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Monday, August 20, 2007

Preparing for radiation, compassion at the DMV

Fri 08/17/07
We had an appointment with Susan's radiation oncologist, Dr Puthawala and his team at LB Memorial. She'll return next week to re-do the CT simulation that is needed for radiation therapy. The simulation is used to plan her treatments with Susan's brain scan, the oncologist's prescription, and the physicist's programming to fine-tune the equipment before radiation begins. Her plans from July need to be redone following her 2nd surgery.
Compassion at the DMV! We decided to get a temporary handicap placard since Susan qualifies due to loss of sight and needs to walk with assistance. At the DMV (you know, staffed by robotic agents weighed down with red tape), I left Susan in the car to enter the labyrinth, and discovered at length that she'd need to cancel her driver's license in order to receive a placard for visual impairment. That makes sense – but also involves a weighty decision. I went out to discuss it with her and allow her to decide for herself. She knows she can't drive right now and can re-apply when her sight returns, so she agreed to cancel it. When I brought her inside to sign forms, a clerk showed true compassion in expressing sorrow for our situation – he apologized repeatedly. Then, as we waited in a long line for Susan's state ID card photo, he left his station (and his customers), and led us to the front of the line. The people we bumped were gracious and understanding also. Thanks to Russell at the Long Beach DMV – a caring human being who softened a bureaucracy.


Sun 08/19/07
Susan has had recurring pain in her scalp as nerve endings re-attach near her incision. Vicodin helps.
We attended some family events involving both sides of our family, a Romberg wedding reception on Saturday and a Joeckel wedding on Sunday. We enjoyed the social atmosphere, love & support.

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