Big News

Isaiah 12:2
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

The doctor just came into Tammy's room and told us she will be ready to go home by this weekend or very early next week. This confirmed what we heard from the nurse yesterday as a possibility.

As her counts elevate, the new risk becomes graft-versus-host disease. "Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common complication of allogeneic bone-marrow transplantation in which functional immune cells in the transplanted marrow recognize the recipient as 'foreign' and mount an immunologic attack." (Wikipedia) The doctor says we want a little GVHD, because that's what helps prevent recurrence of the cancer. We just don't want too much.

Tammy is still tired, but otherwise is feeling really good. She's still cracking jokes, and the nurses say her attitude has been a huge part of her quick recovery. This morning, I noticed that her hair follicles are starting to fall out. She shaved her head a week ago when the hair started falling out in clumps. Now that the little black dots on her head are disappearing sporadically, she looked at herself in the mirror and said, "I think I can see Australia."

We're a little nervous about her coming home. David Lee and I will need to keep the house very clean. We'll need to make sure everything is done perfectly. I've never done anything perfectly in my life. But we also know that God has this whole process in His plans, not just the hospital part of it. He will guide us. We have the pledged help of family and friends to help around the house, including being Tammy's care-giver while I'm at work and David Lee is in school.

We've said all along that we wouldn't be able to get through this without your prayers. We ask that you continue to pray for us, and for the people who will be assisting us once we bring this lovely woman home. We are celebrating the good news today, and we want to celebrate with you. As you ask God to continue to bless her recovery, please don't forget to thank Him for His wonderful care and peace, and the skill He has given the doctors and nurses who have taken care of Tammy. And also please continue to pray for blessings for the donor.