Long day, lots of love and support

(This is Mike, who was intending to remember to do this a bit earlier.)

It was a pretty long and tiring day for Dad today, but now (and actually, since about 5pm) he's in bed at home, sleeping comfortably. Dad's doctor asked our Hospice nurse, Carole, to take some blood yesterday for testing, because he was worried that Dad's platelet count might be low. The tests indicated that this was the case, so the doctor called us first thing this morning and asked us to bring Dad into the local hospital (10-15 minutes away) for another blood test and then, if the platelets were still low, a transfusion of platelets. After a little breakfast, and with the help of a Hospice home health care aide, Mom and I got Dad into the car and to the hospital, where they drew more blood. Tests indicated that his platelets were still low, and so were his white blood cells. The doctor (Dad's radiation oncologist, Dr. Traughtmann) consulted with Dad's primary/chemo oncologist, Dr. Brick, and they decided to have Dad stay at the local hospital today and get him some platelets, and then send him home with two prescriptions for antibiotics to counteract infections that might result from his low white blood cell count. Unfortunately, the platelets had to come via courier from Charlotte, so we were at the hospital most of he day, though Dad slept in his hospital bed most of that time. Finally, the platelets showed up, the mission was accomplished, and Mom and I (with the help of hospital staff) got Dad into the car, brought him home, and put him to bed.

Dad was really, really wiped out after the stressful day, but he had enough energy to sit up and say good-bye to his sister Judy, his sister Mary, and her husband Jim, who have been visiting for the past few days and are driving home to central New York very early tomorrow morning. We've all been grateful to have them here, shoring us up with love, humor, joyful stories, and lots of help and support both physical and spiritual. Our dear family friends Theresa (Ta-Ta), Chris, and Christopher drove all day today to join us tomorrow, and we look forward to seeing and hugging them very much.

Dad and Mom are very well-loved, and we're being supported soooo much, in so many ways, by so many family, friends, and neighbors, that I hesitate to name any names among so many. The list of people who have helped us just in very tangible ways within the last 24 hours alone is enormous. But I wanted to thank their dear friends Kevin and Michelle, who have been there for us constantly, in so many ways, for driving into downtown Charlotte tonight and bringing us my wonderful wife, whom I've missed terribly, from the train station. And also their next-door neighbor, Christy, who graciously and welcomingly opened her home to us. Tina's asleep right now in the bed in Christy's spare room, and I'm about to join her.

As always, we can't begin to express our gratitude for the love, prayer, and support and you all express toward us in so many ways.

Love,
Tom & Lynne
Mike & Tina
Sean & Anna