Treatment days are about consistency and routine. After a year of spinal taps you get used to a few things. First, I almost always have a headache. (Today was no different). Second, everyone is pissed. No one can eat. Sean can't because of anesthesia and I don't eat out of solidarity. Third, our appointment time is about 11:00 usually but we never go at that time. It is always later. Hey that's a long time with no food for an adult, never mind the eight year old. Finally, traffic is usually bad. Today the bridge over the Croton Reservoir was out... this sucks.
Wednesday is spinal tap day. (We have jackets). Once we are there, the routine is pretty simple. We wait to be admitted, wait to be called, wait to be accessed, wait for doctor, wait for anesthesiologist, wait for room, wait for Sean to be done, wait for him to wake up, wait for... (you see the pattern). The same nurses check us in. The same nurses discharge us. The same parents are there with the same kids- same same same.
Today, however there was a disturbance in the force. Patient A (I'll call him) was having his port removed- A very big deal. For the non -Cancer parents, A medical port was implanted in Sean's chest the day after he was diagnosed. It is used to take blood and administer medication. It is standard practice for any Cancer patient. Well, these parents and a grandparent were there in the Amb. Surgery unit to have A's port removed. It is a day of celebration. That's it... the end. HE is done with treatment. Cancer free thank goodness! The joy and relief this family felt was palpable but so was the despair felt by the rest of us. I was so jealous. A's family floated. They really did! They looked different. They walked different. They were done but we are not....
