Back on the On Ramp: Week 12

Week 12: Dec. 6-12 “Home Sweet Home”

Saturday, December 5th we began our northward trek with the idea of stopping off in the Reno, Nevada area to visit family. The clouds of uncertainty surrounding the weather predicted for the area added to the drama of our trip. Below zero temperatures and snow were lurking on the horizon. Even at home in the northwest, temperatures in the single digits were expected. After spending the day in the sun in 70 degree weather in Loma Linda last Friday, our bodies were in for a shock. The scenery surrounding our trip up the east side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range on Saturday was spectacular.

Early Saturday evening we arrived ahead of the storms in Verdi, Nevada. We were faced with the dilemma of cutting our visit short and heading out the next morning before the onslaught of the snowstorm or waiting it out. This was one of the “no clear cut answer” situations with both scenarios not looking too favorable. Two added elements weighing in on the decision included a retirement party for Diane’s sister set for Sunday night and getting back home in time to see off our middle daughter’s family for a month long stay in Arizona. It did not help matters that we had not seen them or our new little granddaughter in 10 weeks.

The urge to head home ahead of the storm seemed prudent even though I did not feel all that comfortable with the decision. Regardless, we headed out from Verdi Sunday morning. That’s when the fun began. About twenty miles out we encountered a huge traffic tie up. Later we learned there had been an accident ahead of us that closed the freeway for three hours. While sitting on the freeway going nowhere I thought back to the night before when I had prayed for some direction on the timing of the remainder of our trip. The answer was not apparent when we left that morning but sitting stuck in traffic it now was staring me in the face: “Central Truckee Exit Ahead.” I first thought we might as well pull off and wait this mess out but then it soon became obvious this storm was just kicking into gear and the brunt of the bad weather was still ahead. With this new direction we whipped around and headed back to Verdi with thoughts of enjoying the comforts of a warm home.

The snow continued to fall throughout the day but it did not deter us from heading out for the retirement party for Diane’s sister Sunday night. The family connection in Reno circled around a big table at Macaroni Grill was a lot better than driving in a blizzard and wading through the numerous accidents that snarled the freeway throughout the day. The storm did not loosen its grip on the area until Monday evening. The forecast showed clear skies for Tuesday, yet still with sub freezing temperatures awaiting us for our next opportunity to continue our trip north to Vancouver. Monday night found us shoveling and plowing a foot of snow off the sidewalk and driveway to clear the way for our departure.

Tuesday was indeed a beautiful bone-chilling day. With our hugs and goodbyes all in order, off we headed riding on the security of our four-wheel drive Toyota and a favorable forecast. Even though the trip took an additional two hours the scenery made it worthwhile. Once we made it to Mt. Shasta it was clear sailing the rest of the way home. Upon our arrival, it was still uncharacteristically cold, but we were home!

Getting reconnected with our family was first on the order, with the remainder of the week getting caught up with being away for two and a half months. It is good to be home!

Off Ramp Loma Linda: Week 11

Week 11: Nov. 30-Dec. 4

This week ends a huge chapter in our lives. Friday is my last treatment and we will be on the road Saturday heading for home. As things wrap up for us here at LLUMC it also ushers in the next phase. After all, this will be a continuing story. With treatment for prostate cancer I will be monitored for the rest of my life for the slim chance of recurrence. It is one of those “things” that marks you for life.

This final chapter began Sunday in Seal Beach as we wrapped up a long Thanksgiving weekend with family. This whole story has been one full of thanksgiving so it was a fitting way to set the tone for our last week. Monday afternoon found us back at our little cottage in Loma Linda for the last 5 days of treatment.

While I have been here there has been plenty of time to ponder life and life purposes. There have been two significant revelations of sorts that have come to me in my pondering. One has to do with the cure and one about life.

The cure became a numbers game for me.
Follow along with this one.

This has been the procedure for the 45 treatments. Drink my 18 oz. water (almost 26 qts overall), walk 675 steps from our cottage to the proton center elevator, show up at the Level B waiting room, get changed into my oh so chic hospital gown, walk down the hall to Gantry 3, climb into my pod, receive my balloon with a smile on my face (4 more ounces of water-almost 6 quarts total), get 2 x-rays, count off 30 beeps from the Geiger counter indicating protons are being delivered, and then climb out and walk another 675 steps back to our temporary home away from home. The final total for steps towards the cure can be broken down like this:

1,350 steps for consultation & planning;
60,750 steps for treatments;
12,150 steps for weekly doctor appointments;
10,800 men only support group meetings;
This comes to a grand total of 85,050 steps which equates to about 50 miles which translates to a little over 3 ½ hours of walking towards the cure for cancer and the healing process.

As I have stated before, each delivery of protons lasts about 1 minute and 45 seconds which for the 45 treatments adds up to 78 ¾ minutes. For round numbers, let’s say, 1 hour and 19 minutes is all the time it took towards this cure for cancer.

The second “ponderable” has to do with the present. I posted this thought on my other blog the day it came to me: “Each day we are given is a gift. Unfortunately too many people fail to open the present.” Obviously the “present” has an intended two-fold meaning.

It reminds me of an old Peanuts comic strip where an uninterested Charlie Brown is sitting beside an unwrapped present. Lucy of course in her own special way wants to change the situation with a series of questions aimed at getting Charlie Brown to open his gift. To the best of my memory the gist of the dialog is something like this:

“Why don’t you open your present?” Lucy asks.
“It’s probably just a shirt,” Charlie replies
“Don’t you want to find out what color it is?” Lucy responds
To that Charlie Brown states, “It’s probably not my size.”
Lucy, getting a little exasperated follows, “You can at least open it an find out what size it is.”
And finally Charlie Brown comes back with the clincher, “It probably has pins in it.”
In disgust Lucy picks up the present and smashes the box over his head.

What excuses do we come up with for not opening up the gift of each day?

For me, being here at LLUMC has been a gift. It was a package we had no idea what impact it would have on us. We could have said: “It’s not comfortable being here out of my element,” or “I don’t even know anyone,” or “I have cancer and just want to get this over as soon as possible.” With proton treatment there is no such thing as “soon.” For most of us here 45 treatments and 11 weeks away from home can seem like an unwelcome present. As you have been following along over these past 10 weeks you have seen a glimpse into what we have found inside this unlikely present.

I would hope each of you opens the gift of each day with the same excitement as a child looking for the treasures in the present set before him or her. New friends, new experiences, and new opportunities for growth are waiting to be unwrapped each day.