Dear Family & friends,

This update is from sister Susan.

First things first…some more happy news:

Carol’s overall white blood cell (WBC) count took a big jump up to .93 today (from .44 yesterday) and the ANC was up to 320 (undetectable yesterday) -- goal is greater than 500 for Carol to get to go home to Sarasota for a little bit.

Latest guestimate from doctors & nurses is that at this rate, Carol might be able to go home by Tuesday (yes, 2 days from now!)

We heard this morning from one of her doctors that actually once she gets home she will not need oral antibiotics, as her immune system is bouncing back – she may also be able to do without transfusions during this period. Needless to say, the next 48 hours will be both exciting & a bit overwhelming given that it’s been just under two months here at the Moffitt Cancer Center being cared for by health care professionals and caregivers every day and knowing all the boundaries. In any case it will be a precious time for Carol & family to have a new “normal” for a while in the comfort of home...yay! I suspect that the first real luxury will be a full night’s sleep without nurses & techs hopping in & out of the room, not to mention regaining privacy and savoring the buzz in the kitchen and other spaces.

Carol will be monitored while at home a few times a week, and will continue on Neupogen to build her immune system. Once a bone marrow donor match is found, as mentioned before, it will take some time to coordinate with the donor to initiate the process for the transplant. The transplant involves about a month of treatment and careful monitoring here at the Moffitt Cancer Center in a special wing, followed by 2 month stay either at The Hope Lodge or apartments near the hospital where she can continue to be monitored as she recovers.

So for now, one foot before the other…we will breathe in every minute of progress and joy of being together and seeing Carol enjoy the simple pleasures in life that matter the most.

The daily scoop

We enjoyed a visit with Dad & Joyce for a few hours in the afternoon, following a game of UpWords and during our “lunch period” …they brought some goodies like fresh pineapple…mmmm.

Then Carol’s friend Virginia who lives in Austin came for a visit here while visiting Sarasota. Carol and Virginia enjoyed contemplating their next row together and we both enjoyed hearing about her friend’s experience as a software engineer working for many years with NASA!

Tomorrow should be interesting: count status… departure timing to be confirmed…packing for the return to Sarasota! The nurses and doctors will miss Carol, no doubt, not to mention the festive love-filled decorations & practical accommodations of Carol’s room – probably not too many patients have their digital photo frame screwed into the wall, cards hung on 5 different lines of nylon thread at every diagonal of the room, photos of family, rowing & encounters on the beach, etc., personal fridge with organic foods, organizers to keep things accessible, etc.!

The next update will be from the next-in-line caregiver or one of the “regulars” (Daniel or Jaime :) ),

-Susan