Picture: Stained glass in the entry to the chapel at Providence Hospital–Gratitude to this greatest of Masters.
We went in for my four month CT/PET scan. When I told Carla I appreciated her coming (as she has been to every appointment and stayed in the room after each operation), she said, “Where else would I be!”
I am now familiar with the procedure for the PET/CT scan, a restrictive diet the day before, nothing to eat six hours before, all to make the body hungry for sugar. A concoction of a radium marker (which they assure me is mostly gone in a few hours) and sugar is injected and lights up areas of the body that absorb the sugar; and tumors love sugar, so if they are present they light up during the scan.
The tech took three different pokes to get access to the blood system, I am told I am most difficult (having wiggly veins). He always talks for a good twenty minutes about his life (including pictures from his phone, as he is a special Ram edition!) before he gives me the radium, but eventually we get there. For about an hour I rest (not even reading) as the marker circulates through my system; wonderful meditation time.
Then a short walk into a room with a large machine in it. I lie down on a narrow platform, strapped in and asked not to move, and then conveyored into a four foot deep tunnel with a few inches above me. Fortunately, I do not mind caves and enclosed spaces, in fact I rather like them. Asked beforehand if I want music played, I decline, again, an excellent time to meditate, besides, my mind can reproduce any music I know with stunning quality. The machine whirs as I am shuffled forward and back, slowly scanning up and down this body. After about an hour I am taken out and then I reverse my direction on the platform and once again I am enter the tube and more sound from the multimillion dollar PET/CT machine, as it does what it does. Twenty minutes or so later apparently I am fully baked and am given a hand up as I emerge from the procedure.
Meanwhile Carla went to the beautiful little chapel that is provided by the Providence Hospital; a hospital founded years before by nuns, it continues to sport religious icons and prayers on walls throughout their buildings. Carla felt a wonderful support and presence of Mother and the Masters while meditating there. She then had the inspiration to call the doctor’s office; I was not able to get an appointment until the end of December, a long time to wait for results of the scans; as they tend not to give you the results until they see you in person. The weather out has been turning cold and apparently some cautious souls decided not to keep their appointments out of concern it might snow—we could see the doctor later that afternoon! Carla said to me that this was only the outward reason given for their cancellations, she knew it was God who made all the arrangements.
Normally it takes 24 hours to have a specialist read the results of the scan, but the nurse put in a call and we met with the doctor that very afternoon, he had the results in hand. After waiting for the doctor, he usually runs generously behind schedule, he came in to say that the scan was clear, no evidence of tumors; a very happy outcome (the second scan now that has come back clean). One reason he is so far behind scheduled time is that once he is with us, it seems he has no other place to be and we met with him for nearly an hour.
We reviewed the scans, looking at the body as if from above the head, and with a movement of a mouse we view the spine and internal organs up and down at various layers, as well seeing the whole body from the front, and many other different windows to the internal workings of the body. The brain, kidneys, colon and liver all light up, as they readily absorb sugar. We could see the staples left by a previous surgery, a fascinating view of the internal body. My original surgeon, who seems to have taken over my case, is a saint–he has a positive, healing presence and brims with intelligence as well as perpetual curiosity. I think it unusual that a surgeon would continue as a primary doctor with me now, but Carla has the thought it is because he finds something in us he likes (presumably more than my small intestines, liver and gallbladder resections and removals!).
Afterwards we visit the chapel to give thanks and to be absorbed in His Presence. I tell God that I hope it is not due to attachment to the body that I feel this great joy, but He is bubbling up with blissfulness as we sit before His altar. I also thank so many of you who have sent prayers and notes of support and love. Science may have difficulty in quantifying the effects of prayer, but I have no doubt whatsoever that you have been essential in this time of physical challenges and that my smooth recoveries from major surgeries and multiple procedures have been made possible by your loving support—Thank You. And, for the grace and love I feel from God and the Masters, there is no end to my gratitude. Surely, and not just for this, my life has been blessed and my soul melts in gratitude.
The only difficulty in what turned out to be a long day at the hospital is that the hours wore away and it became clear I would not be back in time for our Skype Service with the Ashland Group; I only hope they will forgive me for missing our time together, for what, I think, is for a good reason and a most excellent result.