Rick Updates: Season’s Greetings to All

What a year! For those who are counting, Dec. 31, 2008 will be day 315 since my transplant. There have been several set-backs including returns to the hospital, and at this writing I am suffering from graft vs. host disease that has caused mouth sores, gut problems and a nasty rash over most of my torso. But at this writing I am in better condition than others I know who are also recovering. I am able to eat anything I want, and I can leave the house (with my mask), we even traveled to Baltimore for Tori am Sean’s “Blessing of the wedding", and to Portland to see my aging parents, so you see I feel I have my liberty.

We had a wonderful Christmas around here. Sumptuous meals, terrific company; Emily, Michael and his mom were here Christmas Eve. The others spent the night here. Christmas Day we opened gifts, stopped to make and eat breakfast (Thanks Emily and Michael), then we finished the gifts around noon. The kids stayed until 2PM at which time I took a nap and Beck puttered around. A great day by any measure.

I’m also thankful for the hope I have for the future. Despite political and economical upheaval, unemployment numbers that boggle the mind, I believe we have the right guy at the top, and he has surrounded himself with the right people. I expect there will be lots of volunteers emerge to help with whatever. I sense the hope in others too.

So as my journey to wellness continues, I continue to work at my physical therapy, support others as I can and encourage you to contact the American Red Cross and talk to them about the ease of becoming a Blood Stem Cell Donor. It’s not the horror story it once was, and you may save a life. That’s a Random Act of Kindness that will never be forgotten.

In closing, a few photos for your viewing pleasure.