Wednesday afternoon

An interesting sidebar to last night's drama was the debate about Rose's old catheter and whether the chemo should continue with a leaking catheter.  At one point when her dressing was being changed, I took out my iPhone and shot a picture of the catheter and sent it to "The Three Wise Women" - my doctor, Gabriella Goldstein, my sister and RN Lou Ann and my sister-in-law and RN Rose Clements (yes another one).  They all fired back almost as one that if we weren't comfortable with the answers we were getting, we should not do the chemo.  Fortunately, that was seconded by an alert young nurse here on the transplant team who knew her stuff. I won't include that photo - it's not for the squeamish - but I was delighted that technology provided such instant communication of a problem.

Today was much calmer than the crazy roll up to last nights 3am chemo finish.  Rose tried to get a little rest and recover from a long night. She continues to tolerate the chemotherapy well.  The port in her upper chest was removed today and they are now using the picc line installed in her arm last night. The bandage on her chest is where the old port was implanted.  This is a shot of her exercising - walking around the "pod" of units on her floor. That's her world for the next 3 weeks. They have begun giving her an anti-rejection drug called tacro-something-something. Chemo again tonight with the nasty stuff again, then a day of rest and, finally, on the 16th, her stem cell transplant...the big show.  She's in good spirits, able to laugh off the craziness and keep those around her loose and smiling.  That's a rare gift.

On other fronts - got an apartment about a mile and half away for the next three months.  My son Dan is coming in to help out this weekend and things are moving forward.  There are many challenges ahead - please keep her health and safety in your hearts and minds.  Many thanks to all of you - your love and support is so appreciated.