Both of Us .org

Although I had the day off of work due to Martin Luther King Day, I did have to go in for my daily radiation therapy. The photograph above was shot by my sister Julie. We wanted to document the fabulous experience that I have been having for the last two weeks of having my head bolted down to a board and zapped with massive quantities of radiation. The radiologists were very accommodating and seemed to understand perfectly why I would want to get a photo of this. One of the techs remarked, "Be sure to smile for the photo."

Our weekend went well, and I greatly appreciated the two day break from radiation. I only have two more treatments and then I am done with this therapy. The Gamma Knife is still to come, but at least it is just a single day procedure.

I wanted to go visit some friends in Gays Mills, Wisconsin this weekend, but I was just not feeling up to the road trip. The reports I read from those who made it there suggested that my friends that gathered there had a wonderful time. I am sad that I missed it.

My wonderfully devoted sister Julie kept Jason and me company for the last week and a half. Although I am sad to see her go home to Denver, I am excited for her to return to the arms of her husband. They will be flying off to have a fantastic vacation in sunny Belize... where I would like to be going too, since Minnesota is an icy hell. Julie played soccer with my team on Sunday since we were short players, and she did very well for not having played soccer for many years. She is in good cardiovascular shape and did herself proud, playing the entire first half of the game. We lost the game, but not due to her heroic efforts.

Honestly, Julie and I spent some time crying together this weekend too. I was amazed and delighted to see her blow her nose all over the shirt she was wearing. What a lady! It certainly didn't matter in the moment. In a well lived life there is time enough for smiles and for tears; I welcome living both of these times. (Next time though, I could do with less snot.)

I have been in good spirits this weekend, but I have not been closely following the Gerson diet. I like to blame it on my nausea from the radiation, but it is also that I am really desperate for food with flavor. Nausea makes drinking glass after glass of freshly squeezed vegetable juice unbearable, so I have been sticking to just having a few fruit juices. I am not consuming anywhere near the 13 glasses of juice a day that is my eventual target. I have been drinking tons of organic peppermint tea which seems to calm my stomach reliably.

I ate half of a not allowed vegetarian burrito today, and some not allowed Ahi Tuna. On Saturday, I ate a huge pile of not allowed sushi. Since my weight has fallen 8-10 lbs, I figure that it is more important to get nutritious calories than to follow the exact foods of the diet. Hopefully once my regiment of radiation is done I will be able to stomach the Gerson Therapy much closer.

Did I mention that am totally stoked to have only two more radiation sessions left? This does not include the day long Gamma Knife session that will take place next week. A metal halo screws into my head for that one. Woohoo!

Just because I look so pretty in it, here is another shot of me. Doesn't it look like an evil Spider man has been to visit me?

Labels: cold weather, juicing, Melanoma, radiation

 Cosmic Monkey wrote:
yay for sushi! yum...I want some now....You guys are really great, incredible people and you always make me feel so at peace and at home when I visit. Thank you.

 Cedric wrote:
Fellas, nice to hear little Julie can still hang with the boys. She always had an interest in round balls too. I'm very proud of you all and will be drinking my share of fresh juice in your honor to celebrate the 80% completion. Keep you happy face on! Cedric

 JB aka JayBee wrote:
Cedric, While Julie was in town, we watched the French Trilogy, The Three Colors. I think Julie enjoyed Red, but she seemed ambivalent about Blue and White. Your name came up in conversation of these films of course.

 Triskit wrote:
If my estimations are correct, you're done with the radiation now. Hope you're in good shape and spirits. :)

I too would love to be in Belize with those guys. Fiscal responsibility sucks. :(

 JB aka JayBee wrote:
Triskit, yes Belize would be a wonderful respite from the arctic chill. Remind me the next time I am invited to a Central American country to say YES.

Fiscal responsibility be damned.