The last 5-ish weeks have been extra difficult on me for many reasons. It has been full of joy and laughter and memories but also full of random, smack me in the face, anxiety, fear, anger, and sadness. I’m dealing with all of it the best I can and staying focused on getting us to transplant, through transplant, and preparing for the other side. Mason has been a huge pillar of strength for me. He has grown leaps and bounds just in the last 5 months and I couldn’t be more proud of him. So many changes going on in his life, despite the obvious. Luke continues to be the most focused, practical, mightiest human I know. Physically and mentally. I know he has his difficult moments and days, even though he doesn’t ever complain. I can see it in his eyes, even when we don’t talk about it out loud.

The isolation has been VERY difficult. My parents have been isolating as well so they are able to be here or at their home. Our GG has been a life preserver for all of us. Mason started remote school last Wednesday just until Luke and I check-in this Sunday at Children’s. We are SO CLOSE to really getting to transplant and are doing EVERYTHING to not have anything get in the way.

Due to Luke testing positive for flu at the end of February, Luke was put on two different chemotherapies. We had to make sure his leukemia stayed undetectable during this delay so that when we did indeed get to transplant, we could proceed. He finished his IV chemotherapy and his 28 day pill form mchemotherapy a couple of days ago. I can’t tell you how many trips and tests we have made to Children’s just in the last 8 weeks for all of this. Many days there, but also many days at home looking for things to do to fill our time with joy. Both Luke and I have to redo ALL of our work-ups, tests, again. And again. Luke has a gazillion. We both have many more in the next 5 days. My arms look a bit like a heroin addict due to all of the needle sticks but I could really care less. They can take my arms if they want to, if they needed to, to help my boy.

Luke has taken up golfing! And hiking. Two ways we have discovered he can be outside when the weather is nice and be isolated. Safe. He feels REALLY good, is eating and eating, and tolerated the latest chemo like a walk in the park compared to what he has been through before. Thankful, thankful, thankful.

Luke had a biopsy last Friday and we got the official results yesterday- MRD negative! He is still in remission, his leukemia is undetectable at the moment so once we get through the remaining tests this week, TRANSPLANT IS ON, again.

Plan as of now:

Sunday April 16- we check in to Children’s

Monday April 17-23- conditioning chemo (gnarliest of all the chemo he has ever had). This is to wipe ALL his cells out of his body to prepare to take on mine. This chemo brings on challenges and risks of its own.

Thursday April 20th- Suz starts her injections to stimulate stem cells into her peripheral blood

April 24th- Suz “harvests” her stem cells for 6-8 hours. We hope we get enough in one day but I am scheduled for 4 days of “harvesting.” Luke waits, quite miserably, until there is enough cells of mine. They then literally take the bag of cells to Luke and put them into him. We are told his transplant will take about an hour and a half.

I have so much more to share, but I am looking for the umph to do it. Thank you for EVERYONE that has helped our family in so many ways! Too many to count.

Please keep sending us buckets of prayers. So grateful to have such an amazing posse.

Buckets of love,

Suz