February 2nd Gammar Knife (Paul)

February 2nd 2009

Today was Gamma Knife Radiation.

We made the trip to LA Late Sunday night and stayed with CC and Brett. Marni was excited to be back into the city and in the midst of the helicopter/ hum of the city mix. It was cute. The following day she was having intense radiation. Gamma Knife radiation. http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/10825.html.. Check it out...

After a night of cards with Caroline, Brett and Marc. We headed for the Gamma knife. Marni was already pissed because she couldn't eat. The steroids kicked in and made her hungrier than a rat searching for a piece of cheese. By the way it was only 6:30 AM.

We entered the building at 7am...and started the process. Dr. Yu and Dr. Murhaid walked into the room around 9am. Marni was anxious, as was I, to start the process. Dr. Yu did his normal, "How you doing Marni?" and she played her normal mechanical greeting, "Great just trying to stay positive!"

I knew better. We have some tough conversations since we found out that the tumor grew and became stage 3-4.

After Dr. Yu walked out of the room, I ran after him almost tackling him, I need him to know that Marni was struggling, that she was hurting, that she's my wife and I need him to do what ever it takes to make her better.

He was sympathetic and after a few minutes of me chewing his ear off. He simply asked, "Have either one of you seen a therapist?" Unfortunately, we had not.
After he calmed me down, he explained that what we were both feeling was normal and that we should really speak to someone. Good advice.

After I was able to calm down and refocus. I asked about the specifics of the Gamma Knife procedure.

We walked back into the examining room and Dr. Yu explained that he would have to put a frame on Marni's head and that she would be positioned into the Gamma machine, by the use of this head attached frame.

We cried a little again...but she was brave....she even let me take this picutre.

The whole procedure took about 1hr and half.

As I waited- I watched Mexican soccer. No clue what they were saying or who won.

We went home around 2pm. She slept the rest of the day and into the next day.