goodmorning...i slept well last night knowing that my clothes were all packed...i'm a notoriously late packer...

this way feels so much better...everything else can wait a week until i return...the car is coming at 3pm to take sally and i to jfk...we'll arrive there 3 hours before the aerosvit nonstop flight is scheduled to leave at 6:55pm...i want to get there early to request seats on the emergency exit row...they have more legroom (i'm 6'3") which will make sleeping at least a possibility...staff from the institute of cell therapy will meet us at 11:10am with a wheelchair and handle getting us thru customs quickly...we'll go right to the clinic which is not far outside the city in a burb...sally will have her own room in the same building i'll be in so we can share meals together and hang out in between my treatments...a companion can also request to stay in a nearby hotel at no cost...i will spend the first day being examined by the ukrainian doctors...lots of ultrasound tests...bloodwork...neurological exam...they mustbe certain by their own standards that my current health jives with all the medical records i submitted...on one hand it's kind of a pain in the ass but really i'm grateful that they are this thorough to ascertain that i am tumor-free, infection- free, etc so that these cells can be safely and effectively administered for my optimal benefit...i do not smoke or drink alcohol...these are huge no no's...they will not proceed with the treatment if a patient is unwilling to cease and desist in these two areas...after my exam, the doctors come up with a dose/treatment protocol for me which begins the following day, tuesday...i consented to let them videotape me throughout the treatment protocol...getting out information about this therapy to survivors who have no idea what it is and that it's available is important to me...

i look forward to blogging when i'm over there!!!!...i'd like to feel connected to my peers!...thank you for rooting me on in this exciting therapeutic endeavor!...bye for now, richxxx