Milestones - past, present, future:

Looking back, the time has flown since last Wednesday. Looking ahead, it creeps , so I try not to do it. Mileposts along the way mark the conclusion of chemo (Sunday night), a day of no treatment (Monday), and today, the stem cell transplant, which will likely occur towards evening.

The transplant is pretty anti-climatic. It's delivered through an IV just like the medicines and won't take more than half an hour to complete. It's been interesting to hear the many assumptions about the mechanics of a transplant . I've heard - operation, procedure, surgery, etc., some speculation getting very creative. I won't share them all, but the winner is: "They cut a small incision in the back of your neck and pour the new cells directly into a hole at the top of your spine that has been made just for this purpose." Thankfully, that only happens in horror movies.


Tonight through Thursday will be for monitoring the graft process. On Thursday, assuming all goes well, I'll be released to Loren's care where I'll spend a couple of weeks in W. Medford. (Meffedd if you're from Bahston).


Gilda and Mike visited this afternoon, and I was allowed to go outside for a walk around the courtyard with them. The rain had stopped so it was a good treat. No fresh air again now until Thursday. My brain is caffeine free (going cold turkey from Starbucks has been the worst of anything from my perspective) and therefore not firing very quickly. Had I thought of taking their picture with the masks and gloves on , I could have posted it for you. Most would look funny, but they looked pretty cute. The nurses have provided some small masks with happy faces for Vivian, Jonah and Nora Grace to "play with" once I get home.


Meanwhile, the extended Monaghan family is holding the fort in Maine. I think Tom has fixed everything that needs to be fixed around the house! Soon, he'll just have me to fix. More updates as they come. Thanks for all the "check-ins." jvm