Radioactive Dates

Enrique's radiation therapy went well, much better than last year.

He asked for anti-nausea medication and it worked well. During his week alone, the worst he suffered through was extreme fatigue and loss of appetite. Neither are fun, but they don't compare at all to nausea. (It makes you wonder why the doctors never offered the anti-nausea medication - but at least we learned to ask.)

The first few times I came to visit we had to be on opposite sides of the room. In the early days, so long as we were at least three feet apart, for no more than a few minutes, I was safe.

One time a friend came with me and I found myself saying, "He's safe, so long as you don't get too close."

After a couple of days, his level of radiation was low enough to allow me to visit for up to an hour. So we had a series of radioactive dates.

For us this was new. We never really dated. Enrique moved in, de facto, within a day or two after we met.

The "dates" -- mostly in our living room -- consisted of watching a little TV or going for a ten minute walk if he was feeling well enough.

Five days into his treatment it was safe enough to enjoy a quick hug.