I have not written in a while first because I have been crazy busy since my parents’ departure and second because I do not have much news regarding Chris’ progress – or lack thereof. He continues to receive the best therapies one could think of with loads of activities throughout the week and his team of therapists and daily carer constantly working with him… I know this is not what most people want to hear but I have no breakthrough news regarding anything as far as changes since his second stem cell treatment in China and that certainly is a very hard reality to face…

Chris is healthy and as comfortable as can be expected and overall I feel blessed by all the opportunities he has gotten so far, so maybe only time will tell where all this is going but in a way… I am trying to be as realistic as possible without loosing all hope… I am waiting to hear from a stem cell clinic in Germany to see if they will accept him for bone marrow treatment next year… I have back and forth feelings about it but I will just wait and see what they have to say after they go through all the medical info I sent them… This is the website of the clinic I am considering for next year… http://www.xcell-center.com/… Again, it is dealing with the struggles of maintaining a balance between being realistic and keeping hope for the future and doing the best under the circumstances and being pragmatic… not an easy job.

I am happy to report Gabriel and I are dealing fine without my mom and dad to help us in our daily lives. In fact, I feel a bit of a relief at their forced departure from London as I always felt a bit guilty about how much they have sacrificed to be there for me, Gabriel and Chris… at the end of the day, this is not their life. It’s mine and Chris’ and they deserve to live their own life as well. Gabriel and Chris are my responsibility – not theirs. They will be heading to Brazil from Korea soon to also be closer to my sisters and their other grandchildren.

This all has marked a new phase in our lives… Gabriel – who has been and always will be my number one priority – is doing great. He is as happy and well as ever and for me juggling house chores and child care on top of my work and Chris… honestly it is not that big of a deal. I was probably spoiled anyways but have now joined the rest of humanity in my share of doing laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, ironing, cleaning etc in my free time. It is all worth it when your son yells “mom, I LOVE your food!!!!” over a bowl of tomato pasta after a full on day… He loves my pasta :)

Chris mother Maureen has just arrived this morning from NY and Gabriel was in heaven again with all the presents she brought from all the family in the USA. I am sure Chris will also be thrilled at seeing his mom tomorrow when we go visit him at the hospital.

I love having people over, specially since my parents left I feel a bit lonely in the house with Gabriel only. So it has been great to have Fabio, Annemarie and now Maureen in the flat with us. Luckily I have more friends next weekend coming to visit from Paris so we will have plenty of company for the summer… (or non-summer in London as the weather has been the crappiest since I moved to this country).

I will let everyone know about Maureen’s visit with Chris in the following days…

Thanks for everyone’s continued prayers and thoughts to Chris and all of us.

With love,

Koo