Down the slippery slope.....

Day three after the transplant, and I have a curious feeling that everything in the world is coated with a thick veneer of molasses. I feel my energy ebbing slowly away; the daily walk to the checkup at Mayo seems like a stage of the Tour de France; foods and drinks are starting to taste a bit off; my stomach is beginning to protest about what gets put into it. And most of all, sleep is starting to sound like the answer to every question that can be posed. "What do you wish to eat?" "I think I'll have a nap, thanks." By day 4 or 5, or day 6 at the latest, it will be all I can do to drink 10 cups of liquid per day and consume 1600 daily calories--maybe it will be more than I can do, until the white blood cells start to recover. If so, I will be hospitalized, so that these important matters can be managed by intervenous means. If I stumble through as an outpatient, it will only be due to the care of Florence and her support team. Our dear friends Frank Taylor and Barry Schroeder will be here days 4 through 6, to be followed by one of Florence's childhood friends, Nancy Stockdale, who will be here days 7-9, then Amy Upjohn will be back for her second round of support. There's just no substitute for caring for the caregiver--thank heavens that, due to our family and friends, we have that essential task covered! As for me, I am signing off for a few days of nastiness, with high hopes for better times on the other side. Thanks to all who have read, commented, prayed, and good karmaed in response to this blog thus far: I plan on completing it after I am once more among you, in the land of the living!