There is nothing there.

Donnie, Donnie, Donnie what can I say about this guy! I can say a lot, but I'll start at the beginning. I've been trying to find out about his PET scan all week but I could't get Dr. Zhou to call me back. So, I called Tanya, our stem cell transplant coordinator at USC, to find out what the deal was. She told me that she was missing a bunch of lab work for Donnie and his PET scan. All of which she needs to start his chemo tomorrow. We went back and fourth calling Dr. Zhou and talking to her again and never really got anywhere. Finally by the end of the day she said she would call me in the morning to hopefully give me a update. But before she got off the phone she wanted me to facetime (iPhone term) her, so she could see what Donnie's catheter looked like. So I did and she was like OMG why doesn't he have a dressing on it. And I told her they never told us he needed to keep it on there. Long story short, apparently, this thing is suppose to be cleaned by a nurse once a week and re-bandaged, no showering with it. And here we are, cleaning it with a wet wash cloth and Donnie's shower with it. She literally gasped when she asked what I used to clean it with and I told her a wash cloth. I got so made that we saw 2 different nurses and they never told us any of that. Anyway, after all of that me and Donnie put a bandage on and we'll have the hospital nurse clean it tomorrow, but seriously, two nurses! Now today, I talked with Tanya this morning and she still was missing some stuff but she had the PET scan. I was like, oh you have the PET scan, I've been trying to call Dr. Zhou about it but I still haven't heard from him and she was like, he never told you about it. Well its amazing. I said amazing?? is it still there?? and she said no, there is nothing there! What?? I thought to myself, nothing. So I asked again, there's nothing?? and she said, nope! I honestly couldn't believe it. It was exactly what he needed, he needed nothing left to be able to do stem cell. It's an answered prayer! So, I'm sure you're wondering why still go on with stem cell if its gone? Well, in order to do stem cell they need stem cells that are not cancerous. Honestly, its the ideal situation to go into the transplant with no cancer. It gives him a better shot of him not regrowing cancer when they put them back in. This news was kind of bittersweet for me because yes, it is excellent news but our longest road is still ahead. Its like yayy, there's no cancer but we still have to do 2 more months of treatment and hospitals and doctors and shots and driving and missing our kids and waiting for normal. Sorry, for Debbie Downer but I'm a realist. I'm happy. I'm elated. I'm also thinking what lies ahead. And honestly I don't know if I'm ready for it. No choice though, right?! I want that guy healthy more than probably anything. We are just one step closer and I guess that's all I can do, is live in each step. Not think about the next one, just rejoice in this one! And this one is a pretty big, amazing one. I'm so proud of Donnie. He has done all of this {most} of the time with a smile on his face. Never complaining. Heck, I think I complain more than him. He has fought through this and he has such a positive attitude on the road still to come. I just couldn't imagine going through all of this with someone else. He has made this easier on me and our family just by being the sweet soul he is. As much as I hate cancer, it has given us a whole new appreciation for each other. A deeper understanding of, in sickness and in health. Today made me realize what he really accomplished. I may think about the upcoming journey in front of us but man, am I proud of him!

We are still waiting for Tanya to get labs, if she is unable to get what she needs tomorrow they will have to postpone his chemo a week. Which he was suppose to start tomorrow. She needs to have certain stuff before the harvest and the harvest has to be done exactly 10 days after Cytoxan (high dose chemo)  and they have to start harvest on a Monday so you get the drift... I'll update if he gets in tomorrow or not.

Thank you everyone for all the thoughts and prayers, they worked :)