I’m writing this month’s letter column from Jacob’s isolation/transplant room. We began this ordeal on December 12th and hope to be out some time the first of January.

Right now, we’re passing the time with crafts, video games, basketball, bug movies and puzzles.

When the Chemo kicks in, we’ll be passing the time with throw up buckets, baths, antibiotics, special cream and morphine. The transplant Chemo will seep through his skin causing a severe sunburn. It will cause painful mouth and throat sores, severe high temperatures and uncontrollable diarrhea.

Why am I sharing this with you…and during the holiday season no less? Jacob is the reason.

This same little boy who is receiving the Chemo, make playdoh flowers for the nurses and tells them it’s for “how hard they work.” He hides Stethoscopes from the doctors and makes them name Rescue Heroes before they can examine him. Jacob has shared the same enthusiasm for our 12” artificial hospital tree as he did for our normally full blown Christmas extravaganza. To top it all off, when Jacob opened his gift bag from the hospital Santa, he held up his very first gift and said “I’m going to give this to my big brother Marcus.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

Most of all, Jacob reminds us of what this season is about: counting your blessings, hope and the beauty of the moment. For the first time, Christmas extras weren’t important. There was no dinner to plan, tree to trim, or wrapping to do, yet this was the most wonderful Christmas I can remember. The time we shared with each other, family and friends made this holiday such a memorable one – not the bells and whistles.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night,
CMH