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DECEMBER 30, 2006

Sal writes

We now know that we will be here for at least a year because the whole process takes time and we have to be patient.  We almost have all my stem cells, next aphaeresis is planned for January 29/30 and then we will be ready for Ja to start chemo for 60 days in  February and March.

 Ja will take 2 kinds of chemo low dose and then she will do 12 days of intense chemo and then the bone marrow will be infused.  She will go into strict isolation for about 2 months in the hospital and if all goes well, she comes home in Rome for about 3 months to make sure the marrow grows successfully...

And so it goes, we are here living the dream as a reality thanks to our army of friends like all of you who have supported us!  We are confident that all will go well and we are in good hands.

Lo is doing great.  He is doing his courses through long distance .  He is playing the guitar everyday and is learning how to cook.  He is able to go out anywhere in Rome, no age restriction so he is very happy and has a great time.

Ja is very positive keeping busy painting and dancing between hospital appointments.  She is very focused and remains strong. 

Pancho and I are trying to network.  Like they say "Rome wasn't built in day" We have our first gig at a pub on Tuesday January 2nd, and we are planning a fundraiser on the 13th of January at a theatre in Rome.

The sun always shines here so that keeps our spirits up...We plan to have the biggest party when we get back!

We wish you all love, health, good food, good fortune and lots of laughter in 2007...

Big hugs from all of us to all of you.. Sal,  Pancho, Ja, Craig and  Lo

  December 18th, 2006

 A small photo slide show from Marco.   Pictures   click here

            Music by Pancho& Sal (copyright Marco Ivarsson,2006)

December 12 th, 2006

Andrea visit us in December and  from her camera   Pictures   click here

December 8th, 2006

A treat from Craig... "The Pope in Rome" (Copyrigth Craig Trudeau 2006)

December 8th, 2006

Sal writes: 4 days after the bone marrow aspiration for me and I feel good as
new. I was a little nervous about it but it was not as bad as I imagined.
I went into a deep sleep and the next thing I knew I was woken up
and all done. Ja was waiting outside and saw the bag of marrow as the doctor
was taking it away so as Pancho says she had her first contact with her new
bone marrow.
I had made what they call and auto deposit of my own blood and so I
received that as a transfusion to perk me up. I went into the hospital at noon
and was home by 8pm.
Craig and Lo cooked a great dinner of pasta Italian style and after
eating I felt great.
We hope to be able to start the stem cell aspheris before Christmas
but are not sure.

Meanwhile life goes on here in Rome. It is like you are in a race and
you have to win no matter what. The scooters and mopeds rule the road and
everyone honks their horn whenever possible!

We performed on December 6th for the second time in Italy at a
centro sociale called Corto Circuito for a special event where they had a typical
Argentinian dinner. It was a lot of fun, we made lots of new friends and when
we plan the next fundraiser they are all eager to come on board.

Pancho and I hit the street whenever possible and sell our mandalas and
handicrafts, so there is never a dull moment.

Ja will be performing in a dance competition on Sunday December 10, and is
very excited. She will be in 3 dances and will travel to a town a couple of hours
away. Craig will try to film it and take pictures so you can all see.

We miss all of you and thank you for your continuing support.

We are on the process of planning another fund raiser event for Ja, that going
to take place on January 13, 2007, at the Theatre Nino Manfredi in Ostia Lido,
Via del Pallottini 10 - Roma.

We will keep you all updated.Ciao Sal

December 1, 2006

CHANNEL 10 with Tonino Colloca on Lido  Di Ostia - ROMA

Rome continues to have good weather, and we have made our first step towards another Ja Fund Raiser, to be organized here in Italy with new friends.

The presentation was on The Tonino Colloca  TV talk show, where we played a couple of songs, and talked about Thalassemia with Doctor Pietro Sodani from the IME, (Instituto Mediterraneo of Ematologie where the transplant will take place).  We have few pictures in a slide show here:

  Pictures  PHOTO-SLIDE CANNEL 10 TV

Once upon a time.... Rome was

Always nice to see the old Rome   Pictures  click here

Visitors to this page can see that the energy of Ja has followed us all the way to Rome, as new friends join us in the spiritual and economical crusade. 

If you write to us, or have any questions, we will answer you personally ( e-mail )

Note: if you have already visited this page, scroll again as we add new material all the time, and for the latest event, Ja's Fundraiser

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2007: August / July / June / May / April / March / February / January / 2006: December / November / October /  All months together