We're with you and your brother, eagle . . . in spirit. We're surrounding you with love and prayers and holding you close to our hearts. All the best,

Kathy

Well Cathi, you're right about the bouncing back and forth. Gary was in much better shape this morning than when I left him yesterday! We were both still very scared about the chemo though, because he was still so weak. But the doctor who had ordered the chemo had 'forgotten' to sign the order, so they couldn't go ahead with it until today's doctor okayed it. He had to sign before 2pm or it wouldn't go through. He finally saw my brother at 1:50! After some questioning and prodding, he decided that he would NOT order the chemo, but instead ordered two days worth of a medication that we've called Gary's "magic pill". It's a steroid that has worked wonders in the past. It boosts his appetite, energy and morale every time he takes it. So the doctor decided to put him on that for a few days until he could talk with the entire transplant team. His hope is to bypass this "interim" chemo and go directly to the stem-cell transplant procedure.

I was sitting there stunned at the good news (i.e., magic pill versus deadly chemo)...and then it hit me, this was the best answer to our prayers. It was no accident that yesterday's doctor "forgot" to sign the order! A beautiful warm peace flowed right through me and I knew, I just knew, that this was God's was of yet again assuring me that He was in on this whole journey (I love you, we're going to make it, I know the way).

What a boost of energy, power and peace that was! That's OUR prayers at work here. He's listening. We don't know what the outcome will be, but it's clear we're not walking this alone!

PS. I could use a fun game of cards right now.

glade you shared the good news eagle, god-incidents (dotsies word) worked out for the best agin...

i would love to play cards or something with you at the minuet just for the fun of it, hopefully a wee support and destraction for you...

i know a lot of people heer are praying for you and your brother isen't it humbling to get some evidence that they are being listend too and answered. Long may it continue

love celtic

Eagle, I will continue to hold you and your brother
up in prayer. It is hard with all the ups and
downs, for sure.

Thanks for sharing the good news. As celtic stated, Long may it continue.

How are you doing these days? Is your health in better shape? Want to play a game of vitural cards?

Eagle, you belong in the Featured Author forum with that response. It's about giving thanks in all things. I'm tickled by your response to the news. I'm praying for that magic pill to build him up!

Great news, eagle!!

Your story made my spine tingle. What an amazing story. I'm so happy for both of you.

Very quick update. After a week of intense chemo every day last week, Gary finally had his stem cells "reinfused" (transplanted) yesterday afternoon. He's very weak. The next ten days are the most critical, since this is when he'll be most vulnerable to infections/complications. His blood counts will probably be down to zero today, and won't be expected to start rising again until 10 days from today. So he's in the most fragile condition of this entire cancer journey thus far.

I'm spending about 8 hours at the hospital with him, so life is hectic. Even when we're not at the hospital, we're running around doing errands for him, sending out email updates to everyone or filling out reams of paperwork for him, so we're 200% immersed into this cancer thing! It's such a brutal disease in every way imaginable.

Anyway, I do manage to get here to read posts almost every evening, but just don't have the energy or brain-power to post any responses. But I do keep everyone in my prayers and thoughts while sitting those long hours in the hospital. At least he's in an isolation room now, which has a lot more space (even his own fridge), a beautiful view and a really comfy chair for me (much easier on the old tailbone!)

My 6-year-old granddaughter went out on Sunday(with my hubby) and hand-picked a beautiful tea cup for me to use at the hospital, so I wouldn't have to use styrofoam cups all the time. So I make sure I steep myself a good hot cup of Earl Grey every morning at the hospital, and think of all my boomer sisters while sipping my tea.

Now if my granddaughter only knew how to play cards...

Eagle, I was trying to PM you this morning and I got the message, "can't search again at this time".

I was wondering how Gary was doing as we hadn't heard in awhile.We are keeping you in prayer.

Hopefully the next 10 days will go by quickly for both of you, without complications.

If I was closer, I'd be glad to beat you at cards.

chick