We now have info from both another meeting with the doctor and from further results from marrow biopsy performed two weeks ago.

First, Martin's blood now has only XX chromosomes! Clearly his donor was a woman. The doctor actually said, "yes, if you leave blood at a crime scene," police will be looking for a woman. LOL Please suggest other possible consequences in the comments. (Real or fantasy or joke OK, please label your intent!) 

Does this change his gender identity? (I'm not quite serious, but few men would be as relaxed as he is about this.) Yes, his other tissues remain XY. Does his blood have the full genome of his donor, forever?

I found a study showing about 20% of marrow transplants are female to male, and there may an association with increased risk of graft-vs-host disease (GvHD)... more study needed. 

In fact, he recently got symptoms of GvHD on skin over about 1/3 of his body -- bright red but painless bumps. He just started the treatment, a topical cream with a scary-high dose of steroids. This GvHD is probably due to the Big Drug being tapered off, so its dosage has been boosted back to nearly its previous max for now.

He got a COVID vax Monday, too, and has had a sore arm. Time for me to seek out my booster at a drug store. Past evidence is that it will make me feel crummy for a couple of days.

His numbers (hemoglobin, platelets, etc) are increasing again, and most are now in the low-normal range.

NON-MEDICAL

He also got his travel restriction lifted. For the last nine months, they said not to go more than 1/2 hour drive from OHSU. He's planning to go to a dance weekend (English Country, still only the less aerobic dance style). It's at a camp in the foothills of the Cascades. He will drive there and sleep in our VW Vanagon with Westphalia (pop-top) conversion -- which he has always done instead of cabins at such events.

Did you know that Martin is witty even in his sleep? His partial dream report this morning: He was part of a group sitting on the ground outside a restaurant. When the host came out to ask if the party was ready to be seated, Martin replied that "the seated are ready to party."

NANCY NEWS: I have a jury summons for next month. I consider this an important civic duty (and smart, educated people shouldn't dodge it without excuse). I'd rather hoped I'd get called now that I'm retired. Decades ago I was called in Ramsey County, MN, but I (reluctantly) asked to be dismissed because I was self-employed. This time I will only ask to avoid if it's a months-long case, due to Martin's health and its possible downs and ups.

If I get on a jury, am not looking forward to wearing a mask 8 hours a day (which Martin and I may be doing for life). And my back is pretty fussy about chairs. I will be fascinated by the process, at least to start, although Martin has served on three juries and says listening to evidence for hours is pretty painful.