Dear Family and Friends,

Yesterday we got confirmation that we can move back home the weekend of August 21/22, just a few days shy of 100 days post-transplant.  We’d been asking about this for a while but they didn’t want to give us the OK until Barry’s CMV was undetectable for two weeks, which it now is, and his counts (white blood and platelets) started recovering, which they have.

Last week Dr. Miklos stopped by when we were in the ITA (Infusion Treatment Area). I asked him whether there was any significance to the fact that the same day they did the chimerism (engraftment) test was the same day his CMV was really high.  He said, “Well, think about it.  Who is CMV positive?”  That would be Barry as his donor is CMV negative.  So Barry’s T-Cells (T-Cells fight infection) were mobilized to fight the CMV and once the CMV is gone, her T-Cells can take over. He was very upbeat and we’ve been feeling that way as well.

We are very much looking forward to ending our incarceration, even though it is a lovely apartment.  Being able to have fresh air and normal contact with our family and friends will be such a treat. Barry will still be on many restrictions, although he will not have to wear his HEPA Filter Mask except when in medical facilities.  It won’t be until next May that he will be able to get on an airplane, take public transportation, hug friends, go to public events such as theater, etc., etc., etc.  But we will have major portions of our life back.  I will return to work after Labor Day and we will not be spending 24/7 together.  Not that that’s been a problem at all, but we are really starved for the company of others (that would be all of you).

I will keep you posted.  Barry will have a bone marrow biopsy (his 13th) on August 16 and we will get results (chimerism and cancer) about a week later.

Much love,

Bonnie

PS — Barry has just posted to www.agauchepress.com