January 7, 2009 10:15 PM

Well, I took hunkering down to its ultimate today - just stayed in pajamas and a robe all day while the snow gently fell outside and the condo staff diligently worked to clean us out. Oh the joys of not having to go to work!

Things are certainly advancing with the transplant preparations. Today we received an e-mail detailing the events ofor the next few weeks. Two more tests will be done on the 16th - a MUGA scan and an EKG. I didn't know what my MUGA was - so I looked it up. It involves injecting a radioactive marker into your bloodstream and looking at how well your heart works. It supposedly provides a movie-like image of the beating heart, and allows the doctor to determine the health of the heart’s major pumping chambers. The advantages of MUGA is that it is more accurate than an echocardiogram and it is non-invasive. I am sure everyone knows what an EKG is.

The following week - on Wednesday - is a bunch of consultations with a number of people - all revolving around the transplant process. The week concludes with the always pleasant bone marrow biopsy - a highlight in my life!

But still no word as to whether or not we have a donor or when the transplant will occur. I assume things are proceding apace since they have developed the comprehensive schedule for the next few weeks.

Not much else for the day but it turned out to be more eventful than I thought it would be - what with the schedule being forwarded.

Lastly, I have to mention that the original bone marrow drive scheduled for December 13th has been officially changed to February 7th - still at Hampshire Hills in Milford, NH and still from 10 AM to 2 PM. I have no idea if I can be there that day or not. Please make an effort to attend. Only a swab is taken so the procedure is painless and you may be saving someone's life - no greater gift can you give!

Bob