Tomorrow We Go to the Hospital

Preparing for a 50-day stay in the hospital is not easy, especially when you have to be sure each piece of clothing or pillow case or blanket is run through the dryer on high for at least 20 minutes and then immediately stored in a new plastic bin or large ziplock bag.

Here are just a few of the bags we've filled with clothes for Brianna. Thankfully, she can wear her own PJs. But we have several bins of stuff to keep us busy, some Pelegrino for Brianna to drink (she's not fussy!?), no-sugar added hot chocalate for me and individual bags of Wheat Thins for her to snack on.

We also put together several months of calendars with Sharon Jones. She is a gracious, generous woman who heads up Brianna's Boosters, all women who I met in the past year and a half since we moved to East SF Bay. They are helping John and Trevor on the home front: taking Trevor to school many days (John is often at work by 7), bringing dinners some days and performing those daily errands that have to be done before John returns from The City or the hospital. Their generosity is unbelieveable. It's hard being on the receiving end, but we thank God for them.

Every other week my mom and dad are staying at our home to help out and I couldn't imagine going through this without their support. Of course, I couldn't do this without my loving husband and our dear son Trevor. John will visit after work regularly bringing various supplies, taking dirty laundry home and bringing clean--heated and immediately bagged--back. Stanford is about 1 1/2 hours from his office in the financial district and about the same from our home. Trevor won't be able to visit as often due to the risk of illness brought from school. He has risen to the challenge on the home front, rushing home from school to take care of the dog and taking on extra duties after school.

I also want to say thank you to Susan Johnson, who is an angel for us. She has such a kind and giving heart, and sent us a beautiful Rosary Prayer doll made by one of my PFATT sisters on eBay - a chat group that stands for primitive folk art tea and talk. We have also packed the rosary.

With prayers, support and love from our family and friends, we begin our journey.