Support Group

Today Chris and I head back to the Boston Medical Center to attend out first support group meeting. These are different than the weekly meetings held in the center, but instead are larger meetings, almost conferences, with guest speakers, updates on clinical programs, etc. We have no idea what to expect, but it is important that we attend. I think all diseases have some sort of Advocacy or lobbying organization, and annual conferences, etc. This one is so rare that I believe the organizing body is very small. We'll know more when we get there.

Chris continues making forward progress, with some concerns. In the last few days she has really picked up the walking, going over 5 miles over two sessions. She comes back exhausted, but without question, she is reconditioning herself. It will be along time before she can get back on the tennis court, but I am sure it will be possible if she keeps her personal determination in place. She also has been driving by herself, running errands, etc. It seems so easy, but it really has been a major step for her. For almost 4 months, she has done almost everything with someone: her sister, her amazing friends, her parents, or myself. She is still very reluctant, to be exposed to a germ infected world, and has to wipe down everything prior to touching it, but clearly her ability and willingness to go it alone is a major milestone. Hooray!!!

I was in San Fransisco for a few days this week while Chris held down the house with no issues. We've come a long way from me having to sleep in that chair in the hospital many nights in a row. As I said in the last post, her voice, her stature, her demeanor have all improved. In fact, just like a newly seeded lawn, there is clear evidence of hair growth. It is thin and very short, but the evidence is clear - the hair is coming back.

Just another reminder/request. September 28th, next weekend, is Chris' 100 days of her new life. She has been through a life threatening period, that has taken an incredible bite out of her. Yet she has come through this very well so far. A note of congratulations from you would be just incredible. I have so many friends at work from around the world (Sydney, Singapore, France, Spain, UK, etc.) who have asked about her, her old high school friends from Belgium, friends of both of our parents, friends from her home town, friends here in Mass., it just is amazing. If I could ask you to send just a congratulations card from you, your spouses, your kids away at school, from every and anyone who is aware of this incredible battle she is fighting, it would give her a jolt of strength she is going to need to get to December 8th (the next diagnosis date). If you have never met her, but have been praying/thinking/watching/wondering. then it would be even greater that you could spend the few minutes to send a card. She has no idea (it is unfathomable even to me) how much love has her been sent her way.

Chris Wright
20 Rolling Meadow Drive
Holliston, MA 01746 USA

Someday I will figure out how to thank everyone, but for now I hope you have a piece of knowledge in your heart that you all, everyone of you, have had a hand in her success.
THANK YOU!!!

Clear Progress

Almost everyone who has seen Chris recently has agreed that she has visibly improved during the last week or so. You can hear it in her voice, her stride is quicker, her demeanor more positive, everything is looking better. She has a new found confidence that just a few weeks ago did not seem likely. A few milestones:

-Chris drove this past weekend. No big deal for most of us, but a really clear indication of her mental alertness, her reaction time, her overall confidence. This will help unleash her a bit. She drove with me, so now we need to get her to drive alone.
-She has been walking more and more, and at a good pace. Today she did about 3 miles, with many hills. Just a few weeks ago she was doing an easy mile on the high school track.
-Chris and I went to Burlington VT this weekend to visit Melissa. As such, we stayed at a hotel, we went out for dinner and breakfast, ran some errands, all the time with Chris really feeling good about getting out. Of course she is really careful about avoiding sick people and not touching door knobs, etc.
-Friday night she and I went to a dinner at the Four Seasons in Boston - very fancy, live orchestra, the works. Chris looked beautiful. She was very engaged in conversation, she ate well, and to top it all off, she actually danced with me - albeit a very slow dance. A few months ago, I was not sure if I would ever have the opportunity to get to dance with her again, or even go out in public, but it is clear she has turned a corner. I can't tell you how happy I was to have the chance to spend a night out with her. It has been a hell of a summer, but the chance to go out on Friday night was so important, and she did great! My parents and siblings were all there and they were all excited to see the progress.

Chris' weight today was 103, still very low but up a pound. Her blood pressure has been pretty steady, averaging about 100/75, so we will reduce one more pill that keeps the pressure up.

As I have stated previously, Sept. 28th will be the magical 100 days since her stem cell transplant. This represents a major milestone. The biggest is that this is the end of the high risk period and when they stop tracking mortality from the stem cell transplant. The doctors have stated that any issues after that point are not related to the transplant and the chemo directly. Of course this has no relationship to the actual disease itself, which we will go back to Boston in December for that testing, but it does represent success that the high risk transplant and chemo were survived.

I am bold enough to ask any readers to send a Congratulations card to Chris so that it arrives on Sept 27th or thereabouts. (The 28th is a Sunday). A simple card with your good wishes would be fantastic. No flowers, no gifts, just a card. I do not think she knows how many people have been praying for her, have asked about her, have read the blog, but she would be amazed.

Address Info is:

Chris Wright
20 Rolling Meadow Drive
Holliston, MA. 01746
USA

I'll add this again in a later posting as a reminder.

I am also going to declare that Sept. 28 is the end of all of the amazing help from friends and neighbors. The meals have been absolutely incredible (trust me, I am the one gaining all the weight), the offers to run errands, the shopping, etc. -they have all been great, but we all need to get Chris back to complete self-reliance. By then she will be feeling very strong and she needs to know that she can live the life she had before she got ill. As well, although I know we all pray this is not needed, many of the patients go through this a second time 12 months later. We'll need your help then, so it's time to give you all a break.

So, to summarize, it is clear that the last week has been a significant upswing for Chris. Your help, prayers, and interest have been remarkable. Everyone has been a part of this progress - Thank You!!