Those 70ish Girls

When my husband and I were called one day soon after his melanoma brain cancer diagnosis by the admitting department at Stanford, we jumped at the chance like two Jack rabbits on steroids, taking at least 4mg of steroids twice a day…with food. His primary care physician had referred him to a neurosurgeon at Stanford and we thought it would be months to get in but it took only a few weeks. We were beyond grateful. We were told to go to admitting at Stanford Palo Alto the next day.

We had previously attended an appointment with a neurosurgeon who accepted my husband after seeing brain scans also and he definitely expedited the process as well. In September we set out on a journey where Ken drove from his hospital bed on a bumpy road in a wheelchair trip for a biopsy under one arm which confirmed an unusual under the skin melanoma which metastasized to his brain. Many tumors were found in his brain He was often picked up from his bed by hospital staff to travel by wheelchair many times for CT scans and MRI tests. One time they took him to a specialist who made a mask for him. Not your normal Halloween mask. This mask would be fastened down on a table where it would hold his head still and would help with pinpointing radiation. This was called cyber knife treatment. We had never heard of cyber knife treatment. Was a true knife used? Was it really developed in cyberspace? Was it made popular by some sci fi movie? No and no. No. It sounded really awesome but no real knife was used and cyber is added to the term since it sounds cool. It was developed in the 1980’s and in 1991 used at Stanford. We were impressed. The best news was that no surgery would be needed on the 13 brain tumors…for now.

The treatment was used and after nine days in the hospital, with our wonderful kids and others visiting my husband, he was discharged and was going home. At that point he could walk and make sense in conversations. Things have changed since September. We have had our lives change. We’re still on the journey but our vehicles have shifted from fast moving sports cars at first to slow moving model T style vehicles slogging along with many flat tires along the medical roadways. We’re in a routine now and feeling more settled dealing with cancer, seizures and mobility issues. Our model T is parked out front. It’s gassed up but not going anywhere. We’re having setbacks and roadblocks. Will keep you posted.