Bone Marrow Transplant- Day Minus 6

Dear Friends.

John was admitted yesterday to Brigham and Woman's Hospital to begin his Bone Marrow Journey. That day was referred to by the doctors as Day minus 6, all days up in until transplant are negative and day 0 is the day of the transplant and then from then on we talk in positive days. We arrived at the hospital at 5.30am. We have talked about this day for a year and half and now here we were; scared but oddly calm. John went into surgery at 7.30am to have a Hickman line put in his chest, this will enable them to administer drugs (save them poking his arm a million times a day) and the stem cells (the volume of which will be too great for an IV).

They originally tried to put the line his right chest vein however it was not there; apparently 30% of people do not have that vein, so they went into a superficial neck vein (superficial simply means surface).
The rest of the day was spent resting, watching TV you would never even consider were you not in a hospital with nothing else to do!

They are very strict about germs, every thing has to be wiped down and all have to wear a mask and gloves; even his wife! :) 

The whole day we were surrounded by the tangible presence of God; I never feel His presence quite as strong as when I am here. Jesus dwells in the waiting room, the ICU, the wards- he dwells with the sick, hurting and broken; I am so glad He chooses this.

John and I talked that night before we went to sleep, shared our fears and hopes and reminded ourselves of the scriptures God had given us and took strength; we talked about how we would  feel if this really worked; I could not stop the tears.

Day Minus 5 is Chemo...