Just as anticipated, we think that Dave is turning the corner with this marathon-like crusade through leukemia. The last three days of progress is partly because he is sleeping better and his appetite is improving. Although his weight is still too low for his frame, the doctor knows that it will start to rise within the 100-day critical phase. When asked when he could drive, Dave was terribly disappointed to hear that most patients are not allowed to drive within the first 100 days following the transplant. Now, of course Dave prodded them to agree to a shorter time period, but it was tabled for later discussion. He is hoping it will be before Christmas.

When we are out in public places, Dave wears a mask to prevent infection and to avoid contracting diseases. His immune system was compromised during the transplant. The immunizations that he received as a child have been drastically altered. Thus, his body – in many ways – has taken on the body of an infant. He will have to begin the entire immunization process once he hits the six-month mark and all of his counts have stabilized. Once he has received all of his immunizations, he will not contract any diseases nor be a carrier of diseases like chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella and polio.

And so the crusade continues as we hopefully have turned the corner. As trite as it might sound, this battle is really a snail’s pace day-to-day endeavor.