Thursday, November 19, 2009 10:29 PM, CST

It was a gorgeous day in Little Rock - cool and clear. So nice after the gray rainy days. Mark went for a long walk and I piddled around - I am very good at that.

Mark had his appointment with Dr. Nair at 12. The clinic was packed, guess they were trying to get everyone in before the Thanksgiving holiday. Dr. Nair brought in two Czechoslovakian doctors to sit in on Mark’s visit. They were very impressed with the treatments here - made us thankful once again that we are in Little Rock! (and in the USA). Dr. Nair said Mark was in partial remission and should be in complete remission after his transplant. His bones look better on the scans - some of the lesions are gone - Great news! He was very satisfied with Mark’s progress.

After his visit, we went the hospital for Mark to have his CVL put in and then back to the clinic for a meeting with his nurses. Mark begins chemo again tomorrow - it will last for 4 days and then he will be given part of his stem cells on the fifth day. It is very exciting. He will not have “Mrs. Hall” like he did last time. This will be given in the hospital as an outpatient on 7C, in fractionated doses. He has the same huge pill mix to take at home, but will get the liquid chemo there. We have heard this is a tougher mix, but he is very strong now.

We got to see some friends we have made here and meet some new ones. It is great to visit and catch up on how everyone is. We all marvel at how well most are taking the treatments. One lady we were very concerned about came in today all smiles with her little cap over her bald head - ready for battle! It was so encouraging to all of us.

Our friend Donna from middle Georgia is returning to LR after Thanksgiving for tests. She is bringing snacks and singing Christmas songs for the patients. She is a very special lady with a big heart.

Mark decided that he wanted Chinese tonight for dinner - not my favorite, but I am game for most anything. So we stopped at a little empty restaurant - not a good sign at 6 :00 in the evening. Wish I had said NO - it was yucky. Just hope it doesn’t make him sick. Ben told him not to eat his favorite food the night before chemo, because he would hate it. I won‘t mind if he does hate Chinese.

Your thought, prayers, and notes are so special to us. We are truly blessed.

Love to you all,

Karen