What a difference a few hours makes. AKA:Here we go...

So...We got a phone call on Tuesday afternoon (shortly after Pam did the blog update) and were told that the procedure was being moved ahead. So as I write this, Pam is hooked up to her first dose of pre-transplant chemo. We are at DHMC and will be here until Christmas Eve day. They will then send us home for X-mas eve and X-mas day. We will return on the 26th for the transplant (Dougs cells get infused). Right now we are outpatient, staying at a Residence Inn across the road from the hospital. That will continue for this first round of chemo until the 24th. When we come back on the 26th for the cells, Pam will be admitted. She will stay in the hospital for at least 2 nights. If everything is going well then they will let her become an outpatient again and stay at the hotel (She will need to be down here for about 4 weeks). If (when) she starts to run a fever, have problems with fluids, not able to eat, blood counts or pressure gets to low, then she will be readmitted until they feel she is well enough to go home.
Why the hurry up? Originally it was going to start on the 17th and we thought we would be here for x-mas. Then they thought after the 1st most recent PET that they might hold off and see if the chemo kept reducing the amount of cancer. Then when Dr. Meehan looked at the most recent PET scan(2nd) and all Pam's records he and his team decided to move ahead as the cancer is not going to reduce any more.
Bottom line is they did a great job of getting us in here for a faster treatment, and planning the "off day" for X-mas. (thanks Idalina)
So here is our Christmas/Holiday card for this year:

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Paradee Family, Here's to a HEALTHY and HAPPY 2008!!!!!