MARCH OF DIMES | MARCH FOR BABIES | NACERSANO

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

AN IMPORTANT MISSION

Lucia and I flew solo today, and will for the next 2 days. Bruno is out in Baltimore on an important mission. He will be donating bone marrow to his younger sister tomorrow. She has been battling lymphoma now for almost 3 years. In fact, she was diagnosed while I was in the hospital on bedrest, pregnant with Marco. None of us could believe it. She had gone to the ER for some chest pain. What they found was a tumor in her chest, which they confirmed to be lymphoma. Since then, it has been a rollercoaster for her. She has had multiple rounds of chemo and radiation. She has had cause to feel very hopeful for long term remission at times; however, it seems that the cancer keeps creeping back. Last year, their mom donated bone marrow to her the week that I had Lucia. Although it did not take, she did improve, and she was told that the cancer was miraculously gone. The celebration was short lived after a scan done during the winter confirmed that the tumor was active again (they cannot remove it due to the location in her chest wall). She has since been on a new treatment in preparation for receiving another transplant. This time Bruno fit the bill. I will be going to the hospital to be with him tomorrow. It is supposed to be an outpatient procedure. They will decide in the morning whether to give him a spinal or general anesthesia. So, I just thought I'd write about this to process it all. I told Lucia tonight as I put her to bed that her daddy is out on an important mission, and that someday I would tell her about it. I am hoping and praying that this transplant is the magic that will rid his sister of her cancer. Marco, please watch over your daddy and your aunt tomorrow, as it is a very important day. Love you, sweet angel.

  • Oh wow!  I will be keeping your sister in law and Bruno in my thoughts.  That is an important mission, and one that lil' Lucia will always be so proud of her daddy for.

    Keep posted when you can!

    Lauren

  • I will be praying for your family Libby. Hoping everything goes well

    Brooke

  • What an amazing gift Bruno is giving his sister.  I hope that the procedure goes well and that the transplant does the magic this time for your sister-in-law.

    Thinking of you all,

    Marissa

  • I'm so very sorry to hear of your sister-in-law's struggle. I hope that Bruno can help; it's great that he's a match. Lucia has many reasons to be proud of her parents' strength and generosity. Here is one more. Sending healing thoughts.

    Shannon

  • Oh Libby I am so sorry for your SIL, it must be so difficult, but your DH is exceptional doing something for her sister, hope she gets better, and your husband is fine and it is done quickly and successful. That's what are for the families, to be together and helpful in difficult situations, so wonderful that your SIL can count on her brother.

    hugs

    Lorena

  • his sister...ups..

  • Love and prayers to Bruno's sister, to his important mission and to you guys for the strength to get through another challenge~!  xoxo Uncle ~B~

  • Thinking of all of you -- and hoping that Bruno's sister makes a full recovery. I am glad that Bruno was a match for his sister.

    hugs to everyone.

    erin

  • I will definitely keep your SIL and Bruno close in my thoughts and prayers.  I am glad that he is a match for her and hope and pray that this one takes for her and is the magic bullet to rid her body of the cancer.

    Stacy

  • Many hugs and prayers sent your way for all involved.

    Hugs,

    Mary

  • Libby, prayers going up!  

    I hope all went well, and Marco is home soon!

    Thinking of you and your family,

    Liz

  • Very nice post, God Bless all of you, especially Paola.   So glad that everything went ok and am praying that the transplant works.... BTW, have been seeing so many butterflies lately. I always think of Marco when I see one!! xo

    Lisa

  • Libby, I am so sorry that I missed this post.  I will keep your sister-in-law in my closest thoughts and hope for good news.

    Hugs,

    Lindsay