T-8 (transplant day minus 8)

Drew had two rounds of Total Body Irradiation today, plus a booster, and spent his first full day in 9200. He looks a little pink today (medium rare) with some skin rashes, but otherwise the ordeal was mostly just tiring. He still managed to walk long distances, but by day's end he was disappearing under his comforter for an early night.

As would any pampered member of Gen Y, he toured the 9200 hall and found a bigger room and talked the staff into moving him in - new address: room 9216. Still no gown, still no dining room meals.

A high-tech hospital just looks different. Look down the hall at most hospitals, and you see some doors, a few IV poles, and a few warning signs. Here on 9200, each room has windows, a computer terminal, and often a nurse entering data, reviewing charts, looking at medical web sites, and (yes, I caught one) doing email. Business email, of course.

Walking is the physical therapy of choice. 22 laps of 9200 to the mile.

As a place to visit, it is still a bit imposing with the four sets of double doors which won't open until the prior ones close. As a place to spend 40 days and 40 nights, it isn't a vacation getaway.

But it looks like a good place for a transplant.