Wednesday 22nd of Apr – First impressions

It’s surreal to think that exactly one week ago, Mar was given the Dutch Final Verdict... Today we met with Professor Martelli and received some hopeful news. The hospital will treat her. No guarantees but maybe all roads do lead to Rome after all…Ok, next door…to Perugia.

Professor Martelli is a friendly authoritarian older man. According to him, this is Mar’s only hope. We need to act at the speed of light. Mar will need to undergo another chemo and radio therapy in the next 5 days or so. In the meantime, her direct family will be tested for the best match. It’s the famous Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation I talked about earlier.

He reminds me of a Patriarch. He asks Mar to blindly take the plunge and put her life in his protective care. No questions asked…LITERALLY. During the entire meeting, there is little to no room for questions. This frustrates me. Mar quickly understands that with this Italian gentleman, resistance is futile. Courtesy of 8 years of Parisian Education with similar French professors. She remains quiet while my dad and I stubbornly try interjecting a few more times before giving up. It’s ok to take the plunge but couldn’t we keep our eyes open? How about just one eye?

No matter. As Mar wisely pointed out. We tried the Dutch way. It didn’t work. It’s time for a new approach. And Professor Martelli is very committed to helping her. After our “audience” with him, he introduces us to Mar’s treating physician and leaves us. Dr Aloisi is our age. She seems very competent and is able in a few minutes to answer most of our burning questions. Mar feels this is the right way to go…She’s shown to the department where she’ll be treated. I’m not allowed in but Mar says it looks very impressive and extremely clean. You have to wear plastic bags over your shoes before entering. In fact, under the circumstances, as far as hospitals go, this one looks inviting.

We still have to sort out the insurance but it may help that Mar’s an Italian citizen. We’ll find out soon enough. My Dad’s looking into it.

While waiting for Professor Martelli this morning, we saw another young lady with the unmistakable mark of the big C (not the big I before slam): a headscarf. What inspired us most was her Doctor’s coat. She was treating a patient. Cancer does not discriminate and life just goes on.

We haven’t dismissed MD Anderson all together but it’s very likely that Perugia will be Mar’s new residence for at least the next 4 to 5 weeks. Who’ll be Mar’s first visitor and brave the Ryanair flight?

We’re exhausted and after a late lunch, we head back to the hotel for a nap. Not even here a day and already taking siestas. When in Ro…I mean Perugia. Right?

Today was another good day. May there be many many many more.