As I predicted in my last posting, we did not return to Cambridge for a March 1 appointment. We are still at the beach house.
The search for a donor is in a critical stage right now. As of Friday, they had found only one of the two cords I'd need for a cord transplant, but that search continues. We've ruled out Zachary's stored cord as a possiblity. They received blood samples from that donor the identified on Feb 8th as potentially a full match. It will be another week before all the tests on that sample are complete. As the result of some papers presented at the bone marrow conference last week, there may be more reason to believe that the donor who is a match except for one antigen which is a 0301 to my 0315 might be close enough. The bottom line here is that we are close to a conclusion about a donor but have necessary tests outstanding. When the tests on the last donor are complete, I believe the transplant team will assess the options and make a recommendation. This will likely take place at their meeting on March 9. Sometime after that we will return to Cambridge. But all this continues to be very tentative.
I continue to feel pretty good. My red blood and platelet count are now well below the normal range, but not critically. White blood count actually went up last week. I've gone from a mood of "waiting" [appropriate to Advent] to a period of self examination and feeling God's blessings. I have begun fully to do Ignatius' Spiritual Direction with Ken Ireland as my "giver of the exercises."
Today I've gone on a "porch pilgrimage." After attending an Ash Wed service at 7 this morning, I'm spending the day on the ocean side porch in silence. I can remember seeing commercials of silent monks conversing by email. I always wondered if that were cheating. And here I sit on my silent day, posting a message to you to say that I'm grateful for your loving attention.
And thank you Heather and Jeff for the verbal and visual messages about the institution of All Saints' new rector. It was the next best way to be there.
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