44 days post-transplant

"And we're dancing like we're cancer survivors, like we're grateful just to be alive" - Andrew Bird, Near Death Experience

The test that I've been dreading has been a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to determine whether or not my cerebral spinal fluid is cancer free.  We got the results back this morning and it is!  This truly is a miracle for me.  I'm not completely out of the woods, but the other test results we've gotten have been encouraging as well and it just feels like things are going our way.

We've had several spiritual experiences that had made Christina and I feel that I'll get through this, but it was hard hearing from the doctors that my chances were very low (because of the cancer in the spinal fluid) and maintaining that confidence.  I should say it was hard for me, because Christina never wavered.  She has certainly been a rock for me to hold to during this experience.

I'm now 44 days post-transplant.  I'll need to stay in Seattle to be monitored until about day 100.  We should be home for Christmas if all goes well.  We've been able to have some of our kids come up to visit; Emma and Norah stayed with us last week and we have Eliza and Marian with us for this next week.  It's so good to spend time with them again!

We've had several great reports from the benefit auction that was held for our family last night.  Now I'll never be able to get frustrated with a client from work, because I won't know if he or she gave $25 or $50 dollars to the gofundme account that was generously set up for us by my coworkers.  I can't ever get upset with anyone from church because they may have spent a few hours setting up for the yard sale benefit back  in June.  I'm so overwhelmed with the generosity of those whom I know well and many whom I don't know well that I'm just going to have to think the best of everybody whom I meet for the rest of my life.

There are so many people to thank and yet I feel that any thanks I can give is woefully inadequate. I love you all and what you do for us means everything to me.