This past Friday I got word...great word...that the hospital has found me a stem cell donor! Two donors actually. Two people showed up as perfect matches! I just sat here at home and blubbered and heaved like a six year old. To say it was a relief just doesn't get at it. So starting today (Monday, 7/27), the transplant team will look at the potential donors, decide which will be the best, and come up with a plan. Hopefully, this means that when I'm deemed "in remission", the transplant can happen...which might be very soon. But I'm quite sure that this will all shorten the chemo journey and get me on the road.
And all this was happening while I was conducting "Chitty" here at the Buell Theater in Denver. Now I don't want to sound too woo woo, but the week doing shows was as soulful, healing and energizing a time as I could have imagined. So much love from the cast and crew. So much support. Just to be in the energetic field of 30 singers, an orchestra and thousands of people in the audience...that's what healing and reclaimation is about. Really, I'm a lucky guy. Really lucky. It was a fucking riot!!
All this was because my docs set my chemo schedule to allow me to feel good after this last round, and give me a chance to conduct my show. And just before doing the show, Carol and I went up to Steamboat Springs to visit our friend Amie Knox and Jim Kelly. We spend a couple of days at their ranch, wandered around with Maggie the Dog, did some time in a canoe, slept to the sound of the Elk River, and just generally spent time in the sun and fresh air. And this was all after a few days throwing compost, gardening and planting in the front of our house (told you I was working this story backwards...).
So please know that this chemo-mook is doing really, really well. Things are perfect, really. I'm gaining weight, eating everything in sight, did the gardening, went to Steamboat, did a week of shows and have a transplant donor. I mean...what more could I want right now?
And Aaron is here for the week.
All's well.
Great news! Simply wonderful. Elle and I ran into a member of the chitty cast "KJ" at a party (small world) and heard that you were getting back on the podium: you're a superman, man.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Charles & Elle
Music and fresh air; a great healing combination for all of us!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to hear that everything seems to be working out so well and that you had a wonderful time with "Chitty" in Denver. Hope to meet you soon or later. Cats is playing in Denver next year but with your healing progress you might be already on tour again!
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