Last Day of "Restricted Freedom"

Today is the last day of what I fondly refer to as "restricted freedom". Each day has started with a visit to the Adult Bone Marrow Treatment Infusion Center. Our freedom begins when blood work is completed and all transfusions are done. We have been averaging five hours, yep, that means a few days of two hours but lots of eight hour sessions with assorted stuff in hanging bags. So each day begins once we are "freed" from the Center.

The human spirit continues to amaze me - one of the side effects Drew continues to experience is nausea and er...throwing up. Most of us would limit what we do, what we eat, and where we go. The doctors told Drew that he needed to get in him as much as he could because the nourishment from food was better than the liquid stuff at the hospital even if it didn't stay down. So, his attitude has been - choose my food wisely - opt for the fish or easier to digest items on the menu - position myself in direct line with the bathroom or survey the scene for other options - and enjoy the company I am with as long as I can. He even went to the movies yesterday with Boxley, Jordan and Ben. Once seated he asked if anyone got popcorn (as always, planning ahead for a bucket) - no popcorn, so Ben was sent to the snack bar for one. He returns with an empty bag that costs him $5.50. Immediately, the movie group sent young Ben back to the snack bar to get popcorn in the bag - might as well enjoy as much of the popcorn before the bag is needed. Movie starts, all is well, the stealth Drew quietly takes the popcorn bag heads to the back of the movie theatre, looses whatever he had eaten and quietly returns to the group.

Drew is going to beat this disease because this thing is just not strong enough to break the will of Drew. I would be mad, hysterical or just unbearable to be around - Drew has been smiling, lots of fun, and a terror at cards. So our last day of "restricted" freedom ends and we check-in at Duke, 9th floor Sunday morning at 9am. The biggest game of Drew's life begins on Monday, May 1st. Thanks for allowing us to share this experience with you.