HOUSTON.......WE HAVE A PLAN!

Hi,
So the Houston Trip was fruitful. I had a biopsy done there and spoke with the doc about options. He had several. He called me with the test results and  my counts have risen (not good). BUT he had a great plan for me. He said to get to Houston asap and he would put me in a really good trial. The trial is specifically for people who had MDS and moved into Leukemia. (me!) The trial is the combination of two FDA approved drugs for Leukemia. They are both pretty good (50%) remission rate) separately, BUT together they have a 50-70% remission rate. So both drugs have already been FDA approved but only recently used together in the trial setting. So it's a relatively safe trial with very optimistic outcomes. I don't think I could ask for better than that. The plan is for us to go to Houston on Sunday, I'll have tests for 2 days to make sure of my health, and then go in the hospital on Weds. I will stay in the hospital for a month for close observation. If anything goes south, they'll be on top of it. James will be staying in a hotel across the street from the hospital that is actually owned by the hospital. It is attached by a pedestrian bridge. It is a comfy room with a kitchen so he'll have a close place to sleep and be at my beck and call! He'll be working with his clients after the first week and I'll continue teaching on-line from the hospital. It's really kind of amazing. 
I'm not sure if I'll be going back to Houston for a few days a month or what. I'll learn more next week and of course things will unfold as they will. When I am in remission, I will go into transplant at UVA. The protocol there should be the same. A month in the hospital and then home for the long recovery. 
I have a lot of support from family and friends and am extremely lucky to have such good insurance, a great job and wonderful colleagues/friends. I am VERY lucky. Thomas has promised to facetime with me and read books about the Paw Patrol to me. I'm also open to dinosaur and truck books. I feel very optimistic. MD Anderson is the best cancer hospital in the country and they are working closely with UVA and my doc, Michael Douvas. I have been incredibly fortunate to have this level and care. From the receptionists to the nurses to the docs- really amazing. Of course James is by my side- taking care of business and making sure I have whatever I need. I feel very lucky and very prepared for this....whatever it is. In the meantime, look at this pic of Rowan. She's almost 5 months old and already has a bold sense of style! Isn't she freekin adorable?  Please hold me in light and imagine me in health and strength. Thank you for holding me in your hearts. Love, Beryl