The count down begins! '"T Minus 11"

We're counting down the days till "Day 0" when my stem cells will be re-introduced to my body giving me a new birthday for my immune system. Today we met with Dr. Ruiz, the head of the Mexico HSCT program. He went over the results of all the tests and let us know if we were healthy enough to start the process. Everyone in our group of 5 passed! So tomorrow we will start chemotherapy.

There's a total of 20 MS patients and 20 carers here from various places around the globe. In my patient group of 5, there are 2 from the US (myself and a woman from Georgia) and a woman and 2 men from the UK. We have gone through the testing days together and will receive our chemo together in the chemo room. We're told it will be a 3 - 4 hour process. We've already become friends, and by the time we fly home, we'll feel like family. We went out to supper last night with the group. We had a blast! I laughed till I cried! We're having a pizza party tonight before the serious stuff gets underway.

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We just returned from the pizza party on the rooftop terrace of the apartment building next door where more of the patients are staying. It was a lovely evening spent getting to know more about each other, and of course, more laughing. I think we're all feeling a bit nervous about tomorrow's chemo. Before leaving the building for our own apartments, our group stopped in for a visit with another partying group starting chemo in the morning. A young woman from New Mexico, who had her first  day of chemo this afternoon, came in for awhile to share her experience. It was reassuring to hear that no one in her group had any problems. Hopefully, our group will have smooth sailing as well. 

I'm heading off to bed. Dave (aka Steve) is already asleep. 

Big day tomorrow... Goodnight.

                        The view from the rooftop terrace.