Last Treatment - February 3, 2010

This is the last day of radiation. Hallelujah!!! On the way to the hospital I kept thinking that this would be the last time I had to drive to this appointment and how I would not miss it. Amazingly enough, today the technicians were on time. Usually on Wednesdays, I have had to wait while they tended to other patients. But today, the appointment went very quickly. When anyone finishes a round of radiation, he or she is invited to ring a bell attached to a wall in the radiation area signaling completion of the protocol. So, when I was finished, the technicians invited me to do so as they gathered around. I reached for the rope and instinctively lifted it upward in order to ring it. (At least, that is the way the bell worked that my mom used to call us to dinner with when we were children.) However, in this case, the rope fell off in my hands. The Supervisor of Radiation then politely informed me that the bell should be rung from side to side instead of up and down. Figures.....Well, I rang it ceremoniously while they applauded. Then I received a Certificate of Merit for completing the program.


As I left the building, I called my sister, who happened to be away from her desk, and yelled, "I’m done! I’m done! I’m done!" into the phone. Then I called one of my best friends and did the same thing, this time with tears of relief. Upon entering work, someone asked me how I felt. I could only respond by saying that I had a myriad of emotions. Actually, I think that is an understatement. I felt joy, relief, weariness, and confusion among other things. A few minutes later, I discovered a card had been left on my desk by Marilyn. Inside she had glued a picture of the three men in the burning fiery furnace with the Lord (from the book of Daniel) along with the words from Daniel 3:27. (See July 10, 2009 Blog) That is the scripture I have been reading every day for months, because it states that the three men came out of the fire without their hair singed, their garments burned or even smelling like smoke. She then wrote, "Your faith has set you free!" That card so touched me, that again, I started sobbing. It was such a true statement. Being on the other end of this trial, I can now truly say that God has been faithful. After work, my sister and I went out to dinner and, during the meal, toasted my health with glasses of iced tea, of course.