Sunday March 5th is my new favorite day. And judging from Bart’s reaction and 100 video calls I received, it will be his as well.

My MO is the same every morning. Glued to my phone, waiting for a call from Bart.

Sunday was no different. Just before 10:00 he calls. He is crying, trying to talk. He says that he hurt all night, his back, shoulders and knees. At one point he sat on the floor, hoping that the cold floor would give him some relief. Around 9:30 the doctor dropped by. She asked if his back, knees and shoulders hurt? Bart said yes. She says good. Do you know what this means. Bart says no. She continuous by saying that they counted his white blood cells this morning. His count increased from below 100 to 700. The treatment worked. Congratulations Mr Van de Walle.

I started laughing and crying at the same time. Asked him if he was sure. This was our best phone call yet.

We reached out to family and friends to share the good news. Everybody we called was very emotional and many cried.

He called me about 20 times. He started every conversation with: “Catherine, I have white blood cells.”

Today his white blood cell count was up to 1500. Still a work in process but definitely on the right track. The doctor mentioned that is will take 90 days for his blood platelets and 2 cycles of 90 days to have his red blood cells to be back to normal. In 180 days to go.

He started his immuno hemoglobin treatment today. No rest for the wicked.

The physiotherapist came by today and concluded that the pain in Bart’s left shoulder is due to a frozen shoulder. He must have had a tendinitis in his shoulder before he went to the hospital and after 18 days of laying in bed it resulted in a frozen shoulder. This week they will be pulling and tugging on his arm, in the hopes to loosen the shoulder.

The good news is that his liver and kidney infections are almost gone.

Bart is now keen to come home. He hopes they will release him by March 20th. I personally think that will be too soon. When I tell him to ask the doctors, he says no, I am not going to ask. If they say a later date, I am really going to be bummed.