Prince George Serial Killer Continued

Alrighty, I promised to continue this, and so I will. However, I need to begin with a few words on the fall out that occured as a result of my first blog in this "series". We knew putting things out there was a huge step, and likely would take away something very personal, as I said, we decided the price was necessary to allow others to see how the system was killing people, I just want to stress how very uncomfortable this has made my family, and I totally understand why I have not seen anyone else open the doors to such a trauma that comes with the dreaded diagnosis of Stage 4 Cancer. We just wanted to come together in our tiny bubble, build each other up, and start our fight to win. You need to know those in your corner are there, you need to have love and trust, and you need to understand each of us in this bubble are focused on the same thing. We are going through a process we have been through before, and we have set our sights on the light at the end of the tunnel that may have been flickering a bit these last weeks, and we may have wavered a little, however, we begin each and every day, with the determination this is short term, so, it is extremely difficult to suddenly have to hear the "sorrys" and hear the fear from folks who we know mean well, It is wonderful to hear from those who offer their strength through their prayers, and trust me, we do appreciate those words. What I am trying to say is, basically, I am sorry this news comes as a shock , but we have been adjusting, and coming to terms, and getting ourselves geared up for the new road in front of us, for weeks. We are done with the shock, and perhaps we may be a bit nervous, but this is what we have been handed, and we are positive once we begin, we will work our way back to normal, well as normal as our lives have been. Again, it has been uplifting to know we have so many that care, and it is nice to hear stories of others who have been where we are, and found their way out, I am not trying to be rude, I know I put this out there, but I am hoping by putting down our story through this, we can still keep our lovely little bubble apart from the rest of the world.

  Something changed this last trip to the Prince George Cancer Center. Now, since you know Chuck, you also know he is First Nations. I almost feel guilty telling this part of things,because I also know what happened to him, does not happen to everyone, and it should!! Before our appointment with Radiology, he recieved a phone call from the Aboriginal Liason person. She asked him how things were going to this point, and he explained our experience much the same as I wrote in the first part of things. He explained the weeks upon weeks without any communication, he explained how his surgeon had done all that he could to ensure speedy treatment with a file marked URGENT. He explained the horrible experience during the so called "Consultation" , and having to call time and again while the file sat untouched. She listened to it all, and surprise , she agreed it appeared they had dropped the ball. She promised to be there for us, and while we waited in the lobby she came and sat with us. When he was called into Radiology, I asked if I could go along, absolutely, no problem ...she came with us. What was to happen during the appointment was explained and after each explaination the technician stopped and asked if we had any questions. It was wonderful! We did not feel anything we asked was stupid, and he answered everything clearly. There was one question we did ask, and he was not sure and offered to call the Dr. we both answered immediately, "NO!" Then we were told they had his appointment card and brought it to us. He was scheduled to begin radiation treatment on Thursday. Now that was a shock, as we told the technician the Dr. had explained to us it would be a week to 10 days, because they had to build a mold. We had no idea treatment was to begin in 2 days, no time to go home, certainly not ready for 10 days of treatment. However, although we were not ready, we explained we were more than willing to begin immediately. Ahhh he had no idea about a mold, there is no mold for his treatment. So off we go into the room. During this appointment, he was placed in the CATscan machine. They used laser beams to map out the area the radiation would be directed to, placing stickers in a triangle, from where the tumour is in his esophogus and on either side where the affected nodes are. then I , along with the technicians left the room and he was given a scan, which they saw on the monitor in their room. After the scan , the technician came and asked me for the appointment card back, and then went and tattooed 3 tiny blue dots where the radiation will be directed on all his treatments. Chuck was done for the day. We were given the card back, no appointment on the Thursday, the Dr. had called and said she needed more time for her mapping, and suddenly the treatment will not start until next Tuesday after the long weekend . We were also informed that this onocologist would be leaving the center the end of the week he starts treatment. Clearly not someone who gives a rat's ass about this patient. In truth , that is possibly the best news we have gotten yet. I don't think we could have dealt with that woman again! She likely has some packing to do on Thursday and Friday.

  So we are on the road to the light, This will likely be a bit bumpy, and on top of everything else, it is a shit time to be starting as we will likely be dealing with all the Christmas and New Years holidays when we begin the next stage, since this is over on November 27th, then he will have to take time for the inflammation to settle before we actually get to see a medical team and the onocologist who will decide when and what comes next. We have been warned this will cause nausea because it is centered near the stomach, and a lot of fatique, as well as loss of appetite, so we will play it by ear. 

To be continued......