Nicki,

I am so sorry you had to see Tom in the mask. I didn't think much about it but I did not want my wife to see me that way. I saw a photograph and it made me look much more helpless than I really was (at that point at least laugh ). My only fear was when I was feeling queasy and worrying about about puking in the mask or choking on this horrible thick brown goo that develops in the throat towards the end of radiation. I never did and all that worrying was for nothing. I made the techs promise they would listen extra carefully for any gagging and rush in to help me. They were just great about it.

By the time you read this...33 left! I am on the finish line, cheering you both on.

Ed

SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023