More Good News!

Zephaniah 3:17
"The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves."


I was on my way to work this morning when Tammy called me with excitement in her voice. She said, "Do you want to hear some good news?" Now my wife is pretty smart, but did she really think I might not want to hear some good news? Of course I said I did, but I was not prepared for what came next.

She said Beth, the transplant coordinator at the KU Cancer Clinic, had just called her. The doctors had met yesterday afternoon and talked about Tammy's treatment. They decided that she could go through the preparatory chemotherapy on an outpatient basis. That means she'll go to the clinic each morning and then be able to return home in the afternoon. They believe she will remain healthier by being able to spend time at home. She'll move around more and keep things as normal as possible when she's home. The other good news is that they're expecting her stay in the hospital will now be only about two weeks after the transplant instead of three.

We're not sure if this is because she is doing so well to this point, or the fact that she will undergo a less-strenuous regimen of chemotherapy, but we're guessing it's a combination of both. We're celebrating tonight the fact that we don't have to take her to the hospital for a four-week stay beginning tomorrow. She'll still be admitted Monday, but that's four more days and nights together at home before she goes in, and likely fewer days apart on the back end.

It's a minor thing, but it's also more convenient to take her to the cancer clinic. Finding a parking spot is rarely a problem (and it's free), and getting from the car to the waiting room takes five minutes, not the 15 it takes from the parking lot to unit 41 in the hospital.

We've really received a sense of peace over the past few days. We're still aware of the risks, but we are more confident all the time that she'll get through this just like she did the last time. Prayers are still requested. You are all very precious to us..