Monday, January 08, 2007

Tiresias Speaks

During my days as a theatre student, I was a member of a comedy troupe on campus that did parodies of popular works of literature. Hamlet, the Bible, the stories of Edgar Allen Poe, all met the sword of our dark humor. Good times, indeed.

Our crowning performance, and one that I still have somewhere on video, was our version of Oedipus Rex. This is the classic Greek tragedy about the man who murders his father and marries his mother, pursuant to a prophecy that the father was told at his son's birth. While he does what he can, including leaving his son to die in the desert with his feet pinned together, it does not stop the series of events that were foretold. The son (Oedipus), after realizing what has happened, promptly expresses his shame by gouging his eyes out with curtain pins.

And, yes, our version of it was damn funny.

Anyway, the major theme behind the play is one of fate versus free will -- are we really masters of our own destiny, or are we flopping along like fish on the line of life, certain to act out whatever fate had been dealt us from some distant force? Complex concepts, do doubt -- but they are the ones that come up when you are faced with what we face.

Award shows (particularly the Grammy's for some reason) seem to be the perfect platform for even the most self-absorbed lunatic to credit God for the gift of the moment. As if the supreme being was sitting around one day and said, "You know what I need to do? I need to have that Lauren Hill lady make a killer record that sells like gangbusters!" Is it really that simple? Are our lives already laid out, and all we have to do is live them, and take the good and the bad as inevitable parts of who we are, what we were meant to do or learn? Or, is this all random chance, where some of us coast along while others get either the Grand Prize or the big bag of dog poo, each for no other reason than "because"?

We have had our meeting. We have heard once again about the tiny points of radioactive beams that doctors want to pass through my son's brain, into the space where his tumor was. We have understood that Vampboy will most likely die without this in his treatment. We have heard that he will have cognitive delays, which could range from the simple learning disability, all the way to being unable to live independently (the latter does not seems to be playing out as a possible result of this treatment according to the experts, due to the small size of the tumor site along with the low radiation dose. But, like any rare side effect, it's their job to make sure we're informed). The medical team has begun setting up appointments and tests to prepare for the 6 weeks of radiation treatment, while we contemplate the desire to continue.

But, is it really our decision to make? Forget the fact that the treatment team is in agreement that it makes sense, and that they think the risks are worth it. Forget that, given the likely scenario if we don't, we don't actually have a choice here. The reality is, if we believe that things happen for a reason, whatever decision we make is the decision we are supposed to make. The burden of second-guessing ourselves for eternity is lifted by the mere fact that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing.

Liberating, definitely -- a psychological construct to prevent us from going insane, perhaps -- but nevertheless we have "decided" to proceed with radiation therapy for Vampboy. It will start at the end of January, and go until March. It will also add 6 weeks to his treatment, meaning that our August end-date will be moved to September/October. It will make our sick little one that much sicker, and two tired parents even more spent.

Whatever road we are on, let us hope that our destiny ends more on the comedy than tragedy side.

9 comments:

Papa Bradstein said...

We're sending you our hopes for more laughter than tears--after which, we're going to pray for the success of Lauren Hill's next album, and that your Oedipus Rex video makes its way onto YouTube . . . you know, in your copious spare time. But seriously, our thoughts are with you.

Anonymous said...

You write beautifully about a terribly sad subject. Thanks for sharing your story with us.

Anonymous said...

Your eloquence on this difficult and painful journey is amazing. How wonderful that you have shared it; how absolutely heart-breaking that you are living it. May the brightness within shine through for all of you one day.

Anonymous said...

You guys chose to give him the best possible future you can and no one (fate, higher power or otherwise) could make a better decision than that.

Anonymous said...

Oy vey! The bravery of parenting continues...

Love,
Heather

Ali said...

We'll be thinking of you all and praying for you as always. God bless!

Anonymous said...

I feel you've chosen to do your very best.

Sincerely,
Uncle Wolf

Anonymous said...

If only you could get some divine prognostications as to what lies further down the road....

Hang in there-you're certainly doing everything you're able to in this situation.
xoxox
Pete

Anonymous said...

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/t/tiresias.html

A bit more about Tiresius