Some details about the next few months - admission this Friday.

 As a dear friend just pointed out to me - it's like I'm getting ready for an extended trip and have many loose ends to wrap up this week. It's been a busy but blessed time lately with a wonderful Christmas and most of my siblings and all our kids and grandkids coming in to give me a very special 60th birthday New Year's Eve. 

I've now met with all the required people, twice each, for the readmission interviews and information. A nurse had to "talk me off the ledge" after I read a bit too much about GVHD - Graft Versus Host Disease - a possible side effect of treatment and transplant. She convinced me that the serious versions of this is much more rare than what I had read online and that they have a terrific record of controlling and treating it. In fact, she taught me that a small amount of it can be good to help wipe out lingering cancer cells in the body. 

I asked questions about the two months after the 3-4 week hospital stay. It turns out that, if my book counts look OK, I can be with people, including our grandkids (4 of them 10 years old and younger). That is a big relief. I can also do things out in the world as long as I am close to the hospital and have someone who knows me well with me. They are concerned about GVHD as I mentioned above and Engraphment Syndrome, which can mimic infection. The idea is to keep me out of the ER and make quickly getting to the oncology clinic and being seen possible. Andy has agreed not to be inebriated (which is never a concern). And that I will be with someone at all times who knows me well enough to pick up on problems. 

I plan to update this daily while in the hospital or ask Andy to - to help us keep track of details and to help keep loved ones up to date without having to be on the phone / texting all the time. 

Thanks for keeping tabs and for all the encouragement and prayers.