The Final Plans are Finally Final

On Tuesday, NOVEMBER 16, Sheri and I will get a call from the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) telling us when my room is available. We will then go into "University City," I'll get settled in my room, and from that time forward it will be pretty much as it was supposed to be two weeks ago. Take a look at the post called "Plans--the Transplant Begins" to see almost exactly what is going to happen here.

I'll let you back track, but here's how Sheri and I ask you to treat us.

1. DO NOT send
     a) FLOWERS
     b) FRUIT

While you may have a strong desire to send something beautiful and encouraging, don't. They will be turned away by the "powers" that guard such things. Remember, the floor that I'm on is full of neutropenic peoples.

If you're still anxious to send us something, we suggest either
     i) gift certificates from Vosages Chocolate (http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/), (YUM)
or
     ii) send Sheri legal tender for her commuting needs, especially food (there's a great Burrito cart near the Hospital.)
     iii) send Sheri/us gift certificates for Nordstroms or the Movies.

2. I will be neutropenic. This means that by the end of about the second day in the hospital I will have no immune system to speak of, which means that if you were to come and see me, you'd better be sure that you don't have a cold, the flu, a runny nose, or anything else for that matter that could possibly be carrying something bad. Basically, if you've got a question, don't. I'm anxious for visitors, but I'm anxous to have them in May. Don't kill me--and yes, it's that serious--by taking short cuts or thinking "it won't hurt" this one time.

3. NO kids. Kids, God love 'em, are little disease machines. They have orifices out each end that spew disease. Please, don't bring 'em.

4. If you want to send us encouraging bits of kindness, you can send mail to:
     Dwight Ozard (ROOM XXXX)
     Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
     3400 Spruce Street
     Philadelphia, PA 19104

Be sure to put my name and room number on the envelope--we'll send out a blast as soon as we know it.

5. If you're from around here, and you think you'd like to visit, please call Sheri's cell phone to arrange the details. Her number is (610) 772-1899.

6. On the whole, unless otherwise asked, no one should call or email me the first two weeks. Please take me off any lists which forward bad jokes, political commentary, or bad religious short stories and urban legends. I will have enough things to make me want to puke.

7. After I've been in the hospital @ 2 weeks, and even after the first few days at home, please wait for a note asking you for emails.

One doctor refered to what we're about to do as getting hit by the train, then the trucks on the train pull out and hit you, and then their cargo of charging horses run over you too. Only then do the guys with the sad little shovels come and get you and sweep you away.

So, anyway, we'll need our rest. Hopefully by Christmas I'll have enough energy to get up and go somewhere for the holiday. And by the new year we'll be up and at them in some small ways.

Please pray for us--that we'll get through this unscathed, and my counts will surprise the doctors.

Otherwise, just pray. And pray for the many who enter these things with far less hope.

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