getting settled

Just wondering if this craziness will ever settle down, or if this is our new life as we now know it.  We made it down to Jacksonville in one piece.  I guess we will have a little less than 2 months to get over the drive and get ready to do it again!  We found housing.  It is about halfway between the beaches and the hospital.  It is a nice area.  A huge shopping complex, somewhat like Maple Grove, not too far away.  We also have a nice pool in the complex, a great bonus for Aly.   

We stayed in a hotel on Thursday and Friday night and moved into our new temporary home this morning.  For those of you on Facebook, the picture I posted of the cool bridge and buildings was our view out of the hotel room.  That was downtown Jacksonville on the St. John's River. 

We had initial appointments with the Proton Therapy Center on Thursday and Friday.  On Thursday, we met Dr. Indelicato.  He was a very nice and young looking man.  Kevin teased him that he must get many comments about Doogie Howser, MD.  He discussed with us all the pros and cons of radiation treatment and of course, as usual we had to hear all the things that "could" happen.  The standard of treatment for Aly's type of brain tumor is to radiate the whole brain and spine as well as giving a "boost" to the original tumor sight.  We've heard good stories and bad stories in regards to radiation.  We can only hope for the best and pray that the side effects of the treatment are minimal.  It is difficult that this is yet another battle for Aly to go through.  She was finally getting her energy back and feeling more like herself only to start down another unknown road. 

I will have to take a picture of the proton center.  It looks a lot like a movie or tv set to me.  Inside it seems like some sci-fi experiment.  Thursday included discussions with the Dr. and consent for treatment.  I must say again, thank God for health insurance!  Anyways, on Friday they did several things to get Aly ready for treatment.  I will have to post a picture I took of a mask/mold they were making of Aly's face.  They make mesh like molds of the front and back of Aly's head so that she will be unable to move during the radiation treatment.  She said it felt like they placed a warm wet rag on her face.  It was some type of mesh material that hardened as it cooled.  They also had to give Aly permanent tatoos on her back.  They are tiny and look like freckles but there are 8 or 9 of them.  All to help guide the beams where they need to go.  She said it didn't hurt at all.  It was that choice or having to walk around with big black Sharpie X marks on her back with plastic bandages that we'd have to replace everytime they got wet.  We didn't want to interfere with any swimming she wanted to do, so with Aly's permission we chose the tatoo route.  She is such a brave soul.  It is hard to have to watch her go through all these things.  She also had to sit through a CT scan, again!  The people helping her out told us she was the model patient.  They couldn't believe how she laid so still and took everything in stride.  The actual treatments will start on September 14th.  They will be doing 30 treatments so I am figuring she will be done on October 26th.  Her goal is to be home in time for Halloween.  We already are working on her costume.  I hope she is feeling good enough to enjoy it.