Busy day. Got up at 2 am and on the road by 2:30 am. I road my bike with my friend Bob to the hospital. It was about 42 miles. The ride was very wet and dark but it didn't matter. The bad weather helped toughen me up for the tough treatments ahead. I got to the hospital at about 6 am.At 7 am I had my first radiation treatment. The radiation room is kind of intimidating. They have a large, thick door leading into the room and the radiating equipment looks like a giant x ray machine. I am getting Total Body Radiation so they stand me up, place plexiglass in front of me and shoot radiation at me for about 15 minutes front side and 15 minutes back side. It's just like getting
an x ray. They let you listen to music in there. The only CD they had I liked was Tom Petty's greatest hits. I'll bring my own next time. The music helps me relax a lot. I will be experiencing the side effects of the radiation in a few days, but for now it is pretty easy. I have another radiation treatment at 5 pm. In between time I just kind of hang out. Michelle(my wife), her dad, and I went to this nice Italian restaurant for breakfast after radiation. It's nice to be able to leave the hospital these first few days. I'll enjoy it while I can. I may not feel like eating much next week. Imagine that! After returning to the hospital we finished moving all my things into my room. Once we were decorated they had us change rooms so we got to decorate twice! Fun. I am putting up some of my cycling posters, cards, family pictures, posters my students made, and other stuff to try and make the room feel more like me. The stark white walls just don't cut it. I've had a blood test and been examined by a couple doctors just to see how I am doing and to let me know they will be checking in on me often to be sure everything is going well. As I left my home this morning it was difficult to see my three young boys asleep and know I wouldn't play with them much for a while. I am going to miss them a lot. They are coming up
tonight so I they can see where dad is and see me before I get too sick. I look forward to seeing them. I had a nice thought on my way up here this morning. It will be the last bike ride I take as a person with cancer.
After I complete this transplant I will be cancer free...Yeah!!