Remarkable

It's time to write the post I've been dreaming about for months and I don't know what to say. As many of you know, Clyde had a complete work-up today at the clinic. The medical team was looking very closely in an attempt to discover how the transplant was doing in the fight against Clyde's lymphoma. In addition to the usual blood work, the plan was to do a total body CAT scan and compare the results to CAT scans taken before the transplant. In the scan the doctors can see the extent to which the lymphoma is causing swelling in lymph nodes, the spleen, the liver and the kidneys. The greater the swelling, the greater the cancer involvement.

When Dr. Longo came into the exam room to discuss test results, he didn't want to talk about the blood test results. He wanted to share with Clyde that the CAT scan results were completely, absolutely, normal. All the lymph nodes, the spleen, the liver that had been swollen with cancer cells were now normal in size. There are no signs of lymphoma. As far as Clyde's doctors are concerned, the transplant is, at the moment, kicking some cancer ass.

If you're reading this and sensing an absence of enthusiasm it's because none of us really know what to feel about this news. Nobody seems to have the language to express the joy we're all feeling about the fact that it appears that Clyde has her health back. What do you say when someone thanks you for helping her feel better than she's felt in two and a half years? What would your reaction be if you were a parent learning that your child now has a chance at a normal life without reliance on chemo for a marginal existence. Put yourself in the shoes of anyone close to Clyde and the enormity of this news becomes almost overwhelming.

In the days to come I hope that I'll get my head around the miraculous success we're experiencing. I apologize for the scattered nature of this post. In the meantime know that Clyde appears to be cancer free and that your positive thoughts and prayers played a major role.

Send Clyde a note on her Facebook page at

www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1136971466 (copy the address and paste into your browser)

I know she'll appreciate hearing from you.

Be well.