Post-transplant day 19 (10/04/06) -- The Valley of the Shadow of Death

Today, Charley woke up at 7 am for a bowl movement which he did not have for several days. The medical team was happy. His mouth sore and occasional bleeding still bother him a lot. Charley had a nose bleed while taking a shower so he got a platelet transfusion. Meanwhile, Charley's temp. was elevated to 38.4. Without modifing the antibiotics regimen, his fever was gone in the afternoon. The doctor thinks the improvement of his anal ulcer is the early functioning sign of new bone marrow. However, today's fever may delay the further function of bone marrow a little while. Overall, Charley has done his best to keep up routine activity in painting, walking and playing puzzles.

The volunteer program is outstanding and plausible. Charley is relatively weak today so he took a nap. In this morning, a nursing student came to paint with Charley. In the afternoon, a biochem majoring student-volunteer from Harvard University played with Charley both ain the toyroom and the bedside. He also shared that he is co-organizing a marrow drive at his school and aiming for minorities in the new semester. He was so pleased when he heard Quincy Chinese Church of Nazarene will have a drive on November 18.

We are doing the best to comfort Charley. Hopefully, FAITH, HOPE and LOVE carry him through the valley of shadow of the death. We pray for the smooth growing of new bone marrow toward the weekend.