Looking Up (with a ways to go)

This is like a moment in a movie where the hero has achieved his goal, but is still stuck in a coal mine, or on a runaway train, or has to land the damaged space ship safely. Rosina was taken off the ventilator this morning at nine, and her white blood cell count had risen to 4.9 by the end of the day, a huge leap. Both of these are good and a relief to those of us standing by, but for her, she's woken up into a difficult time. Her body is sore, she's very weak, she can barely speak, and is having a hard time getting comfortable in any position.

The first two things she said to me were "My back" and "I'm afraid". This will all pass, but I know that for her, looking up, it's a long way to the surface. I told her that things were going well, to think of every calm, positive image she could, and let all the other thoughts slip away. I encourage you to do the same. In fact, let's all do that - think of one simple smiling image of Rosina and keep it in your head. I have a bunch. They tend to be surrounded by green or ocean.

She will most likely stay in the ICU for another day and then go back up to the Bone Marrow Transplant floor. The care in the ICU has been excellent and the nurses there are fantastic, both with their skills and their patience. As crazy as it seems sometimes, this level of health care is so sophisticated and really a privilege.

Will keep you posted from the edge of the woods.

xo
ph