[Chad S]

Michele,
I understand how the planner in you could struggle with the logistics of a transplant. I have built my career as a financial planner, so the planner in me is very strong as well. Many people that have traveled this path long before us have recommended to me to just take one day at a time. But I have two young children (2nd and 4th grade), so longer term planning had to take place.

I live in Dallas and my wife's treatment was in Houston, about a 4 hour drive away, and I wanted to be there with her as much as possible. I soon realized that it was not possible to be with her as much as I wanted. So I began prioritizing certain time periods to be sure I was with her during the most important times. Events such as her first round of chemo, the day of the transplant, the first 30 days, etc. quickly rose to the top of my list. I then worked with her parents and close friends to create a calendar and make sure she did not spend more than one night alone. She was in Houston from the beginning of May to the end of August and we achieved our goal.

My parents helped out in Dallas, trying to keep the kids school and social lives as normal as possible. I went for what we felt were the most important dates and when I couldn't be there during the first 30 days post transplant her parents filled in. When she became an outpatient (from day 22 to day 100) I would go when I could and her girlfriends paired up and would go two at a time for several days when I couldn't be there. It was difficult to plan and would have been impossible without family and friends, but we made it work. MD Anderson did allow children to visit the transplant floor so the kids did get to see her. It was SO HARD when they had to leave, so I'm not positive it was a good idea. But 4 months is just too long to go without seeing your children and it was a reminder to her of what she was fighting for.

Check with the hospital, local religious organizations (churches, synagogues, etc.) regarding housing. You will need somewhere to stay once he is released but needs to stay near the hospital (Days 30 to 100).

It sounds like a lot, but you can do this! Please enlist the help of family and friends, I don't see how it can be done without that help. And let me know if you need any more info regarding how we got it done.

And keep a journal noting his progress, reactions to medicines, doctors comments, etc. It is good to know when my wife has a horrible head ache that she has taken a medicine that has caused that in the past and not worry about the what if's.

Wishing you the best,
Chad