As you know, Joannie and I are looking forward to the arrival of Bacon and Apple, aka the Bonklets/Feisty Parasites. They have recently embraced the World Cup spirit by staging frequent soccer matches in Joannie’s belly. Apple seems to have inherited my DJ skills—if we
play music, she kicks on beat. Bacon practices her dance moves—she seems fond of the worm. Ok, maybe they aren’t that advanced, but they do respond to music. Joannie and I are ineffably grateful for their good health.

We are also grateful that they brought heightened medical attention for Joannie. The last few months of the pregnancy have been
exceedingly painful. Joannie was mostly bed ridden during this time. Each hospital visit kicked off a battery of blood work and
ultrasounds—mostly to assess the health of the babies. In the course of those tests, we learned there are cancerous tumors in some of
Joannie’s organs. We are waiting for more complete results to understand the treatment options, but are told Joannie can begin
chemotherapy soon after she delivers the twins.

In the meantime, Dr. Paka, the ob/gyn who prescribed a steak a few months ago and more recently sushi, is conferring daily with a team of
oncologists and high-risk pregnancy specialists to balance Joannie’s health with that of the babies. Based on this team’s advice, we made
a decision to deliver early eviction notices to the twins. If the hum of activity in Joannie’s belly is any indication, the twins are busy
packing their belongings and preparing for their temporary home, the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Dr. Paka and the entire high-risk pregnancy team assure us that although the babies will be born early, they will do very well in the NICU. At one day shy of 33 weeks, they will be close to full term for twins (twins are considered full term at 36 weeks). We chose St.Luke’s/Roosvelt in large part because they have the best NICU in the state. The babies will probably spend 4 weeks there and receive
excellent round the clock medical care.

I can’t front, the last week has been brutal and would have been impossible without the love and care of our friends and family. We
have not been able to respond as quickly as we would like, because we were holding out for better news before updating everyone. Joannie and I so appreciate all of your love, humor, and help with all things large and small. I know we will continue to lean on you all in the
days to come and cannot properly express how blessed we feel to be surrounded by such a wonderful community of friends and family, both
near and afar.

I know this is heavy news, but I am optimistic and Joannie is in positive spirits. The whole cancer thing is trying to rain on the
parade, but we do not want to lose sight of the joyous arrival of the babies. After years of waiting, we will soon be parents. We just
can’t to meet twins and to introduce them to our wonderful people.

In my current state of mind, I am certainly missing people from the list. Please do share with our peoples.

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