The John Theurer Experience (Repost from August 6, 2015)

The waiting room is beautiful. Cool wavy greens and blues; a selection of sofas, comfy arm chairs, and a plasma TV.  Each section is curtained off by a row of delicate silver chains hanging from the ceiling (leukemia section, transplant dept etc.).  On top of each coffee table sits a variation of the same sculpture; silver balls the size of Christmas tree ornaments piled into a mound which, for some reason, remind me of either caviar or foaming at the mouth depending on my mood. 

There's also a little snack bar with bottled water, coffee, juice, cookies, pretzels, chips etc.  Though it is a very nice thing to do,  it's probably more necessary than nice-- after all, they take so much damn blood each time that they something to keep you from passing out!

It all starts when you enter the lobby.  A pleasant young kid meets you at the door with a clip board..."Cynthia Walker?"---How did they know?!  The kid--name tag says Justin--walks me through registration, waits for me at a considerate distance while I cry through all the insurance questions and then takes me to the lab to have my blood work done.  Justin is discreet about handing me tissues as he rings for the elevator and we are whooshed up to the second floor. 

I remember that first day so clearly. I was pissed off (YES,you can still be pissed while crying hysterically,I've always been a multi-tasker).  I didn't want to be "shown the ropes" so to speak, because I didn't plan on coming back because none of this was real and as soon I wake up I'm gonna kick this kid in his ass for upsetting me with this Bullshit!!  Cancer is not for me.  Its not part of my story. I already have all that I can handle and I am the poster child for "WHATEVER DOESN'T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER," though I've come close.  So, yes, I very much resented everyone trying to show me around the place as if I were coming back!

And the rest is history.  I am now a member of the elite group of the 'bone marrow and platelet challenged' and while that TOTALLY sucks, there is probably not a warmer, cleaner, kinder more organized place to be than the John Theurer Cancer Center in Hackensack, New Jersey!