Donation Day

Hey all!! Thank you for your continued prayers and support, despite our absence for the past few days.  Jenny and I both have slightly scratchy throats, kids with funk, etc. so we were unable to make the drive to City of Hope this weekend to visit with mom and dad. (which has me completely heartbroken- because I know they treasure company and visitors, but its whats best for dad) We are missing them immensely, but FaceTime, silly Dubsmash videos, and phone calls will have to suffice for a few days. (They LOVE messages, cards, phone calls, etc....if you are able I know they'd LOVE to hear from you!)

Overall, he is doing AMAZINGLY well!! He has had the five doses of chemo needed before the transplant, they have done two days of anti-rejection medications, and now it is the eve of the bone marrow/stem cell transplant.  Dad is feeling a bit down today, my mom reports,  but that has a lot to do with him having zero immune system again.  So he's tired.

In other news, my aunt Char went down last night, and began her part of the transplant process this morning.  She had to have a port put in for the procedure itself and by about 11:00am, she was ready to begin.  They have her hooked to a machine that is pulling out blood, spinning out the cells they need from her blood, and then she gets the rest of the blood put back into her body. Sounds creepy, but she is in GREAT spirits and reports that it has been pretty uneventful!
(Tomorrow Dad will get these cells that she is donating!!!!!)

I asked my mom for a few picts of Dad's angel, aunt Char, and I cried.  She looked so peaceful.  Char is so completely thrilled that she is able to help dad in this miraculous way.  And to top it off, she brought her own picture of him to put in her room during her hospital stay.
Full on tears.

Sweet Aunt Char donating to Dad today!

Obviously, there are no words to express our sincerest gratitude to Aunt Char and the amazing gift she was able to give my dad!!!
How lucky he is to have found a perfect bone marrow match in her.
SUCH BLESSINGS!

Thank you faithful followers.  We appreciate you.  Thank you for your continued prayers.
Prayers for Char to have a smooth and speedy recovery.  Prayers for Dad to be free of infection, free of host/graft issues, and that his body accepts these cells and rebuilds leukemic free cells.
Prayers for my mom to remain his constant cheerleader.
(I don't know how she does it!)
Love to all,
Nicole and Jenny