Day 115 (course 2B 20)

Hello,

I'll try to keep this brief but I have quite a bit of news. First of all, as you may know, they have found a donor for Rita that is a 100% match (non-relative). So, somewhere out there is a person that is willing to give the gift of life to Rita. I can't even begin to express how I feel knowing this. God bless you whoever you are and wherever you are. May you stay healthy and safe and may God provide you with all that you need to live a long, productive, happy and fulfilling life. We are told that after one year, we can get the information as to who the donor is. What a wonderful day it will be when we can meet that person face to face. I'm sure that they will feel great satisfaction when they get to see what an amazing person Rita is. We have learned that the donor will go through about 4 days of preparation and donation and that they will overnight the cells to Rita as fresh cells. I ask that everyone pray for the donor, and that the people who will be responsible for transporting the stem cells are able to make the delivery according to the required schedule. Needless to say, all of this is pretty critical.

The schedule is getting more focused. Rita will have her last chemo treatment for course 2B on Thanksgiving morning. If all goes well, we will be able to go home Thanksgiving day - a little later in the afternoon. Also, it looks like Rita will be able to be home for Christmas as she should be released on December 22 or 23 from
course 3. If all of that goes according to plan, her transplant would start the week of January 3 or January 10. It all seems to be coming so fast. It is really interesting how this process feels like forever and yet, when we look at what is before us, its like a run away train. We are anxious to get on with this so that we can return to a normal, healthy life but, we also know the risks involved.

So, for now, we are doing OK out here. It is a bit of a bummer that Rita is in the hospital because she feels a little confined and we can't do the things we normally do in the hotel room. I usually get to cook for her and, believe it or not, I think she likes my cooking much better than the hospital's. Thats probably not saying much but I'll take all of the props I can get!! I will have to go back home tomorrow and Amy will be coming out for a couple of days. If Rita gets discharged on Tuesday, I'll be back here to move her back into the hotel room and stay until we come home on Thanksgiving day. I hope it all works out as planned.

Did someone say that I would try to keep this brief? So much for that!!

Goodnight and God Bless, Dave & Rita