It's been, really, a magnificent week. We know in the next few months and even years perhaps, that magnificent and miserable will be frequent and interchangeable companions but we will magnify the good because God has been gracious and aware.
First things first. Kathy was released (is there a better, more civil word to use here?) from the hospital yesterday afternoon. Being free from the behemoth IV/antibiotics/anti- pain pole and freedom to sleep without interruptions from those dear CNA's for temperature and blood pressure reads (they are being obedient to their job duties, after all) has been liberating for my mom. Freedom! The hope is that she can have a solid 4 weeks respite in her Salt Lake sanctuary before entering the battle again for Bone Marrow Transplant numero dos. I'd like to quickly hasten here, that although we know visits are wished upon with good intentions, that you still yet refrain from making any until further notice. It requires a tremendous amount of energy for her to visit and adds some concern and worry about unwanted germs and exposure to who-knows-what. These next few weeks is a time for healing, for peace, for solitude, and for refuge, so we thank you for your patience in respecting this and respecting these precious days of restoration.
Second, and I make mention of this because it is really a marvelous manifestation of a dual reality, that being that miracles/blessings/tender mercies (call them what you will) not only exist but are divinely mandated, and thus, that God- our Heavenly Father- LIVES. Lives, lives, lives; is aware, is involved, is so very much apart of our circumstances.
A couple of months ago during a medical consultation, the nurse coordinator for Kathy's BMT doctor informed us that Kathy did not have a 10/10 match in one of her eligible siblings (not to their fault whatsoever). Because of some unusual markers in her blood numbers, finding a donor in time, we were told, was next to impossible. Hence, in the last while we have been fully anticipating a green light for a newer, more contemporary procedure known as a haplo-identical where a half-match can be used. Well, during this last week, the nurse coordinator walked into my mom's room, grinning from ear to ear with the news that she felt like she needed to exhaust some more research for a 10/10 match, and that very morning, located that match somewhere outside of the US (we are assuming it's someone from Europe- perhaps England or Scandinavia?). If this registered person will agree to undergo the donor-procedure then this is the preferable route by Kathy's doctors because long-term data and results are more mature than newer Haplo transplant data can provide. Anyways, very miraculous; in a pool of millions of registered donors, a single person across the world was found in an extremely time-sensitive matter. Hello to heaven's opened door.
Third. Again, exciting that she is home. We continue to pray for her body, that it does what it needs to, that she can regain strength, immunity, and the emotional vitality to continue to endure, which she's been doing so well already. We pray that her platelets will grow on their own, that her cells will do what they're supposed to, et cetera. Please be aware that she is on a very strict, low-microbial diet (google it) and in addition, should really be distanced as well from anything that carries/transports fungus, molds, dirt, and so forth (yes, that includes flowers and plants).
Thank you, thank you, thank you for you. For your love, your good and POSITIVE advice (we say thumbs up to optimism and BOO to negativity), your prayers, your support, your thoughts, and your friendships.
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