This is day whatever, and the blogger is Pam, because I'm tired of the "old man" getting all the strokes! I'm exercising too...I lift the two pound box of chocolates that Lois and Barry sent several times a day, then for the smaller muscle groups I open it and stuff my face with the cute little chocolates! I am developing "muscles" in places that I never knew I had.

I'm getting plenty of rest; if you count sleeping in two hour increments "rest"...someone is always coming in to do something...it's quite disturbing. And, when they come in and ask how "we're" feeling, they interupt me everytime I start "kvetching"! For some reason, Mike gets all the attention around here! Next "vacation" I'm choosing another "hotel"!

Speaking of Mike...he's so damn healthy, I think we should leave before something changes. The nurse came in with his latest lab report, and except for the fact that he has absolutely NO IMMUNE SYSTEM, he's healthy as a horse! Honestly, on paper he looks like he's a much younger man...(But, on paper, I look like I'm much thinner, so go figure). He continues to have a disgustingly positive attitude, and does everything the doctors and nurses tell him to do, which I don't understand at all! Hopefully, things will continue to go as well! Understand that his immune system will continue to drop for a while, until the new stem cells "kick in" and start to boost his blood counts, but in the meantime we hope he'll avoid any opportunistic infections!

Seriously, we both look forward to your comments on the blog. It really boosts Mike's spirits, so keep those messages coming!

One last IMPORTANT NOTE: Mike will be needing blood and platelets soon. Even though he can't use blood products donated in California, we would greatly appreciate it if anyone would donate blood and/or platelets and have it "credited" to Michael's name in order to "replace" the blood products that he uses. To do so, the donations MUST be made at a "AABB" facility (American Association of Blood Banks); local ones are UCLA Blood Bank (310-825-0888), Kaiser on Vermont (323-783-6667), or the Red Cross, (800-448-3543). Please be sure to tell them you want your donation credited to Michael at MD Anderson in Houston

MIKE HERE - You probably remember that I'm partial to Jaime and Fernando at UCLA [just ask Ron Maurer and Maggie Mandel about them].

Anyone planning a trip to Houston, should donate here. Its better for all concerned. You can do so by calling us and we'll set up an appointment at our hospital. I have attached a separate POST about blood donations. Blood and platelets donated here in Houston might be directly used by Mike.

We already miss you all, and we appreciate your prayers and good wishes more than you could know!