So more on that later. What I can say is, we're grateful that we got to go, that Phin was healthy and strong enough to finally see his long-delayed wish granted, and that we all arrived home again safely.
Medical Updates
Not much to report. Another respiratory bug fell to the warrior cells deployed by Phin's donor's bone marrow. The blood draw from this month's clinic visit produced the boring kinds of counts we love. GVHD in his joints appears to be arrested for now. We're thankful for this.
Phin On the Daily
Like his mother, sisters and me, Phin is grieving over the loss of Aspen, his oldest and closest friend, who fell asleep for the last time in her mother's arms eight days ago. Unlike the physical anguish and suffering Phin endured through his many rounds of chemo, it is difficult to gauge the extent of the devastation on him. Aspen and Phin shared a connection few of us can appreciate, and no blood test or LP or MRI can reveal this type of damage, just as no medicine or surgical procedure can repair it.
Also unlike any pain Phin has so far faced, he doesn't have Aspen here to face it with him.
In the obituary, Aspen's family requests that, in lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Aspen instead donate to Cure Childhood Cancer. I'm copying that donation link here.
