October 10th ~ Marcia's news

Hello everyone!

Well, we're back with our updates! Since our last entry Marcia (and Pat and Tina and Shawna) have been through a LOT! As we told you in our last entry, she came home at the end of August and had a couple of "normal" weeks just catching up with people and places and tasks and of course The Store. She still had to be very careful of crowds and bugs and NO HUGS, however she was able to drive and go places and do things on her own... a wonderful, as we said NORMAL, respite.

Then, on September 22nd, the process of preparing for the transplant began at Fred Hutchinson on Lake Union. She had appointments there almost every single day for two weeks with only a couple of days off. They checked everything, and we do mean everything. At every single stage and level of the process Marcia aced the tests. Her heart and lungs are great, in fact her pulmonary (lung) function tested so high that they had to redo it because they thought there might have been a mistake in the test! She met with all different kinds of specialists and even ended up having some last minute dental work that they wanted fixed before the process. We just can't say enough about the process and the people down at Fred Hutch. It is like a big giant factory and the organization and communication among all the different elements is unbelievable. One time something changed at one station and when we got to the next appointment, a couple of floors away, everything had been updated to show the change. The people have been great too. And they really, really know their jobs!

So, last Monday October 5th Marcia met with the doctor there one more time and then checked into the University of Washington Hospital to begin the countdown process to the transplant. She has started the chemo which runs on a "days on/days off" schedule and right now she is right on target for the bone marrow transplant on Monday the 12th. The process will continue with other chemo after the transplant to prevent rejection and she will probably be in the hospital another few weeks. But one thing we've learned with all of this - and we've learned A LOT! - is that it is a process. Everything is subject to change on a daily - no make that an hourly - basis, depending on what they are finding and seeing, so there are almost never any absolutes.

Just a note as to the donor... somewhere in Northern Europe (but, surprisingly, not Scandinavia) is a very generous person who is a perfect 10 point match for Marcia. We know nothing else about them except their blood type, not even their gender, but those of you who have been praying for Marcia might want to add a little prayer of thanks for them too. And some of you who had considered becoming a donor for Marcia might want to consider going onto the registry anyway (see our previous article on the process) because somewhere there is a stranger - maybe halfway around the world - praying for your help right now.

Thanks and keep up the positive thoughts and prayers!
Marcia's Family