Thursday, Jan. 18 - from both of us

One and all,

We had a lovely anniversary yesterday - actually felt a little celebratory. We tried to block out this room and look at each other, at least for a moment, with the same eyes we did 3 years ago at Our Lady of Lourdes. That whirlwind was such a happy time, we felt lucky to have to great memories to replay. One of the nurses went and got the "music therapist" who came and sang a very lovely rendition of "Stand By Me" (fully gowned in yellow tyvek), and the nursing staff gave us two Hershey bars and a bag of cinnamon honey pretzels with a lovely card signed by virtually all the staff. Very sweet.

Thanks to the many who emailed with anniversary congratulations. We enjoyed every one. It is really very nice to know that you are all still out there and thinking of us. Actually, it is more than very nice, it is essential.

Harry spent the night free of fever and believed that the knee had improved. It could be more confidently used to hobble to the toilet and seemed to hurt less at rest. The rationale for this is that the infection that caused the original fever is one and the same that caused swelling of the knee. They have been pumping antibiotics by the bucket full to fight this since last Friday, and will continue to for another 2 weeks (we don't know how much of that will be here or at home). This got rid of the fever and now seems to be working on the knee swelling. Maybe this will get him well enough to live with the knee as it is! If so, we'll take it.

We continue to pray for all of you, for the doctors and nurses here, for specific individuals that we have met on this journey. Of course, we continue to pray for Harry's complete cure and a life free of cancer.

with love to all,

Harry and Eileen.