One of the first messages I received from the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute included the names of the individuals that were going to be on “Your Dream Team”. This included the Radiation Oncologist doctor that was going to oversee my care and my Nurse Case Managers. Well, I’m adding some additional names to my […]
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Well, maybe not everybody but at least one waitress does. I’ve mentioned in previous posts that there is a restaurant/bar within the Third & Main complex. I have had breakfast there on three different occasions and have gotten to know Alanna who is a waitress there. This morning after my treatment I went there for […]
Part Two
Then I met my oncologist team for the first time. By the way, I failed to mention before that everything is color-coded at the Proton Institute. The doctors wear white, the nurses wear blue, and the oncologist team wear black. Breanna is the radiation technologist that met me. She told me that they want me […]
Day One at the Institute (pt 1)
When I got up this morning it was raining, and my appointment was at 12:30. Before I left for my appointment, I had a message from the Third & Main office that the credit card that I used to pay my rent had been refused. The institute has a gated parking lot right in front […]
Preparing to Get Underway
Today I heard from Caroline, my care nurse, and she told me that I will receive my treatment appointment times on Friday. My treatments start on Monday, but I don’t know what time. I also heard from Melissa at Third & Main, and my apartment is ready for me. I plan to leave Vero sometime […]
Water
To prepare for today’s procedure I had to take two extra strength Tylenol before the procedure, nitrous oxide during the procedure and two extra strength Tylenol after the procedure. I am very appreciative of the nurse whose primary function during the procedure was to keep me distracted. I learned that she has twin daughters and a […]
Patient’s Portal
Today I was reminded to sign into my patient’s portal in preparation for an upcoming medical appointment. During this recent medical journey, I’ve had to set up a few Patient Portals. Of course, they’re all standardized, easy to use, and very accurate, and everyone uses them. (Is there an emoji for sarcasm?) I have learned […]
The Ambassador
In a previous post, I mentioned the Proton Ambassadors list. There was one person on the list of 300 from Vero Beach and I sent him an e-mail, but I never heard back. I wanted to talk with someone in Vero Beach because I had some questions related specifically to Vero. Fortunately, the list also […]
Proton Ambassadors
My dream team has provided me with a list of over 300 men who have agreed to be Proton Ambassadors. This list contains phone numbers and e-mail addresses. We are encouraged to contact them because they have offered to share their experience regarding proton therapy at UFHealth Proton Therapy Institute from their point of view. […]
A Delay Averted
Each time a scan has been ordered as part of my treatment there has been a major delay because of scheduling issues. After my emergency room visit, as I described in a previous post, one doctor ordered a CT Urogram scan. This could have delayed my proton therapy treatments another three to four weeks. After […]
What Now?
I need to stop and think. Where am I in this process? What Is next? It gets very confusing. Here is what I know for sure. The intake process for the proton therapy treatment requires that I have an MRI. This is important because they use MRI imaging to help guide the proton beams during […]
Those Were the Days
Emergency Room Visit
Thursday, February 2, 2023 – 0430 Our cat, Roger, usually wakes me up early in the morning for feeding. He jumps up on the bed, gets in my face, and lightly taps me on the nose until I get up to feed him. So, I’m used to getting up early and then going back to […]