I've said before that I only get Thursdays "off" from babysitting my Granddaughter. Well, for the last week or so I've also gotten a few extra days due to holidays and schedules. Most of these days have been filled with doctor's appointments.
Back on October 22nd - a Thursday - I had blood work scheduled down at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. I always make an 8:00 AM appointment so I can use one of the 2-hour spots in the attached parking facility. I drove down on Route 27 but came back on 514. This would get me to Walmart just after 9:00. I had a prescription to pick up. I then swung by the Dollar Tree store.
I pick up a lot of household products there. That day I bought toothpaste and soap.
October 28th - a Wednesday - I had to go back down to RWJ. I have a Throat Biopsy scheduled and the ENT required a Cardiac Clearance form before he'd do it. I drove down early, along Route 27 again, and passed this guy waiting for a bus.
I'd been feeling anxious about the biopsy and I needed to unwind a bit.
Point, press, Flash.
I got a spot in the parking structure and walked over to the hospital. I had time for breakfast before my appointment. This day marked the 7th Anniversary of the day I was admitted to the hospital and started my wait for the transplant. Interestingly, the doctor that I saw was a recent hire and had been a Resident that I'd seen a lot of while I was waiting.
November 5th - another Thursday - my daughter and son-in-law were both off so he stayed with the baby and she drove me up to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Rahway for the biopsy.
I've been in a couple of different hospitals for a couple of different reasons throughout my life but this experience was - strangely - more personal. It was scheduled as Same-day Surgery and, instead of sitting around in a large room with other waiting people, I was put directly into a semi-private room that had individual, complimentary televisions. Everyone I came into contact with was friendly and helpful. The biopsy went well, recovery was short, and they insisted that I take my pillows with me. They even took me out in a wheelchair.
Saturday - November 7th - I had an appointment with my Primary Physician. She'd been getting updates on my various tests and procedures from my various doctors and she just wanted to check up on me. Her office is on Progress Street just off of Inman Avenue in Edison. The area looks like an Industrial Park but many of the buildings are occupied by medical offices of one kind or another. In fact, the ENT that I was working with is in the same building. I filled her in with what's been going on and was out in less then 1/2 an hour. I had parked in the back lot and, as I was driving out, I saw this guy.
I couldn't resist.
Point, press, Flash.
Yesterday - November 11th - was a Wednesday, and a holiday. I had the follow-up meeting with the ENT scheduled for 2:30. I was up early so I drove over to the Shoprite area and did my wash in the Laundromat. I had breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts. I took the paper with me to the Menlo Park Mall and sat there, reading it.
It had been an overcast day and, as I drove around, it started to drizzle. I was heading down Woodbridge Center Drive towards the Baby's R Us on Route 1 when I saw this guy.
I felt kind of sorry for him, having to walk around out there in that weather. I drove on by.
As we'd arranged, I met up with my Daughter and Granddaughter. We had lunch at Perkin's then we all drove to the ENT's office. Turns out that the growth on my right vocal cord is cancerous and he said he'd contact a Radiation Oncologist that he'd worked with and that I'd get a call from them in a day or two. As we were driving home, the Oncologist's office called and I made an appointment for today at 9:00.
Today is a Thursday. I drove up to the Radiation Oncologist's office - which is right next door to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Rahway.
Again, I was pleasantly surprised at how I was treated by the staff. There was paperwork to fill out, of course, but they had coffee and tea in the waiting area. The nurse that did the preliminary stuff had already scheduled a couple of scans I'd need to have done.
When the doctor came in, he wasn't wearing a tie or a jacket. I liked that.
He did a quick examination and then we discussed what was going to happen. Bottom line, he said we'd caught it early and he was positive that the treatment would cure me.
I'm gonna hold on to that.
I have an appointment next Tuesday for the two scans the doctor wants - a PET and a CAT.
I have an appointment next Thursday for my annual cardiology tests.
I have an appointment on Monday, November 23rd, to get the preliminary set-up work done so that we can proceed with the Radiology.
There will be a trial run for the procedure on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
The radiology will start on Monday, November 30th. It will run 5 days a week for 34 sessions (with exceptions for holidays and previously scheduled appointments). It should only take about 10 minutes, so I should be able to get back in time to babysit.
When I got home, I updated my phone calendar to include these new dates. Out of curiosity, I looked ahead.
So far, I already have appointments scheduled through May of next year.
