Emund's treatments
10.26.05 (4:24 pm) [edit]On Monday I took Edmund in to the Radiation Center, for an evaluation by the doctor there. Edmund has a cancerous growth on the top of his head, and it is causing him some discomfort, it is also getting bigger. At first the doctor wanted to operate and simply “dig” it out, but then thought better of it, recommended the Center to see if radiation would take care of it. So on Monday, the Doctor checked Edmund out, and said that it could be done in three treatments; they shortened them because of his age, fragility, and dementia. Edmund can’t lay flat on his back, luckily the treatment can be done with him lying on his right side; the side he normally sleeps on. I told them that we have body pillows, and Edmund finds them very helpful for sleeping, so she recommended that I bring one for the treatment. As usual, Fr Edmund was very peaceful and content during the whole trip; though I know it must be confusing for him. His eyesight is very bad, and riding in the back of a wheelchair van is probably hard for him. He tends to fall asleep soon after the trip starts, so that is a blessing. In the last few months he has been sleeping for longer periods of time, and getting weaker; sometimes he has trouble holding up his head, but it causes him no discomfort. When this happens we put him to bed and when he wakes up his neck is able to hold his head up again.
Today we returned for the first treatment, the next two will be on the next two Wednesdays. The radiation machine is perhaps one of the ugliest “things” I have ever seen, but it works, it is able to pinpoint the radiation exactly where they want it; also how deep they want in to go into the skin. The “bed” that he has to lie on is very narrow and also hard. I had to talk him on to the bed, let him know that we would not let him fall, and then put the body pillow next to him. He wrapped his arms around the top of the pillow, and the lower half of his body, his legs mostly were lying on top, so he was comfortable. They had to strap him in, since he had to be by himself when the treatment commenced. I asked if I could stay in with him ( I knew the answer before I asked), and the look the technician gave me confirmed my intuitions about my being able to go in. I talked with him, hoping that his short term memory was working that day, and asked him to please not move; that it was important for the success of the treatment. He nodded ok. I left the room and five minutes later it was over. When we went back, he was sleeping like a baby, and we had to rouse him, he woke up and just smiled. So we will do it two more times, and the cancer should be gone. It worked for Charles, so I have no doubt that Edmund will come thru all right.
Peace
mitch
Today we returned for the first treatment, the next two will be on the next two Wednesdays. The radiation machine is perhaps one of the ugliest “things” I have ever seen, but it works, it is able to pinpoint the radiation exactly where they want it; also how deep they want in to go into the skin. The “bed” that he has to lie on is very narrow and also hard. I had to talk him on to the bed, let him know that we would not let him fall, and then put the body pillow next to him. He wrapped his arms around the top of the pillow, and the lower half of his body, his legs mostly were lying on top, so he was comfortable. They had to strap him in, since he had to be by himself when the treatment commenced. I asked if I could stay in with him ( I knew the answer before I asked), and the look the technician gave me confirmed my intuitions about my being able to go in. I talked with him, hoping that his short term memory was working that day, and asked him to please not move; that it was important for the success of the treatment. He nodded ok. I left the room and five minutes later it was over. When we went back, he was sleeping like a baby, and we had to rouse him, he woke up and just smiled. So we will do it two more times, and the cancer should be gone. It worked for Charles, so I have no doubt that Edmund will come thru all right.
Peace
mitch