No word from the insurance company

Health Net is still denying my request for a transplant at the City Of Hope. This despite many Important People getting involved. My new insurance, Blue Shield, will take effect on January 1, 2014 and therefore I will be covered for my transplant then. We had hoped to get started in December. As Dr Cecchi says I am in the home stretch of this Marathon! 

In other news: we had a terrific thanksgiving and Úna looked adorable in her first dress!

False Alarm...maybe

The battle with the insurance company continues and therefore am still awaiting my transplant. However, all will be revealed on Tuesday, November 26, as that is the deadline for me to enroll in a new insurance plan which will OK my transplant---in January 2014. My counts are all still dropping which is why Drs Nakamura (City of Hope) and Cecchi ( Cancer Center in Berkeley) wanted the transplant show to get on the road sooner rather than later. I now need to get red blood and platelet infusions and my white counts are also dropping. The latter drop means that I have to be extra careful around people and so have eliminated hugging which is in fact much harder than you would imagine!

Úna continues to delight and if I am feeling low, I just go by Nóra and Ainaté's house for some Úna therapy. Her first outing was to Pixar, where Eoin got to indoctrinate her into the Pixar way!

My 2 best girls!

Jim and Una share a laugh

Nothing beats having a cute baby!

Ainate shows us how it's done

Eoin figures out the best angle

Ralph is delighted

Notice her cute monster outfit

Síle's transplant/ Úna's first few days

It looks as if my transplant at City of Hope could be sooner than originally planned ( as in a few weeks from now). Dr Nakamura and his team are working really hard to make this happen. Although I feel fine, all of my blood counts--- red, white and platelets--- have been slipping and there is some concern that I might have an "event". Don't you love medical terminology!  Of course we will keep everyone posted. This might be a good time to " subscribe" to the blog since when I hie my way to Southern California, this will become the main communication tool.

The world's most wonderful grandchild is doing really well. And her parents are too. Úna  likes to eat every 2 hours which makes for some sleep deprivation. She is proving herself to be very athletic doing very vigorous bicycle kicks when she is not sleeping. Her favorite pose is to be snuggled on someone's chest as you can tell from the pictures

Thank you to the many of you who have signed up to bring Nóra and Ainaté  food. You are a god send. ( I have set up an account on Meal Baby for them so if you would like to be added, let me know)

Una and Eoin

Una and Jim

Una and Ainate

Una and Nora

Una has arrived

And yes. The Una has an accent which I seem to be unable to do on the I -pad. Nora and Ainate wanted an Irish name but one that was pronouncable for Americams.   Hmmmm.... I wonder why! Una is number 14 of her generation on the Convery side

Una was very happy lolling in Ainate's stomach for 2 weeks beyond her due date (October 21) but boy when she decided to arrive, she wasn't messing around. The whole process took about 6 hours from start to appearance. And good girl. Nora and Ainate were able to have dinner before she tipped them off. Alas, they were interrupted in their viewing of Argo but am sure they can finish it some other time.

Una was born at Kaiser Walnut Creek and Nora and Ainate have been delighted by the attention and caring of all the nurses and staff members. They hope to bring her home tomorrow--- Tuesday, November 5th. We were having connectivity issues in the hospital so I don't have all the photos that were taken today. Lucky you!

Update: 

Úna is anxious to go home ( and I figured out the accent thing!)

And a band of elves decorated just for her