Christi is writing her own book

Christi continues to sleep comfortably. Her breathing is slow but rhythmic. She is pale yet not lifeless in her color. We have been in and out of bed with her, talking to her as if she were listening, but, not responding. (this typically happened when her nose was in a book-then she would say "what did you say-I was reading".

She will die with a lengthy "to do" list. I found the list she made for us in Philly when we arrived. It saddened me until I realized that she just set her goals high. We did a lot, just not everything-that is OK. So when I get home and I have to look at 23 unread Hank the Cow Dog books, I need to remind myself that she read 20 of the 43. It still hurts though to think of her being cheated out of the opportunity to finish a book series and so so much more. Everyday she lived to the fullest. This kid always had two or three projects going at once. Secretly, she would stay up until past midnight to read he books. (how am I ever going to handle peering into her room and not have her propped up on her pillows with books surrounding her). Right now she is in the middle of three books here in the hospital room. One that dad is reading to her, one that mom is reading, and one that she bought at the Barnes and Noble. SAD sad sad sad-do I finish that book without her?

Christi loves science (as does Shayla). It would please her greatly if she can live on in an experimental cell line (FU NB 2006). Maris and his team are set to give it a go, although, the success rate is only 1/20. Additional good news came from LA today, our friend Dr. Pat Reynolds had agreed to also attempt to start a NB cell line from Christi's cancer. He admitted that he would do it "with a heavy heart". http://www.christithomas.com/images/1692.jpg
It may be an important data point for the scientific community because Christi has seen almost all of the known active agents. Her disease has developed resistance to all of the big guns as well as many experimental. It is not likely that any current NB cell line has seen as many different approaches as has Christi's cancer. She deserves to leave this legacy.

Which reminds me to thank the many of you who have emailed suggestions regarding memorializing Miss Christi. Our ideas are coming together nicely. This is a refuge for me from the brutal reality of our situation. We are trying to preserve the spirit in which she lived so that her beauty, wit, and intellect may never be forgotten.

nite
shayne