The great anticipation in Craig's case is the appearance of red cells, signaling a cure from Blackfan Diamond. The next few weeks will be most critical, and probably most difficult. Craig is only beginning to feel the side-effects of the chemotherapy he received last week to kill his sick marrow and make way for the new. Right now, the early signs of mouth sores only mean eating his favorite shrimp without the sweet sauce. But the pain will probably get worse.
Most patients wind up on morphine.
Tuesday evening, Craig chowed down a Cinnabon, with extra frosting. He still has hair and his spirits are high, other than at bath time.