[update 4:25 PM: Awoke from benadryl induced nap to find folks munching on Chick-Fil-A. Mom is groggy but otherwise fine. Dad is one calm customer. The doctors and nurses were all great and tell me the drip should finish in a few hours.]
[update 1:15 PM: Nurse just informed us that the bag will be here at 2 PM. My premeds start in 15 mins. Hello Benadryl!]
[update 11:15 AM: Doctor just visited me and said mom is out of surgery and shaking off the anesthesia. The stem cells are being prepared, 2 bags, and things went well.]
[10:00 AM: Original Post]
Today is Day Zero (0). Today I receive the stem cells from my mother who is currently in surgery donating what I need to live. I am grateful for all the support of my loved ones as I go through this. I am reminded of two things today, associated quite randomly. First is a prayer by St. Jean-Baptiste Marie Vianney the Curé d'Ars, which is called the Act of Love. From my travels at holy sites in France, it is my favorite. It goes as follows:
I love You, O my God and
my sole desire is to love You until the last breath of my life.
I love You, O infinitely lovable God and
I prefer to die loving You than live one instant without loving You.
I love You, O my God, and
I do not desire anything but heaven so as to have the joy of loving You perfectly.
I love You, O my God, and
I fear hell, because there will not be the sweet consolation of loving You.
O my God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love You,
I want my heart to say it in every beat.
Allow me the grace to suffer loving You,
to love you suffering and
one day to die loving You and feeling that I love You.
And as I approach my end, I beg you to increase and perfect my love of You.
Amen.
The French original is beautiful as well.
Secondly, on a less serious note, I woke up this morning with the most curious song stuck in my head. John Cougar Mellencamp's rendition of Buddy Holly's "Rave On" from the movie Cocktail. I think it sets the mood perfectly for today and so here it is.
Later, I will post a picture of the blood when it gets hung on my IV pole. Stay tuned...
