An update from his wife...
Every 3 days I change out the transducer array patches on Erik’s Optune device, the fascinating contraption he wears around the clock that I posted more about earlier this week.
Before applying the new patches, Erik has to get the closest possible shave on his scalp. There’s a lot of washing and sanitizing and little steps between shaving and the application of the array patches. We work alongside each other as a team. It’s a two-person job and I constantly think about, and feel deeply for, those without a caregiver.
Start to finish, the first array patch change took us 75 minutes. I cried a lot.
The second change took a little over 40 minutes. No tears this time. Major progress! We don’t rush a single step but knowing that the more he wears the device, the more effective it is at keeping new tumor growth at bay. As you can maybe imagine, I admittedly feel a lot of pressure to get it right, and get it done quickly.
I’m really proud of us. I love how we tackle the project together. I love how we talk to each other through each step. It’s a weird thing to bond over but that’s intimacy for you. Working together in a loving way toward a shared goal, regardless of how uncomfortable it can be.
