Intense

(First, a blog note. We have learned several things about our blog that need a comment or two.

First, we have been accused of being more positive than this fight would suggest. It is true that we don't highlight the tears, emotional breakdowns, pain and discomfort of our experiences (and that's just eating in the hospital cafeteria). Yes, we do employ humor and diversion, but it's like Mt. Everest again: you acclimate to the thin air that would cripple others, and you don't take pictures of the frostbite - just the views from the summit. But we promise to be a bit more balanced.

Second, we have realized that, among the five thousand plus visits to our site, are those who haven't met Drew and therefore can't complete the 360 degree view of his story. We will work on that view as well.)

Day 19 was intense. Drew is intense. His ability to focus on a goal and reach it have been a joy to watch through his life. When his coach said to develop a better "left foot", he went into the back yard and pounded the brick wall with his soccer ball until his left foot bled and the bricks fell out of the wall. He hated to be scored on in goal and seldom was, and he picked up new sports with, well, intensity. His approach to the guitar, video games, defending friends, and other endeavors were similar. Beating cancer has been a series of activities focused on the goals given him by the medical team.

The last two days, Drew was in significant pain and overwhelmed by the pain medicines, breathing difficulties, swelling, and other problems. He was awake for most of the 48 hours, trying to stay comfortable by alternately walking, sitting, lying down, changing clothes, changing the thermostat, showering, rearranging his room, and anything else he could try, usually at two minute intervals. He wore out all his sherpas - brother, parents, nurses, and even doctors. Finally, he started coughing up blood from one problem related to his stem cells engrafting so quickly.

Drew is now under sedation in the intensive care unit (ICU), on a ventilator with breathing and feeding tubes. He will be kept unconscious for a few days for tests and treatment until the lungs recover. This rest will, when completed, help his swelling and put him a few more days down the path to freedom. We have temporarily checked out of the transplant ward, but we hope to be back later in the week. He will probably not remember any of the ICU time.

ICU is less family friendly. They use uncomfortable chairs to prevent long stays, they frown on any phones, food, or crowds, and the waiting room is like a lunchtime visit to the DMV with more emotions. ICU does have cool computers and monitors and other technology, and each patient has a full-time nurse and get constant attention from smart people.

On balance, an intense day.