When you walk in, Paul is usually at the front desk. He DOES NOT sit down. Ever. His computer is set up so he can type while standing. I don't think it's a physical condition or anything. He is just one of those nervous energy kind of guys who probably had a lot of trouble focusing in English class. D thinks his job is mainly to keep people happy, but I think there's probably a bit more to it than that.
The families with young kids usually stay on the right side of the room. This makes sense because it's nearer to the kids' treatment area, so the parents can jump up and go back when the kids wake up from anesthesia. It's also nearer to the toy area. The pediatric nurse seems really nice. She has a lot of flair on her jacket and wears scrubs that have Winnie the Pooh on them, and things like that. I usually don't really approve when adults wear Disney or other character-themed clothing, but I've decided that, in her case, it is more than acceptable. She is clearly doing it to lift the spirits of the kids, whereas some adults genuinely think they look fierce in a Tigger sweatshirt.
The older folks sit on the right side of the room, near the changing rooms and adult treatment area. Maybe they don't want to have to walk very far when they're called to treatment. Is that a horrible thing to say or what? It's tough seeing the kids, but I also have a hard time seeing the people in their 60s or 70s who are really struggling. At least the kids have youth on their side.
I usually sit in the middle, which is where I belong both literally and figuratively. There are really not many other of us 30-something types there. I wonder if this is true of cancer demographics in general. I think that's a great thing about the Livestrong foundation, it's really focused on young adults with cancer, which was probably a somewhat overlooked demographic before. I don't really know, but I'm just guessing.
I usually go to change and go straight back to treatment, but there is a whole other world back there behind the waiting room. There are tons of exam rooms and offices and the other day I passed a room that was filled with toys exclusively for the siblings of the kids there for treatment. They have truly thought of everything.
Thursday I am switching things up and going to conventional radiation. I'll be doing that about once a week, in the middle of my proton treatments. I guess the idea is to minimize the skin damage of the proton treatment in order to promote better healing after surgery.
Don't know if there will be any side effects with that. I'll report back with anything interesting.
I used to go to MGH when I was a kid about 5 years old when my mother had cancer treatment there. There was nothing in the way of a play area. I learned how to walk around the entire building with my father and where the interesting lobby displays and a miniature version of the hospital or city or something was. Other than that, it was just vomit stained carpet flooring in a hallway.
ReplyDeleteI guess I am saying that I'm glad that it is not the same place it was and that it sounds like they have made strides in constructing an accomodating area for the families of those being treated. It probably goes a long way in the recovery of the patient to have the waiting family more positive and less depressed when the patient is ready to exit the facility.
Outside of the hospital though, no one should where Disney apparel. I hate people who wear Marvin the Martian crap. Like they are the only ones who remember Marvin and they are part of an exclusive club.