Day -6

Saturday, April 12 was the first full day at MD Anderson. While Friday was Day -7, admission did not happen until almost 10:00 pm; the hospital called at 8:30 pm to say her room was ready. The 17th and 18th floors at MDA are designated for stem cell transplant patients and unoccupied rooms are a rarity... truly an amazing place! 

By the time the evening nurse Melvin had gone over the upcoming schedule, answered all questions and took Gail's vitals, it was approaching midnight. We won't disclose what her fighting weight will be entering this ring:) 

Day -6 got underway around 10:00 am with her first of the 6 days of chemo treatment; she handled that very well. The top three "must do's" during her stay will be to take 3 walks/day, rinse mouth with salt and soda every 2 hours and do breathing exercises in a spirometer every 2 hours. Sixteen laps around the nursing station is equivalent to a mile; Gail walked about two miles today!

The staff in Gail's area are very professional and equally friendly. Her nurse today, Kelly, was wonderful. She also had the opportunity to receive Communion from the hospital chaplain. All in all, a really good day! And she was equally happy to hear that Stephen had a successful first leg to La Grange in the MS 150.