When I was a child in Queens, New York, the final day of the school year was June 30th. I know that’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Can you imagine how much I hoped for June 30th to arrive each year of my childhood? But it’s not even close to how much I have wished for the end of June this year.

The good news is that after June 30th, Nick will have just ten more doses of radiation and two of chemo remaining. Treatments end on July 15th. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? The challenges: the acne on his chest and back doesn’t concern us. The incision on his neck, once onorous, also seems minor now. His  declining weight is a more serious issue.

Nick has always been thin. Nick’s college friend Bill used to host an annual summer clambake in Maine.  At one of the clambakes, I met a friend of  Bill’s named Marcy. Marcy told me that when she first met  Nick right after college in the late Sixties, he was so thin  that if  he stood sideways and stuck out his tongue, he would look like a zipper!

Now Nick is  very thin. He has to take a  pain pill to enable him to swallow liquids including Boost or a shake,  and “solids” such as pudding or oatmeal. Maintaining his weight is far from easy.   His doctors want to install a feeding tube, which he doesn’t want. His logic is that he only has two more weeks of treatments. That’s not logical to me. I’m certain that he won’t be back to eating regular food on July 16.  His medical staff can only guess when that will happen, but they are certain that it will be a slow process.

Here are some positives: yesterday we sat outside for the first time since the treatments began. Nick had enough energy to weed  his small corner flower garden.  We played Scrabble for the first time in months. And this morning, he felt hungry and was able to eat some oatmeal (thanks, Jeff). I almost hate for another week of radiation to begin if it will bring back its side effects.

Here’s some new, great news from Nick’s radiation oncology department: Nick’s amount of radiation per each dose will be reduced from here on in!  His voice “should” return, as  “should” his sense of taste. I guess that means that there are no guarantees, but for now, the goal is to get Nick through the treatments. On July 16 we will start focusing on his recovery.

More great news from the radiation oncology department: Nick did not lose any weight this week!!!