DAILY NANCY UPDATE #102

Greetings. 

This is the one hundred and second 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!

FRIDAY NIGHT - BREAKING NEWS

Crazy day. 

Nancy woke up very alert. Then, after a morning visit from her doctor, she had another round of physical therapy. They sat her up again, she kept her own balance, kicked her feet a little on request, and spoke a bit, as well. 

Next, she was paid a visit by a speech pathologist, who performed a "swallowing consult" to determine whether Nancy was able to safely swallow any food or drink (something she was still unable to do as of just yesterday). And after several spoonfuls of water and applesauce-- the answer was an enthusiastic YES.

Once all that activity ended, she was tired and sporting a mild headache, so we let her rest...

Until Dr. Forman showed up again, with a lumbar puncture kit in hand. That's right. The poor girl was subjected to yet another spinal tap (I think we're up to 11 or 12 now since this whole odyssey began). But it was very necessary, to see if her cerebral-spinal fluid is as clean and free of the HHV6 virus as her blood currently is, after ten days on a powerful anti-viral drug.

And for the first time, I wasn't allowed in the room. I tried-- but without her brain fully online at this point, the doctor suspected Nancy might get agitated and need to be restrained by the nurses-- neither of which he wanted me to be subjected to. So I stepped out of her room. But I might as well have stayed in it.

Because the Sunshiny Superwarrior Goddess basically let him have it. 

I could literally hear her yelling at him through the glass. And let's just say she made it clear she wasn't pleased. But a few minutes later, it was finally over. He got what he needed and she got to lay back and give him seriously dirty looks. Which is actually kinda funny, if you knew what a genuinely nice guy he is. But she wasn't having any of it.

I quickly came back into the room, grabbing Nancy's hand. And after the doctor and nurses exited, I told her I was sorry she had to go through that again. Then I told her how strong and brave she was. And still is. And the whole thing started to make me incredibly emotional...

And that's when Nancy Neufeld Callaway, the woman who had just endured a lumbar puncture (not to mention the last seven months of hell), sweetly looked up at me and said...

"Don't cry... I'm gonna be okay..."

Which of course, really made me lose it. After all she's been through, she's trying to make me feel better? 

She's quite honestly, the most powerfully loving person I've ever known.

And right now, as of this writing-- she's being moved out of the ICU and back upstairs to the Hematology ward. Forman believes strongly the transplant nurses have plenty of experience with the virally induced issues she's slowly but surely recovering from. What's more, he also thinks that getting her out of the cold environment of Intensive Care and returning her to a warmly decorated room with twinkling lights, prayer flags, and the dozens of cards and trinkets we've collected from all of you will only help with the reorientation rehab she needs now. 

So please take note of the new room number in her address below, if you'd like to drop her a line. And thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your incredible support over these past 11 extremely difficult days.

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. 6127

Duarte, CA 91010

Meal Train For The Callaways