Admission Day

Admission to VGH has arrived today. Remission has maintained and the battery of tests has gone well, so the team is going ahead with the transplant, and I am so grateful.

We have had a wonderful August including the trips to Long Beach and Kelowna, and both kids are now settled into University, and Caroline has resumed some semblance of normality with work. It will be a quiet house with  three of us gone, but Rupert the cat gets to come back inside.

I have 6 days of "conditioning" starting tomorrow, and then my transplant, by simple IV infusion, is now planned for Sept 15. I will be largely cloistered from the outside world in hospital for 4-6 weeks because of germ concerns, but family will still be able to visit at times, and even bring food, like my mom's augolemono soup, or Greek chicken soup.

The cobalt radiation machine shown here is the same generation as the one used for my grandmother almost 40 years ago, and cured her of her cancer at the time.  It reminds me of the Starship Enterprise.

I am now at the state where I am totally ready for this journey, thanks to all the time reflecting, reading, and welcoming the love and prayers and good wishes of all the wonderful people supporting me, and again I am so grateful. For me now, it is time to climb a big hill on my bicycle, maybe Cypress mountain;  relax the body, centre the breathing, and focus the mind, and simply find my rhythm and climb the hill. Eventually, you know there is a plateau, with its rewards.

Addendum: Now admitted and settled in to my private room, complete with wifi, cell phone and room service. Sister Michelle is by for a visit on her lunch hour from City Hall.  Will get into my book shortly.