Proton Beam Radiation

When we arrive at the Proton Therapy Center each morning, we check in at the front desk before heading downstairs to do vital signs. His cute nurse, Matricia, has nicknamed him Benji. He has become so comfortable with her that lately he just walks in, sits on the chair, and lets her take his vital signs. (When we first got here we had to hold him down and try to distract him in order to get vitals done.) After his vital signs we go sit in the waiting room until the radiation team is ready for him. Sometimes it is over an hour but usually its more like half an hour. When the radiation team comes to get him, he runs smiling to them. Maybe he thinks its fun???? Or maybe he's just smart enough to know that when it's done he get to eat????

The first thing he does in the room is pick a monkey hangin from the machine. He likes the black one the best.

Then he sits down, notice he's not on my lap anymore, to get his anesthesia. Lately they have been letting him push the buttons on the machine that pushes his medicine in. Most of the time he just lets out a big sigh as the medicine takes affect. Then they lay him down on the table.

It's hard to see because this picture is so small but he is totally out of it. They are positioning him. He has to be in the exact same position every day so they do an xray each morning to make sure he is positioned correctly.

This is my favorite shot. They put this woven plastic mold on his face, again trying to hold him in the right position. They they tape an oxygen tube across the nose opening. We get to keep the mask when we are done....lucky...

Then Mommy leaves....and they do what they do to her sweet baby Ben. What a crazy life!