Monday, July 14: You are probably familiar with the movie “Groundhog Day,” in which the main character hopes the following day will be different, but  instead it’s a repetition of the previous one. For us, the date of Nick’s final radiation treatment is “tomorrow,” but the following day, we learn that it is not.  As I’ve said, Tuesday July 15 was to be Nick’’s final day of radiation. And then Wednesday July 16 was.   After that, it was to be Friday July 18. My former boss and dear friend, Carole, used to have a quotation  in her office that said, “Lord, give me patience, but I want it right now!” I want radiation to be over right now!

Tuesday, July 15: When Nick was under the radiation machine, it conked out! The repair person was unable to fix the machine in time for Nick to get that day’s treatment. Will that mean radiation  will continue to next Monday?

Wednesday, July 16: Good news! Nick is not on the radiation schedule for next Monday!

Thursday, July 17: At 9 AM Nick had an appointment with Dr. D., the eye specialist who treats  his glaucoma. He was concerned that all the meds he is now taking might be impacting  negatively on his eyes. Very good news: his eye pressure is  good, and in fact, a surgical procedure that he was scheduled to have on one of his eyes has been canceled. Also, he  brushed his teeth without first rinsing his mouth with his “numbing cocktail,” and the toothbrush bristles didn’t feel like they were made of wire. He was disappointed, however, that the toothpaste had no taste. I told him to be happy with small steps to recovery!

Later on Thursday, he had his radiation appointment. The technicians told him that the doctor had changed Monday’s schedule and Nick was now on it.  No, no, no! Nick is handling this better than I am! So Monday July 21 will be his final day of radiation. It had better not be Groundhog Day again with a change in his final radiation date  after that!