Worth about 239,000 words

Happy New Decade! We have two updates.

First, Susannah's transplant has now been more or less firmly scheduled. She'll be going into the hospital on January 22nd (Not January 8th, as we previously believed). She'll have several days of chemotherapy, followed by radiation, the transplant itself, and then engrafting. She will probably be hospitalized between three and four weeks, a little less than we had expected.

It may be possible for a few people who are in very good health to visit her in the hospital, depending on her energy levels. Please contact Ethan about that, well in advance. (trelevenfarm at-sign gmail.com)

Second, we have recieved a wonderful Christmas present from Sarah and Brian, along with at least twenty-four other people. It is a group effort, and we hope you'll join in.

Susannah can't bring too much stuff into the hospital with her. Sarah and Brian have given us a digital picture frame with an SD memory card, which currently holds about 239 pictures (Of us, of our family, our friends, our friends' babies, people's vacations, all sorts of things. Some of them are straight photos, and some have messages on them. It's incredibly cool.)

And you can get in on the act. Sarah has set up a communal website which you can join and upload pictures, which we will then download onto the picture frame. (Also, you can check out the pictures yourself). It is very nifty and easy to use. If you're daunted by the technology, ask someone under 25.

So. Happy holidays and turning of the year, and thank you, everyone, for all your many kinds of love and support. See you in the magic picture frame...

Transplant soon...

We've entered the countdown to the moment when Susannah enters her reparative bubble: January 8th or 15th, depending on whether or not her bone marrow donor travels, like so many of us, over the holidays. In the waning days of the year come more details on that confinement, and also the Preparatory Appointments, which read something like a medicalized Twelve Days of Christmas (we believe it even scans):

24 tubes of blood drawn

1 tooth extracted

1 lung capacity

3 anesthesiologists

2 hematologists

2 oral surgeons

1 social worker

5 dental techs...

4 orderlies

3 RNs

2 physicals

and an echocardiogram.

Out of this grand list, in truth I am writing to ask that you please send your best post-wisdom tooth soft food suggestions.

And here are some additional details: until early January (and, in fact, beyond) you can send cards and letters to:

21 Woodbridge St., Apt. IL

S. Hadley, MA 01075

Once Susannah enters the hospital, she will NOT be checking email, possibly for several months. She will likely not be available by phone, either. Look for updates on this blog, and direct any emails or electronic photos, music, etc. via/cc'd to Ethan, trelevenfarm [AT] gmail.com.

While Susannah is is the hospital, mail (and CDs of your favorite music, for either relaxation, clear thinking, or both) can find us at:

Susannah McCandless

(Room number ... If you don't know the room, call 617-732-5164)

Brigham and Women's Hospital

75 Francis Street

Boston, MA 02115

-A friend has given us a Kindle electronic book reader, which stays in close communication with its parent company, Amazon, and downloads whole books in a single bound. You can suggest books or audiobooks (we hear reading may initially be too energetic!) we might enjoy via email. In a stunning marketing strategy, Amazon appears even to have invented gift cards: http://www.amazon.com/gp/gc/ref=g_gc-gc_dp_redirect.

-We have succumbed and subscribed to Netflix. Our wonderful independent video store is just too far away. Send your picks for film and television. Given the memory impairments that come with chemo, Susannah may be able to enjoy old chestnuts all over again.

-Again, send pictures or links to pictures of your life and times, and of beautiful and silly things in the world.

-While every transplant experience, and every doctor's prescribed regimen is different, if you want details on the nitty gritty of transplants, possible post-transplant challenges, and care, check out www.marrow.org, and the "patients and families" tab. The Cleveland Clinic also has a fairly in-depth set of short articles about different aspects of transplants at http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/Bone_Marrow_Transplantation/hic_Bone_Marrow_and_Transplantation.aspx