Drew's Yaks

We commented on Mark Inglis summiting Mt. Everest this week, and his blog relays his descent as being a bit rough, with the expected minor frostbite and painful legs in the area that connects to his protheses. Mark reports he will be aided by a sled and a yak to complete his journey back to Kathmandu and then home.

Drew's yaks are also pitching in on his recovery. Our prime tasks are pulling his sled (the IV pole does get heavy), preparing and delivering the small but frequent nutrition, scurrying for the nurse when pumps beep and drugs are needed, and delivering entertaining banter during his waking times. Brian "yakked" yesterday and Ben is here today. Jordan will arrive when she gets over a cold...Drew's yaks cannot get even small illnesses while his white blood cell count is zero. Like the Everest climbers, he has lots of small problems every day but keeps his attitude positive as each problem gets studied and resolved or put in the "as expected, just put up with it" category.

Speaking of blood cells, real yaks can be happy at minus 40 degrees F because they have lots of small red blood cells. Drew has very few red blood cells, so he is getting transfusions almost every day now. He'd make a lousy yak.