Judith and Chase have an angel looking out for them in Houston. Here's a picture of Chase, Debbie, and Judith in the apartment she arranged for them, just a few miles from the Proton treatment center.



After just 2 nights sharing a room and a bath, they were both quite happy to move in to the 2 bedroom, 2 bath fully furnished apartment. I just didn't realize how much "stuff" it takes to furnish an apartment, but besides the beds and sheets, the sofa and coffee table, the dining room table and chairs, there were trash cans, pots and pans, boxes of tissue, pictures on the walls, plants on the tables, :: deep breath :: shower curtains, hand soap, dishwashing detergent, kitchen towels and a sponge, knives, forks, spoons, spatulas, a can opener, a corkscrew, a vacuum cleaner... (okay, there were no scissors, but everything else was there!)

So now they've got a bit of room to spread out instead of just getting on each other's nerves (oh come on, you know it happens). Judith got high speed internet installed and I brought our "travel" wireless router so they don't have to try to steal a connection off "smoooth operator" (really, that was the name of the only unsecured wireless network in range). It's supposed to be for Chase's studies, but it's really so Judith can surf YouTube:

My last night there the weather cleared enough so we could meet some friends of mine, Lynette and Joey, who picked us up and took us to Taste of Texas for some absolutely fantastic steaks and good conversation. And leftovers... How was that cheesecake the next day, Chase?



Before I forget, Judith sent me links to info on Dr. Woo, Chase's radiation oncologist, and Dr. Ater who will be watching over his blood counts and finishing up his chemo (that one remaining Vincristine shot).

They joined a gym today, so that should help Chase get rid of some energy. Hey, at least he still has some!

Like I said, we got a nickel tour of the Proton center, guided by Dr. Woo (really!) We got to see one of the actual treatment areas (below). The table Chase will have to lie on, face down, is where the blue things are sitting. They have individualized props/braces for everyone, but he says it's none too comfortable, and he'll have to stay very still.

The nozzle for the proton beam (shown on the left), can rotate fully around the patient with millimeter accuracy. The technicians can see and communicate with the patient via closed circuit TV.

We also got to see the machine shop, but I didn't get any pictures there. That's where they create the masks (to hold the patient's head steady) and, hmmmm.... templates? for the Proton treatment. It's a pretty time consuming project, which is why Chase won't be starting treatment for another week.

The doctor marks the necessary treatment area on each MRI picture, the computers do their magic, and a computer guided machine creates a couple forms. One is about an inch thick piece of brass cut through with an outline of the tumor (or in Chase's case, the outline of his spine and the outline of his brain). This keeps the radiation from spilling over onto healthy tissue. The second piece is a thick piece of acrylic, machined to the shape of the tumor. Dr. Woo explained that the proton beam travels a specific distance before expending its energy, but once it goes through the acrylic, it can't go as far. The more acrylic in the way, the shallower the proton beam goes. Confusing, yes, but the forms look cool, and Chase will get to bring his home when he's finished treatment (oh no, take another suitcase, Buddy!)

At any rate, below's a picture of a mask (used for someone lying face up), and some of the acrylic forms for a spine (top) and brain (which you really can't see, below). The thinner brass plates are underneath each matching acrylic forms.
The above photo's clickable, if you think that will help! There's also a video on the MD Anderson Proton Therapy center page (look for streaming video toward the bottom of this page).

More later...

Instead of waking Judith up with a 2AM phone call to tell her I finally got home, I'll toss up a picture or two and promise more tomorrow when I'm actually coherent and awake. With all the bad weather between Raleigh and Houston, it took marginally less time to fly than drive. Not that I would have preferred driving! I sat back, read my book, and munched on M&Ms for dinner. Judith made me take them!

This pic was taken of their "cancer free" celebration, before Chase and Judith packed and left for Houston.

Here's a birds eye view of the Proton center. It's clickable. We did get a fascinating nickel tour of the facility and I'll put up photos with explanations (as I remember them) tomorrow. Well, today. Later. Much.

Did we end up in Boston after all?

It's COLD here in Houston! And much like the expectation of an inch of snow will paralyze us in NC, the dire predictions of freezing rain shut down parts of Houston (including some schools and roads), yet nothing fell. At all. I heard parts north of Houston did get some ice, though, and we're still predicted to get a blast tonight. We'll see.

Right now Judith and I are hanging around the Proton center here at MD Anderson while Chase is having his simulation CT scan. That's quick! Tonight he'll get a 3-D MRI of his brain, and a week from Monday he's expected to start treatment. Until then he has appointments for bloodwork and his final Vincristine shot, and an opportunity to bug Judith daily (more likely hourly) to allow him to fly home until the 29th.

We got the grand tour of the center, and I'll have some pictures later (this place is well equiped but still, this computer can't read my camera card). It's very nice and bright, and all the folks we've met have been very friendly and knowledgable too. Bored as he'll be, I think this is the right place for him.

He'll have his whole brain and spine treated, with a "boost" to the tumor bed for the best chance to avoid a recurrence. Twenty treatments in all, so that's expected to take 4 weeks. Counting on my fingers, he should be home by the end of February. Don't hold me to that - things always seem to change...

Will it fly?
After the suitcase contents juggling Judith and Chase went through at the airport today, John's making sure my suitcase isn't over 50lbs. Whew! That's not clothes (I'm only staying 3 nights), but it's Mom's fancy spare bed, sheets, and comforter. A good night's sleep is important!

I just talked to Judith (when I could hear her through the yawns). Their flights were fine, and her new Houston friends Debbie and John met them at the airport and got them safely to the hotel. After dinner (and ice cream), she's ready to snuggle up to Buddy's parting gift - a "Buddy Bear" - and get some sleep. Awwwwww...

It's going to be a long month for everyone, I'm sure, with the family split up, but Debbie seems to be determined that they'll have as good a time as possible while in Houston. Don't let them have too much fun, Debbie, we want them back when they're done!