Hello Team Zachary!

I went to see Zachary this morning in his hospital room and he was sitting up in bed looking just as charming as he could be. "Good Morning Ann! It's so nice to see you."

No fever, no real discomfort, no memory loss, total control of all body functions.... Life is darn good here at the Lied Transplant Center!! Dara and I had breakfast this morning and were saying that this could not have gone better.

He will be in the hospital for the next 30 days. This could be in an actual hospital room or in cooperative care (the place that is in the hospital which looks like a hotel suite) depending on how he continues to improve. I misspoke last time and said that the most critical time was 14 days...I was wrong, it's 30 days. In that time they are monitoring to see if his new stem cells are grafting and making sure he does not have graft vs. host disease.

He will be in Omaha for a total of 100 (ish) days. After the 30 day hospital time he and Dara will get an apartment very near the hospital so he can come every day for care but will not require constant vigilance. Our current plan is for Michael and I to leave Omaha this coming Saturday.

Believe me, I know the risks involved in the next couple of months. I have sat in nearly all of his doctor's appointments. I know that the probability of his survival is not so great. I've been paying attention. But that's the thing. I HAVE been paying attention. And what I know for sure is that I don't know. Zachary is a physical and spiritual anomaly. He just keeps coming back. It is humbling to see someone fight to live like he has. Humbling. I told Zachary this morning that I would not disrespect him so much as to stand around waiting for something bad to happen. Waiting for disaster is NOT a plan I am willing to execute.

A dear friend text messaged me the day of the transplant and asked me if I thought that the donor had any idea of the hope he had given Zachary and all of us. My honest answer is no. I think he has no idea whatsoever. Before this situation I thought that life was a much more direct A-B connection. I don't believe that any more and it leaves me more hopeful and more loving.

On the day that Zachary was airlifted to Omaha in May, Michael and I went driving looking for a place to eat. It was pouring down rain--the kind of rain that hurts when it hits your skin. We parked the car on the street and ran into a restaurant. We had no idea where we were and we certainly didn't have reservations. As it happened, it was a very nice place and we looked like drenched sewer rats.

Before we could get to the door, a woman opened the door and said, "I've been waiting for you. Welcome! Let me take your coat." I cannot write this story without crying.

In that moment of spontaneous kindness, that woman gave me hope and comfort and a safe place to be. She had no idea my child almost died that day and lay a mile away in a hospital bed with a fever of over 106.

She had no idea that in that one moment of kindness she had changed my life forever.

"Go forth into the world in peace. Always be of good courage. Hold fast to that which is good. Render no one evil for evil. Strengthen the faint hearted. Support the weak......." That's just some darn good advice I got as a kid.

You just never know. That's what I know for sure.

For those of you praying for Zachary, holding him in your heart or whatever else you may do to send him good 'ju ju' it's working!!

Thank You.

All my love,

Ann

p.s. I'm very happily bored in the hospital today. Let me hear from you if you have a moment. I can't promise I'll write back but I promise I'll read it and smile.