Change Of Plan - Thursday, January 28, 2010

This morning I received the phone call I have been waiting for these past six weeks. It was the Supervisor of Radiology, Rodel, calling to say the radiation machine was broken. I tried to hide my glee and sound concerned. He asked if I wanted to cancel for today, but that would postpone my last day of treatment. It was a thought I did not want to entertain. So, we agreed that he would call as soon as the machine was fixed, which turned out to be about eleven o’clock. We rescheduled for 12:15 p.m. However, the strangest thing happened en route. It sounded like a rock hit underneath the car a couple of times. Then the muffler began sounding as if it had become disconnected. I wondered if the car was going to make it to my appointment. Thankfully, it did. Upon my return to work, I dropped the car off at the mechanic’s on the corner. About two hours later, I had a $258 car bill. According to the mechanic, something hit the oxygenator sensor connected to the catalytic converter and knocked it out of position. Because it was dangling from the car and being dragged along the street for five miles, it was completely destroyed and had to be replaced. I guess I won’t be happy if the radiation machine breaks down again as that was the most expensive appointment I have had to date. Twenty-nine treatments down, four to go.