The Home Stretch

Orion and I were back in Boston yesterday. He was there for the removal of his port, that little bit of technology wedded to his arteries by his heart that allowed for the rapid removal of blood for testing and the rapid input of those terrible chemotherapy drugs that the MGH pediatric oncology poured into his body all spring.

First we wanted to have a final appointment with Dr. Shannon Macdonald to discuss our next steps. Orion had already had a lengthy phone conversation with Dr. David Ebb about Orion's final MRI. Both doctors told Orion that they were very pleased with the images of his brain and spine and that there was still no evidence of cancer left in his body- no visible masses and no chemical markers of AFP or HcG. Hence the port removal- no more cancer treatments necessary.

Next week Orion heads off to Ann Arbor to start his PhD program in theoretical physics. We asked what we should do if Orion had any problems or concerns, go to the UMichigan hospital? NO. Call MGH anytime 24/7, each doctor giving Orion their personal cell number. They want another MRI in three months along with blood work. Repeat that every three months for the first year, then every six months for the next year and once a year for the rest of his life.

Then came a treat. They gave Orion one of the many brass apertures that had been machined to shape the proton beam as it crashed into the tumor. Also with it a beautiful Lexan mask that shapes the beam for the three dimensional shape of the tumor bed. On them you can see Orion's name and the date of treatment, Day 28 on July 18th. These two pieces of personalized radiotherapy have been sitting out losing their small radioactivity until this week.

 The piece of brass weighs 3883 grams or about eight pounds and fits in the palm of one's hand. A paperweight memento of an extraordinary eight months.