6 Months Old, or is it New?

        It has been quite a while since I posted, some due to computer problems, some due to system problems, my system that is. Here is an update.

               On or about Friday, October 4th I was 185 days post stem cell transplant.  Aside from two hospitalizations for infections since coming home in July, the medicos are satisfied with my progress.  I am feeling a bit frustrated that my blood type has not yet switched to the B+ of my donor/sister, and that I am still transfusion dependent, but I am told this is not that unusual. We are taking steps to force the blood type switch: I am now off the two immunosuppresants (tacrolimus and prednisone) and we  are experimenting with Rituxin.  It is also a possibility of getting another shot of Laurie's Leukeocytes. 

     As it is now, I have many of the same characteristics of a 6 month old -  virtually no acquired immune system, nor any of the inoculations for childhood diseases, and to varying extents sleep/nap patterns, diet, and diaper usage. But I am walking a little further each day, and have been repeatedly told I am going to rest, not exercise myself back to health.  Mask and gloves on the rare occasions I venture out in public, still observing quarantine, no travel, etc.

Update on my father:

       Also on Friday morning, my father passed away, in his own bed, with my sister in attendance. Here is a facebook posting from Paul DeGeata, ( some of you may know him as the Capt. of The Victory Chimes)  the nephew of Nick, one of Bud's Army buddies...

My uncle Nick emailed me to tell me his close buddy, Bud Siegel  passed away at 6:30 this morning in Long Island, NY. 

I got to know Bud over the last 20 years. Sometimes people slip away unnoticed. I hope you'll indulge me my memories because he's a man worthy of notice. 

My uncle Nick is 95. Bud was a few years older. The pair made Airborne History making America's first combat parachute drop with the 509th Parachute Infantry in North Africa in 1942. They fought across North Africa, Jumped in Avalino where Bud had to pretend to be a patient from an insane asylum as he was led by an Italian monk, through a German Patrol looking for paratroopers; they landed at Anzio where their outfit went through its numbers three times because of casualties. With Darby's Rangers, the 509 took a mountain (Venafro) the Germans held in 24 hours  that the 45th Division had been trying to take for a month.  

The 509 led the Airborne Invasion of Southern France. Bud, a Captain in A Company at the time, drew up the jump list so he was the first paratrooper out of the lead plane to start the invasion of Southern France. They fought in the French Maritimes and were called to Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. They held a very important cross roads in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. Bud and his jeep driver were ambushed bringing entrenching tools to his company so they could dig in the frozen ground. He  was wounded and captured by SS Troopers. He understood enough German to know that the SS sergeant told the soldier guarding them to take them behind a snow bank and shoot them. Just then an American tank rolled up and he and his driver had just enough time to escape. Years back, Bud gave me a brass whistle he was wearing that stopped a German machine gun bullet fired by that SS patrol that ambushed his jeep and blew it up with a Panzefaust, he said the whistle probably saved his life.  While Bud was recuperating from his wounds, my  Uncle Nick was one of 6 of the original troopers in the outfit who was still standing after the Bulge. There only a 58 others out of a Battalion that usually consisted of more than  650 men.

Both men always said they were living life on borrowed time since WWII. Both lived worthy lives and had long distinguished careers in uniform, Bud a cop, Nick a firefighter. Both worked with disadvantaged kids in their retirement years. The pair used to entertain their outfit with songs and poetry at 509 Reunions and Airborne Banquets up until about two years ago.

To say they were part of the Greatest generation is an understatement. They are two of the best men I've ever met. I feel for my uncle Nick today, very few 509ers are left. RIP Bud, it was a great honor knowing a man like you.

-Paul DeGaeta