Yes, I'm sure you have heard enough of my constant babble of Breast Cancer and Radiation Therapy, I know I have! The day has finally arrived where I would be taking the last of my 30 treatments, ring the bell and carry on with my life. The majority of my visits were alone which was my choice.
As I mentioned before, an awesome local band named Goldwing made a sweet video for me ... Just to make me smile on those days I didn't feel like smiling. Well it worked, I watched that video before I drove into town for my "zapping" and that song replayed in my head everyday on that radiation bed. Music is a life line for me ... It makes everything good when life can be so cruel. Thank you Ryan, Matt, Nick and crew for that special gift! I will never forget it!
My day started by picking up my co-pilot Colleen, who was kind enough to assist me in finishing off my pack of Popeye cigarettes. We chatted like school girls as I successfully maneuvered Malibu Molly through the crazy Christmas-shopping-traffic and found a parking spot beside the cancer centre. How nice that we didn't have to walk half a mile in the rain to my parking spot on Bagot street. We were only there a few minutes and my friend Shayne appeared. Then they called me in for my last treatment. Once I was done, we set it up to take video and pictures of me ringing the bell. I walked out of the radiation room and standing by the bell is a lovely young lady named Ali, who I befriended in the waiting room a few weeks ago. I was so shocked to see her there, I started to cry...which I never factored into the equation. We hugged and cried and hugged and cried and then the pictures started. Well, maybe they started before that, I wasn't paying attention.
I had previously asked my radiologist's to take a picture with me after ringing that bell and they all agreed. There was one girl named Yvonne who was off today but said she would be there. After rounding up everyone, Yvonne appeared with a beautiful long fairy gown on with diamond earrings, necklace and a tiara on! We all had a great laugh as she explained that she was late as she had to find the perfect dress for the occasion! So I rang the bell, we took pictures and video as we totally disrupted the calm that once was the radiation therapy waiting room! I spent a lot of time with these fine people, and although I will miss them, I really do not wish to see them again. (Although I will be returning tomorrow morning at 8:30 to see Ali take her turn ringing the bell)
Due to the importance of the event, we decided to travel over to the Toucan for a celebratory beer. Shayne had to pick up his lovely bride, so Col and I headed over to my parking spot on Bagot street. What a treat to run into my cousins wife Melissa and their wee babe Paxton. The babe had the biggest smile on his face which brightened my day even more! Thanks Pax and Melissa;) As we travelled down the street, we ran into an old friend named Claire. She knew what day it was for me and gave me a big hug, which I believe Col managed to capture. Even though it was raining, this certainly was turning out to be a perfect day.
We hit princess street and started travelling the wrong way, Col was bright enough to inform me that we need to travel down princess and not up;) It was at that point where I ran smack dab into a young man who I have had the pleasure of working with not once but twice. His name is Colby and he was just visiting from Alberta for the holidays with his sweet girlfriend Amber. We told them where we were heading and they followed us shortly thereafter. It seemed very strange to be in the Toucan in the middle of the afternoon; I almost felt like I was doing something wrong.
So the day went very well. Unfortunately the side effects of the treatments are just now starting to appear. With time they will vanish I am sure, but I think it's time for this cat to hit the hay.
Have a safe and glorious holiday everyone.
I love you all;)
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