Page 86 - The Freckled Eye - Book

Sacramento, for a different type of radiation. I had heard about that place, and the
other type of radiation from that gal Terri, at the beginning of my journey. Terri shared
her experience with me about that place and I didn’t like what she said. So of course, I
didn’t want to do that treatment.

Dr. Phan also mentioned that we could try a different of eye plaque
manufacturer. Apparently, Dr. Phan had looked in to another manufacturer’s
and really liked what she'd read. The new manufacturer (Eye Physic)
seemed to be high tech, and would require a CT scan on ever patient wanting
one of their plaques. Eye Physic would then make a personalized 3D image
of the eye using those images to more accurately match the plaque to each
patient’s eye dimensions. She said they had been in business for something
like 40 years and that she was going to have Kaiser move forward with them
on all their plaques. Mom and I quickly looked at each other and then Jay
nodded in agreement. We all thought this was the best option for me. Dr.
Phan agreed and that was settled.

Unfortunately, I’d have to wait, again. I’d need a CT scan and then Eye

Physics would need to make me a radiation plaque. Another reason I’d have to
wait is because these eye procedures are only done once a month at Kaiser Santa
Clara. Because this type of eye cancer is rare, there are usually only about 4 Kaiser
patience a month, in all Northern CA that have this done. Therefore, the procedure
wouldn’t take place until December.

I couldn’t believe it. I couldn't believe I'd have to wait again. Exhausted,
deflated, depressed, I don’t know what word best describes what I felt or what
we all felt, but I was at the bottom of the barrel. I’d been doing everything I
could to keep a positive attitude through all this, up until that point, but this
was to much. I was running out of reasons to be positive.

As we were walking out, there was David sitting in a chair in the post op
room. I looked at him and was confused why he was still there. His wife Ruth
should have been done hours ago. Getting closer to him, I reached out for
David’s hand and then sat down to see how he was doing. Our chairs were
opposite an older woman in one of the hospital beds. David looked up at her
and pointed. He said that was “his” Ruth. That was the Ruth that had made
David’s shirt that caught Jays attention the first time we met him. I quickly glanced
over. I felt like I knew her, though this was the first time I’d ever seen her.

She was the patient that Dr. Phan had attempted to place the first eye plaque
on last week. She was the one who had gone through the whole eye
procedure last time, only to have to have the faulty plaque removed because it