New Tattoos

Yesterday, Jim and I spent yet another fun fulled day at LDS Hospital. Jim was able to get 4 new tattoos. Two in the front, and two in the back. These are little black dot tattoos that will mark him for radiation. Just what he always wanted.

Yesterday was pretty freaky. We visited with the radiation people. He has never had radiation before. His first 6 days in the hospital, he will undergo about 30 minutes a day of high dose radiation. He has to stand there the whole time. The side effects are pretty scary and it will probably make him pretty sick.

We also met with the cardiologist. There was some concern if his heart would be strong enough to undergo the high dose chemo. For a minute there I thought we wouldn't be able to move forward. It's funny, how much we dread the procedure, but there was a moment of panic if the transplant was no longer an option. The Dr. put Jim on heart meds to "fortify" his heart and they will watch him closely in the hospital, but it is not a deal breaker.

So, Friday we go to LDS for a final family conference. Saturday, LDS for a shot, Sunday, LDS for a shot, Monday, LDS for a shot and Central Line placement. Tuesday, Jim enters his cave. It is hard to look forward to this as a positive thing, but I am trying to gear up so that I can bring him positive energy and pull him through this. I am going to go shopping today or tomorrow to get some pictures and homey things to put in his room. I asked him how he wanted me to decorate his room and he said that he wanted it to feel like home. So, I will do my best to bring a little bit of home to the small sterile environment. He did request a window this time, so we are hoping for a view. Last time his window had a view of a brick wall. Not a good thing when you cant go outside and rarely leave your room. I told him if there was no view I was going to get his Nephew John and his wife
Emily who are artists to paint him a window. Whatever it takes.

We have been thinking that we have an idea of what this will be like, but the Dr's tell us it is not even the same as before. It is a whole different ball game because of using a donor. Donor sounds so cold like it doesn't even come from a person. It is Evan, Jim's brother, who is giving his bone marrow. He is my parents age but has taken care of himself and is as healthy as a horse (whatever that means). Evan has the goods. Yea Evan. We Love You. I also know that it will be a comfort to Jim seeing his brother for a couple of days during this process.

Well, this is our last normal weekend together. A little sad. On Sunday, Brendan speaks in church and Sarah sings. This was not planned but will be nice since this is Jim's last Sunday for a while.

Pray for us. We know the power of prayer and need it.

Stay tuned. I will be keeping you posted and I am going to do some videos also.