I’m in the midst of a five-treatment Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT). Its cooler name is cyber knife. Whatever you call it, it involves high doses of radiation converging on a tumor buried in my Lumbar 2 vertebrae. Awesome.
It’s one thing to talk about therapies such as this, to read about them, to imagine them. It’s a completely different thing to lay in that body mold and feel nothing while hoping that their aim is really, really, really good.
For me, this adventure is my version of skydiving. It takes some precise preparation, an expensive machine, and the willingness to jump and hope it all works out.
Another thing: it involves trusting my life to a lot of people.
As indicated above, I trust doctors, nurses, technicians and other specialists to get things right when doing treatments. We’ve been blessed in this regard.
But, if I want a good cry, all I need to do is think of how I trust the support that I’ve received and continue to receive during this wild adventure. It’s humbling and overwhelming. Every thought, prayer, well wish, email, text, call, etc. adds another layer of warmth, another plank under my feet. It means so very much.
It also can be great fun! One friend suggested that my theme song this week was “Zappity do dah.” I’ve actually been singing it. (The technicians smile graciously.)
It’s all to say, “thank you, thank you, thank you.”
I hope your next two weeks, in whatever and however you celebrate, may be richly blessed.
Quote
Cancer is not a death sentence but rather it is a life sentence; it pushes one to live. Marcia Smith
Web
For those who are curious or get into high tech machines, here’s a short video describing the Varian TrueBeam machine – very similar to the one I’m experiencing (watch now)
For me, this adventure is my version of skydiving. It takes some precise preparation, an expensive machine, and the willingness to jump and hope it all works out.
Another thing: it involves trusting my life to a lot of people.
As indicated above, I trust doctors, nurses, technicians and other specialists to get things right when doing treatments. We’ve been blessed in this regard.
But, if I want a good cry, all I need to do is think of how I trust the support that I’ve received and continue to receive during this wild adventure. It’s humbling and overwhelming. Every thought, prayer, well wish, email, text, call, etc. adds another layer of warmth, another plank under my feet. It means so very much.
It also can be great fun! One friend suggested that my theme song this week was “Zappity do dah.” I’ve actually been singing it. (The technicians smile graciously.)
It’s all to say, “thank you, thank you, thank you.”
I hope your next two weeks, in whatever and however you celebrate, may be richly blessed.
Quote
Cancer is not a death sentence but rather it is a life sentence; it pushes one to live. Marcia Smith
Web
For those who are curious or get into high tech machines, here’s a short video describing the Varian TrueBeam machine – very similar to the one I’m experiencing (watch now)
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