Happy Holidays

Hey everyone,

Chris checks in tomorrow morning for the last of his chemo treatments. He'll be at the hospital until Dec 21 and then it's home for the holidays! He's really psyched to be finishing the last of his chemo before Xmas and New Years. He is feeling really excellent, has been working out, and is looking forward to the new year. As always, Anne will be staying with Chris in the hospital and she even baked a truck load of cookies for all the nurses (not that they need bribing or anything as Chris is basically the patient all the nurses fight over--I kid you not, he's like some kind of celeb there; the nurses swarm him when he arrives!).

After Chris finishes this treatment they will check his blood every two weeks and perform a bone marrow biopsy every other month so as to closely monitor any changes in his health. We know that he is going to do great.

Chris and Anne are still looking into a trial in TX and the doctor said that he may be able to amend the trial protocol so that Chris can do the treatment in Chicago. This is up in the air right now, but perhaps this is something Chris will do.

All of the Maddens send their good wishes to you this holiday season. Most of all we send all of you our thanks for supporting Chris this past year. There are a lot of you on this list who came to drives, joined the registry, encouraged your friends and families to do the same, some of you even ran half-marathons in support of Chris!! There are even people on this list who have never met Chris or anyone in my family who did donor kits for him because you heard about his situation. All of this support continues to amaze me and we can't thank you enough.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy New Year.

YM