The news is wonderful!  A bone marrow donor has been located in the United
States!

Sheila has been "released" to Vanderbilt by her Chattanooga doctor.  He
told her that he would not treat her until this is all over, but said he
looks forward to her return as his patient.

She will go to Vandy on Sept. 30-Oct. 1 for some final testing.  She is
being "allowed" to attend her son's wedding on October 12.  On October 20
she checks into Vandy for the final chemotherapy treatments, and surgery
prep.  The bone marrow will be "harvested" on Oct. 29 in the morning and
sent to Vandy.  Sheila will have surgery between 5-8 PM that evening (when
the bone marrow arrives).

Right now Sheila must stay at home -- a simple cold or the flu can cancel
everything.

She will be setting up a website (suggested by Vanderbilt) so that people
can keep up with her progress -- I will post information when this is
available.  I will also post her Vanderbilt mailing address so cards and
notes can help keep her spirits up.

Sheila says she is thrilled, scared, excited and going through the full
range of emotions -- mostly she is very hopeful!

She will need blood transfusions and lots of platelets -- Sheila is B+
blood type but says she can use universal (and I am not medically
knowledgeable enough to know what that is).  I am not sure if donations can
be given locally for transport to Nashville.  Please contact Blood
Assurance (756-0966) for information.

Again, she asked me to thank all for their cards, notes, emails and
concern.  Keep Sheila and her family in your thoughts and prayers as she
faces this surgery.

Thanks.