March 8th — Only three more days of radiation to go! Yippee! But I’m exhausted. I really feel like I could sleep for a week and of course that’s not possible. A friend told me there is also some emotional fatigue associated with the end of radiation since the long haul is almost over. Daniel and Sara have been watching past episodes of The Adams Family from the 70s on Youtube. Today, Daniel said, “this is a funny joke…why do we call The Adams Family “The Adams Family”? Because they are made up of atoms, like everything on earth, even butterflies.” Even butterflies. Gotta love children! Sara corrected him and said, “well, atoms are made up of electrons so really, everything is made up of electrons!” I paused for a moment and then jumped in with the fact that when I get radiation treatment this week, the doctors are sending electrons into my body to help kill any cancer that’s still there. Both kids were fascinated, because it was a concept they could almost grasp. They began discussing the various “scientific” ways electrons might kill cancer, which was even more hilarious than the Adams Family joke. Do the electrons zap the cancer like electricity? Do the electrons cling to other electrons to form new atoms that aren’t cancerous? Do the electrons push the bad cancer around until they get tired and just decide to leave the body? I loved hearing a 5 and 7 year old have a serious discussion involving electrons bullying cancer cells inside the body until they get tired and leave. All of these are valid questions. I suspect one or both of our children may continue to ask these questions as they make their way through college and graduate school, my brilliant little Valentine cancer researchers.