Day +4

We are into the thick of things here at City of Hope.  Nurse Angela says that these few days are probably going to be the worst in terms of how my mom is feeling but that everything is proceeding as they expected--including how she feels right now. The brain of the operation:

It is encouraging when you come to this wing of the hospital to see patients up and about, walking in the halls--it's somewhere out there in the future for my mom.  Another area where patients can eventually hang out with their families is this atrium just outside of the elevators.  Such a gorgeous view . . . so different from the street level view.  (Did Frank mention in his post that the street signs in Duarte are all in a Celtic script.  So bizarre and seemingly out of place.  Perhaps a sign that my mom was meant to be here?).

In between spending time at the hospital with my mom, Ainate has been meeting up with friends and family who live in the area.  Great change of pace for both her and Una.

Friday:  Melissa (our friend from SF/NYC who's just returned from a year traveling abroad.

Saturday:  Lily (Ainate's cousin).  First time meeting Una!

Sunday:  Charlene (and son Max) and Leah.  Ainate's friends from SF State.