Grateful

We are still in shock that we have a match.  We are so very grateful for the tremendous blessings we have received in the last few months.  We have had a lot of great discussions and many insights as we have traveled this crazy cancer path.

Several people have asked about Eric's sister, so I thought I would introduce you to his family.  Eric is the oldest of eight children.  From the moment I first met them 37 years ago I have been impressed with how kind, gracious and supportive they are.  Eric's parents welcomed me fully and without qualification from the start back in the summer of 1976 and have always made me feel a very welcome part of the family.

Eric has a sister that just had her port removed after her successful bout with breast cancer.  She is the only sibling that lives in Utah, but she was not eligible to be a donor.  The remaining six, despite their busy lives and multiple responsibilities and obligations, volunteered to be tested and to be donors if they matched.  They knew it would not be easy because it would require travel, time and expense, but they all hoped that they would be the match.

As it turns out, it is probably a good thing that only one, Eric's sister Debbie who live in California, was a bone marrow match.  All wanted to help but we only needed one match.  Eric would have been overwhelmed in choosing between good samaritans.  We are so grateful to Debbie for her persistence in getting her cheek swab to LDS hospital to be tested.  Several things went wrong, but she kept at it and pushed this forward. 

For the past few months I have been in the very unusual position of being able to walk as fast as Eric, and now I can walk faster than him!  I have spent the past 37 years trying to catch up with him.  I have one worry about Debbie being the match.  She has so much energy and fire that once her stem cells take hold and start to multiply in Eric's bone marrow cavities, I will once again be the tag along.  I will not have a chance with the two of them combined! 

I am looking forward to be left in their collective dust!  Thank you Debbie.  Thank you Grandpa and Grandma Olson for rearing such a faithful, generous and kind family.  Thank you to (siblings) John, Susan, Beth, Debbie, Mary Ann, Bruce and Shauna for all your love and support through the years and especially at this time.  I love you!

From Eric:  It may sound a bit trite but, in this business of love, support, service and healing, aren't we all matches in a way?  Debbie will provide the physical assistance but I do not doubt from the events of the last 60 days that any number of you would do the same if you could.  She stands proxy for such a depth of love and kindness.  There is great strength in knowing that we all do "match."