Last Friday, I joined my dad for his morning radiation appointment. The hospital, endless tests and doctors by the dozen will never be a place of comfort but I left this appointment with a deeper appreciation for our medical Team Mark counterparts and selfishly, a touch of repose after getting a glimpse into the radiation treatment room.
It was 8:12 am and Dad’s turn to show cancer who’s boss. The kind technician Chuck, who has become fast friends of Dad's, called for him in the main waiting room and I tagged along. We walked towards the treatment rooms and assumed I would be directed into an internal waiting area but Dad and Chuck were walking with such precise determination, I sure wasn’t going to break the momentum. Before you know it, there we were in the room where I was able to watch dad and the technicians prepare for day 8 of treatment.
It was fascinating. The two technicians operate with such graceful intent. It was almost how I imagine the most skillful Formula One pit crew recalibrating, refueling and realigning their prized possession — each motion exact and purposeful. Every movement in support of the mission at hand: kicking cancer’s ass!
Dad has the majority of his treatments with Harmony. Harmony is on one of the three massive linear accelerator machines at the facility and I think the name is pretty darn perfect… Dad, Chuck + Randy (the other technician), the men in perfect harmony together and with the machine.
Here’s a photo I was able to snap. That’s Dad as Randy secures his face mask and of course, Harmony. Opposite of this is a window that looks into a garden and the room is equipped with a serious sound system that Dad plays Sting, Frank Sinatra, or another one of his favorite artist… it’s all in an effort to make the room as tranquil as possible given its purpose.
The mask was secured, the mouthguard in and Dad was perfectly aligned with Harmony to start the days treatment (and I was escorted to the internal waiting area at this point). Next up: the weekly appointment with his Radiologist. Dad’s doctor is really great — she is tender but very straightforward and says things are tracking as they should for now. There was only one complaint and that was Dad’s need to gain and also maintain weight, which I hope we were able to offset to some degree after Thanksgiving.
Week three of treatment has commenced and undeniably, the side-effects have, too. Of course, Dad continues to be a total trooper. Over the weekend he even worked on a puzzle with Perry, David and me! This is something new and was a fun way to spend time together which was enjoyed by all (well, until the twelfth hour…)!
My dad is a Warrior, he is fighting like hell and I am consistently amazed by his bravery. A hero to me is a person who is admired for courageous acts or nobility of character and is also an individual that finds the strength to preserver and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. I have a hero — I call him Papa Bear and I have each of you on Team Mark to thank. You are giving him the strength and endurance that allows him to uphold the essence of his name, and like Perry, I too will never be able to accurately express the love in my heart for all of you. THANK YOU! I suppose a more accurate title for this post would be, “I have HERO’S” because after all, “alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” Thank you a million times over.
With love, Maura