TOUR AMERICA, 2021: ELVIRA’S ROOST, MT OLIVE SHORES, POLK CITY, FLORIDA

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Heavy Rain, Temperature 82 Degrees

The Prep Work Has Been Completed

I finally have my computer back. The last three days we’ve been in Jacksonville and I neglected to take it with me.

This time we decided it made more sense to stay at a hotel rather than take Elvira up. This was the little rock garden out in front of the Comfort Suite we stayed at.

Now, why were we in Jacksonville? I had two days of pretreatment before beginning my actual radiation therapy.

Yesterday, I had a procedure wherein three tiny gold markers were placed within my prostrate. This allows accurate aiming of the proton beam. It was probably the most uncomfortable part of this whole process. I said to Ms. Barbara that when I pass away she should have me melted down to recover the gold! There was one other procedure I had to endure but I won’t go into the details of that one. Suffice to say, it was also very uncomfortable. Thankfully, it is all behind me now,

Today, early morning, I was fitted for my very own personalized proton body pod. To gain maximum benefit from proton therapy a patient must be completely immobilized to ensure accurate and maximum dose delivery. The way this is done is by creating a whole body pod. They lay you down in what for lack of a better description is a mold made of a flexible material that is filled with air. They then push the mold against and around your legs and thighs and then when it is fairly tight they suck all the air out of it which results in it completely conforming to your lower body. It is now set so that whenever you lay down in it you end up lying in the exact same position every time. This allows the proton beam to hit the tumor every time.

That, though, is not the end of it. Once the mold is made you next go for an MRI. Using the MRI to locate the tumor they literally mark your body in certain spots with a magic marker which helps also to aim the proton beam during treatment. Those marks need to remain on you until the end of treatment,

So, I’m ready to begin. My first treatment is scheduled for July 21st. I have no idea, yet, how long treatment will be. I’ll meet with the doctor on that day at which time he will let me know. It usually varies between six to ten weeks.

With all my tests done it was time to decide whether we should head for home or ride Elsa out in Jacksonville. The decision was really an easy one, we wanted to be home. So off we went. Once again God smiled upon us. We had lots of rain, but little wind and we never encountered one road that was flooded. In addition, there was little if any traffic. It turned out to be a rather tedious but easy trip overall.

Arriving home we found everything in order. There was some standing water alongside the house but nothing that would cause a problem. I’m so glad I had the gutters cleaned and extra downspouts added on Monday before we left. As for Elvira, I could almost see her smiling since she was under cover and well protected.

That is where we are at on The Road of Retirement. Life is good. Tomorrow we’ll clean Elvira from one end to the other and get her ready to get back on the road. We’ll be moving to Jacksonville on July 15th. We’re both looking forward to living in her again. One again the last few days prove that we are two of the most blessed and fortune people in the world,

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Remember, take time to stop and smell the roses and live each day that God gives you to the fullest.

Though we’re stationary for the moment, it will not be for long.  Our continuing mission remains: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!