Don: We are still trying to catch up on what has happened so far. Eventually we will be in ‘real-time’ mode. For now we are telling you things that happened in the last few days. I did write an email to family, in the wee hours of Thursday morning, telling them about our day Wednesday. Here is what it said…

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Good morning everyone!
 
It took 3 days to complete tests at Shands and finally get Karen admitted on that third day. There have been quite a few tests and the days have been very long for Karen, her parents (Ken and Madeline) and me. It seems like most of what we have done is “hurry up and wait” but we are finally here.
 
I may get some of the terms incorrect but basically they have installed a central line that has three lines so that she can be given more than one medication at a time. It is like a fancier IV that you would see in someone’s arm and is placed in the chest area just under the right shoulder. They are using it to give her fluids tonight but some time on Thursday we will get started on chemo. For those that have been here before it is the “standard” 7-3 treatment. This will take one month. Then we basically have 4 other one month treatments over a one year time span that start one week after the first treatment. They refer to this as consolidation.
 
I have never personally seen any of this stuff before so it is all new to me. I have now seen plenty and hate that we are here but am very happy that Karen is getting this quality of care! The Doctors and Nurses that we have been in contact with so far really now their stuff! I can already tell insurance may be a nightmare, won’t cover everything that it takes but is still a huge blessing as we would not be here without it.
 
There have been many blessings (call them ‘good luck’ if you want) that have been happening. Walls that have been in our way have just fallen down as we move forward. For now that is all we can do, move forward. Today I got my biggest surprise. A great friend of mine, Hieu Le, came to Shands one year ago and was here for 3 months. When he left here it was to be with God. This hit his wife, daughter and son very hard. I will never forget seeing his wife the very next day and hearing the news… As I was moving Karen into her room I saw Kim and Anthony Le (Hieu’s wife and son) at the nurses’ station! It was great to visit with them. One of my tasks today was to try to call them in Panama City but here they were, standing right in front of me. It turns out that Anthony lives one block away from Shands now and just started attending UF in the Dental program. His Mom was just down visiting him and they came by Shands to just say Hello to some of the nursing staff they have come to call friends. Anthony has opened his home to me while Karen has all of her upcoming visits to Shands. God is everywhere.
 
Guess that wraps up what has happened so far. Prayers are appreciated!
 
Don and Karen