This is the one hundred and thirty-first in a series of DAILY NANCY UPDATES I have posted-- now celebrating the fact that even though her post bone marrow transplant and brain seizure recovery continues... the amazing Nancy Neufeld Callaway is in full remission and has kicked her leukemia on its ass.
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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
And honestly, we can't think of a better way to celebrate our own Sunshiny Superwarrior Goddess than by sharing the incredibly emotional adventure she experienced on Friday.
It was the CITY OF HOPE 42ND ANNUAL BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT REUNION-- bringing patients of all ages and walks of life together who each have one thing in common: their lives were miraculously spared from cancer, thanks to the heartfelt and generous efforts of bone marrow donors and the hospital's extraordinary doctors, nurses, and staff.
Accompanied by her amazing friend Katerina (thanks again, Katy!), Nancy got to enjoy an incredibly moving day of connection-- not only with fellow patients, but also with her beloved and brilliant physician, Dr. Stephen Forman.
But don't take my word for it. You should read what the SSWG has to say about the whole event herself:
NANCY WRITES:
The Bone Marrow Transplant Reunion was unforgettable. I was surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of people in so many stages of recovery, all who have been incredibly cared for at City of Hope— and many, who like myself, have been treated by Dr. Stephen Forman, a soft-spoken, petite man, humble in all ways, brilliant and dedicated to changing, lengthening and ultimately saving people’s lives. He oozes kindness and compassion. He is a saint on Earth.
On one side of me, was a woman carrying a very small child on her hip, around three years old. And her adorable daughter was wearing a big blue button that said 10 months. That immediately got my attention, since nobody else had my same short recovery date of only 11 months. The button was as big as her little head, but as she giggled and played with it, I wasn’t quite sure which of them it belonged to.
So looking casually back and forth between her and her daughter, I asked the woman how long she had been in recovery, and she said, “Oh, not me. It’s my daughter.” This beautiful little girl laughing in her arms had been diagnosed with Leukemia at only two and half years old, and was now in full recovery due to the efforts of Dr. Forman and all the caregivers at City Of Hope.
On the other side of me was a much older woman wearing a button that said 22 years in recovery. I asked her how she was feeling, and she told me she feels better now at 74 than she did before she got sick. That she took her life for granted until she almost lost it.
The sheer number of people and their powerful stories of triumph over cancer was overwhelming. All there with their families, and all forever indebted to Dr. Forman. Seeing so many faces from so many places was oddly comforting. And just knowing that I didn’t go through this journey alone was grounding and deeply inspiring.
I cried a lot, but I smiled even more!
So there you have it. The Survivor has spoken. The kids and I are so incredibly grateful to still have her in our lives... and we know you feel the same way, or you wouldn't be reading any of this.
Thank you SO much for being there for all of us during her journey. Your constant love, prayers, encouragement, and support, have made all the difference in the world.
WE LOVE NANCY, and...
ALL IS WELL!
