Dear Family & Friends,
It has been an amazing last 8 days. Rick's 7 days of chemo went pretty well! He finished his last dose on Thursday. Thank you for your prayers! (We're told it's the next few days to come that will hit him hard.) Friday morning came-Transplant Day!! Rick and I were so blessed to watch the sun rise together through his window from the 6th floor. It made me think of how God makes everything new. What a perfect day to be able to witness the miracle of new cells, and a new life on this new day. So we rejoice!
The few days prior to Transplant, Rick's nausea increased. Thank God for the medication provided around the clock. He is still fighting this, but doing what he can to endure. Thursday, Mike was scheduled for a 6 hour transfusion, with hope to have enough cells for Rick in one sitting. (A lonngg sitting.) Sometimes donors are called back the following day to give more if, by chance, there aren't enough harvested. God had this covered too! Mike had harvested 21 million stem cells in his 6 hour sitting. (The average is anywhere from 3-10million.) He is doing great and so happy to be such a special part of all this for his brother.
Friday morning before the cells were ready for Rick to receive, he was picked up from his room for a trip to the gym. His physical therapists, Dice and Cecelia, are just great! Rick had a good time working out before the Transplant. As they joked and "counted" it was so encouraging for me to see Rick up and active, and truly feeling alive. It also struck me as very special to notice an autographed collage from Lance Armstrong hanging in the rehab gym. An inspiration that we all at some point may need to start over, but, where there is faith and hope there is courage and perseverance.
The Transplant of Mike's cells was finally ready. It was so special, just before Nurse Jo was about to hang the bag, she grabbed Rick and my hands and prayed, thanking God for this amazing blessing. It was beautiful. Within 1 1/2 hours, the IV had given Rick the stem cells he needed.
Today, Rick is doing pretty good. Nausea is his biggest battle, however. The doctor is also watching closely for reactions, side effects, and symptoms of Graft vs. Host Diseases, due to the Transplant.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers and love. They mean everything to us. Please pray for Rick, that God would continue to bless him with amazing grace and mercy, peace and strength, protect him and show favor upon him with a miraculous recovery.
~All glory and praise to Jesus!
What an amazing week this has been!
With deep gratitude & love,
Dana
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