Approved

Without any fanfare whatsoever, I received a call from the transplant coordinator whilst reading the action-packed Chapter 47 of Dan Brown's Inferno. Ninette(my lovely wife and willing donor) and I were in the lobby of the NKTI waiting to be called in for an interview by the Ethics Committee. One by one the prospective donors and recipients were called in to the conference room. I asked the staff in charge of cueing in the applicants when our turn will be. She said we were next in. So we waited in anticipation. We were ready and excited to meet and face the committee. We even power dressed for the event.

Then my phone rings… "Sir, You may now leave, the ethics committee has approved your transplant."

Weeks, months even, prior to this, Ninette and I underwent a series of tests to clear us for the transplant. We just need to undergo 1 more blood cross-match repeat test, and urinalysis and chest x-ray for me to rule out current infections. Then my admission to hospital will be on the 22nd; Ninette's will be the 24th. Procedure on the 25th. Of course this is barring any complication.

The next 2 weeks before my admission, I need to guard against infections and other illnesses. If I get even just a sore throat, all dates will be moved. Don't be surprised to see me always wearing mask. And If you see me without it, you have my permission to chide me. 

Family and friends' support have been keeping us positive. We thank you and ask for continued support even more in the weeks and months to come. Prayers have seen us through this and prayers will see us through more. Yesterday, I decided to drive up to Xavier School Nuvali along with Ninette and Byn(our niece/daughter). The 1.5-hour trip to the sprawling new Xavier School campus(I work in her main campus) located in Laguna was easy and enjoyable. Being a Sunday, traffic was light to and from. The main purpose was to visit the new chapel there; The Oratory of St. Francis Xavier, a.k.a. The Xavier Rock. A sort of pilgrimage to spend some quite time. I'm glad and thankful we did that.