Today, we clarified some of the issues I wrote about yesterday. I had two clinic visits today. One was simple for a change of my dressing that covers my Hickman central catheter ports. Very easy. The other visit was a consultation with the anesthesia nurse in prep for the upper GI endoscopy we are trying to schedule. The visit went well and the procedure is now scheduled for one week from now on Aug 30. We were told that if biopsies are taken it usually takes 5-days for the pathology report to be finalized. Given Labor Day weekend I figure we will know after September 4th. That will be close to our day 100, and we still may be able to return home in September as we have anticipated. Just to be safe we extended our apartment move out date to October 10.

Tomorrow I have a long day of appointments, lab tests, bone marrow biopsy, nutrition consultation, my clinical team visit, and ENT consult. One of the blood tests that will be done will once again determine what percent of my brother’s donor cells are floating around vs my cells. Friday I will have a pulmonary consultation when I hope to get some guidance on the oxygen I am using at night. Also Friday I will have a visit with a medical photographer we assume to document any skin rashes I may have after the transplant.

The good news is that we are inching toward the finish line. Most all of the tests I need to make it home have been scheduled. My GI issues have seem to stabilized and my weight has come up from last week’s visit. Today, Sharon and I went out for lunch, a mini date if you will. We did several short walks today that do add up – 9,200 steps over 3.75 miles. Thanks again for your caring and support.

Larry and Sharon