We had a blizzard in Memphis on Friday, and were snowed in on Saturday. Sunday, Mac and some other kids went "sledding" on the slope in between Target House 1 and Target House 2. I'm not sure if that's what it's called when you use rubber maid tops and cardboard boxes, but there was sliding involved!

Otherwise not much new to report, just pray Donor #2 is in perfect health!! More later!

We heard today that our 10 out of 10 match did not pass the physical. Mac has a 9 out of 10 match as a back up that is now being put through the process. If they pass the test, we'll be a couple weeks later in the process. If not, it's back to the drawing board. As they explained to me, he is "open" in the search part, so if a great match comes in, they will get a message. Back to the waiting game for us.

Here's a big cheer from Memphis.... GO SAINTS!! We're gonna be watching when the Superdome levitates, stops for a poboy and flies on to Miami!!!

BMT update: It is actually called a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant or HSCT. But we still refer to it as a Bone Marrow Transplant. Mac will go into the hospital on Feb. 10 for about 5 days to get his immunosuppressant. (They will not be using ATG this time!) Then he'll go back in on Feb. 23 for chemo and on March 4 he will get the donor's bone marrow. His match is a 10 out of 10 so that's an advantage going in. We don't know anything about the donor and they don't know anything about Mac except that he's an 11 year old male. (After 1 year we are free to contact each other.) At some point at the end of January he has to have his single lumen changed to a double lumen. He also has a schedule full of appointments, scans, evals, and of course school and PT. He's feeling pretty good and we are just trying to make the most of our 'freedom' until we go back in. He's mastered the Rubik's cube in his spare time! You can see his cheeks are almost back to normal.


Thanks for checking in and praying. Hope you are enjoying the day off if you got one!!

I haven't forgotten to update, there's just not much to report. I meet with our BMT attending on Friday so I'll know more then. Mac is feeling good, going to school and PT and clinic. We're getting him in shape because the stronger he is going in, the better. (That was Mo's idea, and the doctors agree with him!) Today he had school and we went to see a movie. He's been craving hibachi, so we've been to Shogun twice. (Whatever it takes to beef him up!!) In the meantime it's the calm before the storm (are you having deja vu from my July posting?!) And since the weather has reached the double digits (no kidding - it was 9 degrees one day last week!) it's more bearable to be outside and go places!

I met with Dr. Reiss and Martha today and they have decided it is time to pursue a Bone Marrow Transplant. I have lots of questions and meetings ahead, but what I do know is that there are going to be evaluations of organs and bloodwork in the next couple of weeks. So I assume we'll begin the process by late January or early February. Will let you know more as I find out.

Happy New Year! We've been fine. We've enjoyed having Peter and Annie with us along with some friends who came up to see us. Mac's levels are stable, nothing new to report. Still waiting for RBC and platelets to show up. A decision about a BMT will be made soon, until then we're just watching for signs of hope!

Thanks for all the Christmas cards, packages and emails! It's always fun for the kids to check the mail box!