Doc-tah Jones

We got a call yesterday at 3:00pm from the radiation oncologist in Seattle, telling us that a doctor in Kennewick is very interested in working with us.  He is actually a sarcoma specialist, which is pretty cool.  He told us that we should be hearing within the next few minutes from him.  We didn't yesterday, even though we kept my cell phone close at hand the entire night.  And all day today.  24- hours after the call with Dr. Ermoian, Randy decided to call the office of Dr. Jones himself.  I can't help but hear it in my head and say it out loud like the boy from Indiana Jones-- Doc-tah Jones.  His name is not Indiana, in case you were curious, it is Guy.  The receptionist saw that we had a referral and told us that Doc-tah Jones could see us on the 28th.  "Ummm, no, I think he wants to see us much sooner than that.  Could you talk with him and call us back?"  Five minutes later: "How about Monday at 11:30am?"

Done!

I guess there was talk between colleagues about a possibility of doing two to two and a half weeks of treatment, using higher doses of radiation since the goal is not cure, but stabilization.  I think I would prefer that.  I would rather have him sicker than normal for just two weeks, than to have him nauseous for the entire 5-6 week, possibly losing too much weight in all that time.  We can do anything for two weeks.  I say that now, on this side of even having him try it, but that's what I think as I sit in my comfy desk chair, sipping on my flavored water.  It feels nice to have even just a date to meet with someone that could help.  Not cure, but help.

It's weird how it feels that life should just stop after news like that.  Laundry still needs to be done.  Dishes still need to be washed.  Grass still needs to be mowed.  I do it because I need to, not because I really care.  Sometimes I do it just to feel normal, because that is what I used to do before the news.  Life moves on even though it feels like we're characters in someone else's movie; a romantic comedy drama that quickly turned into a horror.