Day 56: Female?

Today Krista and I drove down to the City of Hope for a checkup. The labs show that the previous concern for her liver is not likely to be GVHD, since the results were better this time than last. Blood counts are good and the stomach pains she experiences from time to time don't appear to be anything serious. They're reducing her prednisone dose but not much else will change. 

On another note, Krista received a card today from the stem cell donor!  It was a very sweet letter (addressed "Dear little fighter heart") from a 24 year old German girl, just leaving university to "find her place in the world". We were so surprised because we had thought the donor was a young male. So now Krista has a new blood sister! The communications between donor and recipient are regulated so we don't know her name yet. Eventually when it is allowed (in about 2 years) we would love to meet her.

So much happened today, and we are so grateful to everyone for their kindness and generisity. My work held a bake sale to raise money for ongoing medical expenses. We couldn't be there but it looked like a very good turnout. Also, special thanks to Kim and Maya for their friendship and extra dose of love shown to Krista today. The Lord has been so good to us. 

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before Him with joyful songs. 

Know that the Lord is God.

It is He who made us, and we are His;

we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. 

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

and His courts with praise;

give thanks to Him and praise His name. 

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;

His faithfulness continues through all generations. 

(Psalm 100)