. But, of course, I'm never completely alone. 

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

1 Corinthians 3:16

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

Psalms 139:7-10

What can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there."

    I walked, and I prayed, and I smiled, knowing that God was with me.  The other thing that stood out was how many cars were there, meaning how many people were in the buildings working.  It's easy to forget about the people who work the "odd ball" shifts, but they are so important and so valuable and need to be respected and appreciated.

     I've had MRI's before, so I knew what to expect (though getting a pair of shorts to wear with the gown was new). I laid down on the table and then they strapped my head into a device to keep it still. The table then moved into the tube, and I spent 20 minutes listening to all of the strange, and loud, noises the MRI machine makes. At one point, they inserted a contrasting dye into an IV attached to my hand. My trick for making it through these procedures, I play golf in my head.  I think of my most regular courses and then work my way through them, hole by hole, to keep my brain occupied.  Today I played Big Rec, Little Rec, Navy Cruiser Course, Dad Miller, and Bailey Creek. 

    I don't know how long I will have to wait for results. I've been thinking that it's a little awkward to think that the best news will be "we didn't find anything" when reporting on the scan of my brain. As of the moment, there is nothing on the agenda for next week.  As always, I greatly appreciated everyone who has been praying for me, and I'm convinced the prayers have been powerful. Thank you!!

James 5:16

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.