9-21-09 MONDAY MAURA'S BIRTHDAY

It is now 9:20am and I have already had my radiation treatment, and worked out at the gym for 45 minutes. I'm so happy to be the first person to get radiation. They can no longer have any excuse as to how long someone took to have their treatment. The doctor can't be busy with someone else. It was great, I got there and found them eating McDonald's. There was then a quick call and all of a sudden they were ready for Mr. McLaughlin. When I got there the cast was actually on the machine and in the correct position. It was my friend Tony, who was the man that was with me the first week and really knew what he was doing.. Of course that's not to say that there are those that don't know what they are doing. I would never be that judgemental.

He did a few minor adjustments and presto the x-rays started to happen. I was in at 7:40 on the nose and in my car and ready to cleave at 7:55. I also met Diana, a lady that eats at the Essen House almost every day, and we have become friends because she would have chemo with me and now she too is going through radiation. I've meet quite a few people during this adventure. One was Cate's 5th grade teacher. I was overhearing a discussion as I came in one day and herd her say she taught at St. Charles and I said I had two that went to St. Charles. She did not know Thomas, but she did have Cate and said she was such a nice young lady. She then had me tell her all about how she has been since leaving 5th grade. She is one of the fortunate people that caught breast cancer early and only has to have a lumpectomy and radiation to cure her cancer. She is doing just great.

I will know tomorrow how I am doing. I see Cummings the Surgeon at 12 noon and rushing at 2pm. I will see what the CT Scan shows of my lungs. If all is clear, I should be in great shape and only have three more weeks of radiation before it is all over. I will still have to go for quarterly check ups, but no more treatments. If all is well tomorrow, I will probably not do much more on the blog. As you all know, it was for the cure of the cancer that I started this crazy thing. Not a diary on Tom and family. I love that you all were so kind as to follow my journey, but hopefully it is over for now. If all our prayers come true, I should be good to go tomorrow.

Thanks again. I'll let you know tomorrow.
Tom