Dear Team Zachary,

And Elton John sings, '....I simply love you, more than I love life itself. And I guess that's why they call it the blues.....'

I have yet to catch my breath from my last trip to Omaha. Gosh it was difficult! Zachary is such an amazing man.

The medical update hasn't changed that much since the last time. He is still on 'sips and chips' meaning that he only gets to eat ice cube shavings. His skin is still very painful. But they have moved him in the last day or two to the Lied Transplant unit--the one that is more like a hotel than a hospital room but it's housed in the hospital with lots of support.

Here is a story I thought you'd like from the visit last week.

He and I are in his hospital room and a nurse comes in. We are all chatting it up having a lovely time when the nurse comments to Zachary, 'you are so brave!'

Zachary looks at her and his face gets very strained and the room some how loses all its air and he begins to cry. Tears are rolling down his face. The nurse and I are frozen in place. Through his tears he says, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? I never would have this much strength! I would have given up long ago. I have to ask for help all the time."

The room was so quiet I could hear my own breath. And then he looks at his cup which is holding his 'sips and chips' and says, "OH MY GOSH, I GOTTA EAT! MY DINNER IS MELTING!!" And we all start to laugh.

My love to you,

Ann