Dear Friends and Family,
“Dad, great news.”
Jayna is at the hospital and I am, unfortunately, at work. It’s just shy of noon, the time typically that Nancy’s medical team makes their daily rounds.
“Dr. Peterson was just here. He thinks Mom is really improving. He said she could have ice chips and water—up to 500 cc per day, which is a little less than a can and a half of soda. She is sooo excited to be able to drink something!”
“That’s fantastic!” I all but shout into the phone as if Jayna can’t hear me. Nancy has been continuously thirsty this past week. She has constantly been denied water because her gastrointestinal system has been so fragile. Her lips have multiple painful cracks even though we have been applying emollient almost constantly. “I can’t even imagine going an hour without drinking, let alone a week.”
“And guess what else, Dadder? Mom’s making white cells again. Finn Bo says it’s the beginning of Mommer’s engraftment.”
It may surprise you, but sometimes I’m too emotional to speak. So quite honestly, I said nothing in response to Jayna’s wonderful news. However, amazingly Jayna didn’t miss a beat.
“It’s OK, Dadder. We’ll talk more when you get here tonight. And we’ll celebrate—all three of us. We’ll have a water toast.”
Part of my toast will be for all your support. Thanks.
P.S. I may not have mentioned it recently, but Nancy has not read any of my letters. She does know that I try to keep our extended family and her many supporters informed, and occasionally she urges, “Please don’t include that in whatever you’re writing about me.” Mostly, she ignores me while I wait for her to open her eyes or when I awaken in the middle of the night. All she occasionally sees is that I am busy on my computer. (I can only hope that if any of my writings are too graphic or too personal, you’ll set my letters aside quickly and permanently.)
Summary: Nancy is finally coming out the other side. This week Nancy hit rock bottom, but she now appears to be on the upswing. Nancy is making new white cells. (Something that the doctors call engraftment is beginning.) She will soon be armed with new immunity and her new A-positive blood type. We are also expectantly awaiting her gastrointestinal tract to function properly again. With each passing day, Nancy feels stronger and better.
With much love,
Winnie