Preparing for Radiation: Designing the Lounge

 Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing regular posts about how I'm preparing for radiation. I'm hoping these can help someone else, as I struggled to find a conversational source like this that dealt with the subject. For more information on my brain tumor, check out these posts. 

 When we found out that I was going to have to do radiation therapy, my husband started dreaming of a lounge. Initially it was called the "Rest Room", but when we talked about it, it sounded a lot like restroom, and that's just a strange place to hang out with people 😂, so my kids renamed it the "Lounge." Always with taking care of me front-of-mind, he wanted to make sure he'd be able to keep an eye on me and be available if I needed him while I recuperated from radiation. In February, my son moved into his own home and vacated the room across the hall from my husband's office, creating the perfect space. That way, my husband could work and still feel like he was present and able to be with me.

 Starting with the larger pieces of furniture, my husband had a great find at our local Habitat for Humanity thrift store when he found a $2,000 Crate and Barrel couch for only $130 (plus a $10 food donation).

 He and my son tried valiantly to get it through the front door, down the hall, and into the Lounge, but no matter how many times they "ooched" and pivoted, it just wasn't going to happen. I think they spent two hours and lots of blood, sweat and tears before they gave up, and now it has a new home in my son's house. With the new challenge of finding a way to get a large couch into the room, my middle son suggested that we consider a "boneless" couch and I set about doing my internet research, landing on this beauty. It came in a nice, compact box that I was able to move into the room by myself and then open and allow the pieces to "inflate" to their full size before assembling.

It's even big enough to hold all four of my kids!

 And cozy enough for my husband to nap alongside me!

 I told the story of my special chair in a previous post, and I'm happy to report that it arrived on my third day of treatment, June 24th, just in time! I've been happily enjoying it ever since!

 Our heart was to create a peaceful space where I could rest as well as a welcoming place to entertain visitors, something critical to a healthy recovery. Those that have visited, including my precious doggies, have testified that this room has a special Spirit in it (IYKYK). In our planning, we included a hospitality station complete with a Keurig and mini-fridge, filled to the brim with k-cups, teas, waters, and spindrift, and don't worry, we remembered the cream and sugar!

  

 We're all ready for you to swing on by! My husband even set up a special signal in the front window that shows green when we're available for visitors and red if I'm having a particularly bad day, or not at home.

 

 There are lots of little touches making the Lounge my special place, including coasters with just the right tongue-in-cheek humor to keep me rolling...

 My husband's penchant for colored lights and smart home connectivity made it's home here as well!

 But even cooler are the special gifts made for me by loved ones including a fabric mobile, a piece of sea glass art collected from the beach in Morrocco and made by hand, and a very personalized Salty Zebra quilt.

  

Here's the Thing: Designing and preparing the lounge were a critical piece for us in preparing for radiation. We wanted a place where I could heal and welcome guests. Now, all that's missing is you! Won't you swing by for a brief visit and enjoy our preparations for you?