Day 35

Today was a good day. This morning the in patient rehab people came in to evaluate Mom. The two ladies got Mom out of bed and into a wheelchair. They wheeled her out into the hall and Mom wheeled herself around the nurses station not once but TWICE. Yes people, I said that MOM WHEELED HERSELF AROUND THE NURSES STATION NOT ONCE BUT TWICE!! I was so very excited! After that she sat in the wheelchair for probably an hour and ate breakfast while there. By the time she got back in bed she was exhausted but I think she was pretty proud of herself. And we were/are very happy for her. She had a nice visit with one of the Chaplains from the hospital. He comes by and checks on her about once a week. I am not sure what church he is affiliated with but he is a very kind hearted man who genuinely cares about how the patients are feeling. She also had a visit from our good friends the Owens. It was good to see them. They have been celebrating the fact the he is a two-year cancer survivor.

I would like to ask for specific prayers for Mom now. I ask that your prays be that the graft vs. host disease does not come back (which it can do) and that Mom's kidney function returns to normal so that she does not have to continue with the dialysis. Also please pray that although we can not all be together for Christmas this year, that she does not let that get her down and give up again. We can always celebrate when she gets out but she has to get to that point first. She has at least another two weeks (and I think that is wishful thinking.) OH, I almost forgot. . . .when you have a stemcell transplant, you are not allowed to eat raw fruits or vegetables. Well, Mom has been given permission to eat bananas. We have to wash them before we peel them (have you ever given a banana a bath?) but at least she can add something else to her diet!!