DAILY NANCY UPDATE #91

Greetings. 

This is the ninety-first in a series of DAILY NANCY UPDATES I will be posting until the amazing Nancy Neufeld Callaway is in full remission and we have kicked her leukemia on its ass. 

If you'd like to be automatically notified of updates to this blog-- just enter your email address in the window on the right beneath Nancy's picture and follow the prompts!

BREAKING NEWS

Okay, there's good news and bad news. Let's start with the good.

Nancy's doctors at City of Hope have finally figured out what's been causing her headaches and fevers over the past 10 days. Turns out it's a very common virus called HHV6. It infects most of the human population by the time we're three years old, and then lies dormant, held at bay by a healthy immune system.

Unfortunately, the immunosuppression which occurs after a bone marrow transplant can often reactivate the virus, causing a form of encephalitis. That's why she's been experiencing some agonizing migraines and high fevers that have only been temporarily stopped by pain killers.

But now that they know what's been ailing her-- they also know how to treat it. So they began administering a powerful anti-viral drug this morning that has already stopped her fever and headaches entirely.

There's only one problem. And that's the bad news.

As the virus makes its way through the brain, another major symptom of HHV6 is confusion. So for the past 24 hours, Nancy has been a pretty fuzzy about what's going on. She will seem to be engaged in a lucid conversation with you-- but then lose track of what she's saying, be unable to find the right words, or use the wrong words entirely in a nonsensical way.

I can see it's really frustrating for her, and it's hard to watch her struggle. 

But back on the good news side... the team at COH are confident this condition is only temporary and the drug they're using to beat down the virus will also help her brilliant mind come back on line very soon.

Meanwhile, even though I'm trying to discourage her from using her phone or computer for the next day or so, if you're in any kind of direct contact with Nancy, please take whatever she says with a grain of salt. And also-- PLEASE don't attempt to schedule any kind of visit unless you've reached out to me first. With her typically cheerful demeanor, she'll tell you to come on over-- but the truth is, this really isn't the best time, and she probably won't remember it, anyway.

What she truly needs more than anything right now, is rest.

Thank you for your continuing good thoughts, vibes, prayers, love, support, kindness, and understanding as we fight to get the Sunshiny Superwarrior Goddess over one more hurdle on the road to remission. 

WE LOVE NANCY, and... 

ALL IS WELL!

If you'd like to send Nancy a little love (please no flowers, balloons, or food), you can reach her for the next few weeks at:

Nancy Neufeld Callaway

City of Hope Hospital

1500 E. Duarte Rd.

Helford Bldg. Rm. 6105

Duarte, CA 91010

Meal Train For The Callaways