Friday - October 10

Things continue to get better and better with Chris. She has more energy, is moving fast, keeping very busy, and starting to really grow some hair back. Nothing long, but definitely covering her scalp. It is really amazing how she is falling right back into her normal life after such an incredible summer. She is up to a whopping 103.5 pounds, yet she continues to eat very well. The food from the neighbors keeps coming, with everyone trying to fatten her up - but of course I am the one packing it on.

Chris feels she can travel relatively comfortably, so we will spend some of next week looking at colleges in upstate NY, VT, NH, and Maine with Stephen and me. Last weekend she went to the local town fair and ran into many friends she had not seen since prior to all of this. She was very glad to see them and vice-versa. She is more confident getting out in public, going to restaurants, etc.

She has had a little bit of edema in her legs, just a little, but we will watch it and increase the diuretics as required.

Chris has been in touch with another patient from Ohio who went through the treatment just prior to us and we hope to meet them for a dinner in Boston when he comes back for his 6 month evaluation. There is a small community of patients, and it is important to talk, share progress, give each other support, etc. Chris has also been watching another patients story unfold down in NYC with a blog like this one. As I have said, she has never read this blog, but really is interested in the others. This particular patient was in the hospital for the entire period, was allowed to go home after 5 or 6 weeks, and returned to the hospital after 2 hours at home with an infection. He has been in the ICU with severe kidney issues, but the most recent blog update indicates significant improvement. She prays for him like many of you have prayed for her.

Chris told me today that she is going to live her life as normally as possible between now and December 8th. She is "tired of being sick" and knowing that things are going to get very strange as we get closer to that date, she is going to just be "normal". Hopefully in a month or so she will be confident enough that she can go out without wearing a head scarf, and nobody will even know what she has lived through.

For me, I know that I have promised to post my own "lessons I have learned" list. To be honest, I really want to be in the right frame of mind when I do that. I have thought for many many hours what I would share in terms of my experiences as Chris' caregiver, medical advocate, husband, best friend, researcher, cook, driver, and bodily fluid cleaner upper. I am not sure how insightful I will be, but it will be a personal catharsis for me if nothing else.

As Sarah Palin would say, "let me give a big shout out" to all the incredible number of friends, family, and worldwide well wishers who continue to support Chris. You all get "extra credit".

Thanks to all you. The incredible number of cards sent to her blew her away. She is still getting some and they mean a great deal to her. I thought at one point they would have to back a truck up to the house. THANKS!!!!

p.s. my apologies for the slowness in the updates, but I will keep them coming up to and through our visit in December.

Thanks again - I can't say it enough.