Blog

MGH Beacon House is no Liberty Hotel…but it does get internet service, it has over 100 channels on TV, the air conditioning works, it has a fridge with a freezer in wich I can keep my most needed cold paks (for my post-radiating headaches), the shower head is high and strong, and it has an elevator. It also has twin hospital beds complete with plasticized mattresses and pillows…in case one is to have an ...

Jamie I ended up at the last minute staying at the Liberty Hotel on Monday night (Day 25) and Tuesday night (Day 26). I couldn’t face coming into the apartment and finding out that maybe the smell hadn’t evaporated, and then having it be too late to find another place to stay…so on Monday morning Jon booked a room for us for two nights.

On Tuesday I sent Jamie over to the apartment as a ...

I’ve thought many times during this process about how lucky I am that I’m having radiation in the summer. I don’t have to deal with the inclement weather conditions. Traveling by any form of transportation would be more difficult, if instead I were having treatment during the winter. I can pack fairly lightly. Jamie is home from college to help out. Rachel is in camp until 5P and is able to ...

I left the hotel around 1:30P, got to the apartment around 1:35P. I’m renewed, still tired, but I feel at the lower ebb of horrible. I open up the front door and I’m immediately attacked by that highly potent vanilla candle smell. I hold my reserve and my cookies…and make way up the stairs to the apartment. I open the front door…yuck, old apartment smell…but I’m dealing…and then I climb ...

It was time to check out of the hotel. I went downstairs to the front desk, I was carrying my 30 lb knapsack with all my electronic gear, and a pillowcase stuffed with all my clean laundry for the apartment (sheets, towels, etc), a classy look to be sure. I checked out and grabbed one of the hotel’s delicious free plums for the road…the road up the block to the apartment. It was pouring, ...

I had dinner, well more like a snack with a friend this evening. We’ve known each other thirty years. Our conversation started simply enough, but some how took a familiar turn for me, and it made be think some things. The conversation pinged on my somewhat sensitive patient Achilles heel. I offer up the following thoughts.

Being sick sucks, having a great family and friends, a job you love, a life you ...

Got a call from Proton Center at 9:30A to let me know that the Proton machine is down, could I get to Photon at 10A? I was actually sleeping when they called (that’s what I am supposed to be doing according to my doctor…resting), and no way was I going to be able to make it over there in a half hour. Second choice please? They tell me that they have an ...

The locksmith called at 10:45…”could I meet him at the apartment building in a half an hour?” That seemed like a no-brainer. ”No problem” I said, “and while you’re changing the locks, I’ll wait at the Starbucks”. I packed my laptop and about 15 minutes later we (me and my laptop), are off to the apartment. It’s a quick jaunt or so I thought. This short six block walk with my laptop ...

This is the best ceiling ever. Over the last 18 years since I had my first surgery in 1990, I have stared at many ceilings. Some ceilings cracked, some not, different colors, acoustic tile, fans, beams, moldings, air-conditioner vents, recessed lighting, all different types of lighting fixtures. I’ve thought about taking pictures of all the ceilings that I ‘ve had to stare at over the years…thought it would make a funny ...

The ahness of home. I think about going to the hotel on Monday and it makes me giddy.