Preparing for our 8 week stay in India was slightly stressful. We were traveling 1/2 way around the world for experimental stem cell therapy, Tyson was continuing to decline and the most glaring point of all is that we were leaving our little two year old boy behind. It wasn’t really an option to bring Calvin since I was required to stay at the hospital with Tyson. So, we did what we’ve always done and found a way to make it work. Calvin was extremely well taken care of and that was an enormous weight off our shoulders. (More on that later… 🙂 )

First on the list was to obtain our passports and Indian visas. Because we were applying for medical/medical attendant visas, the consulate required a letter from our doctor in the U.S. as well as one from our doctor in India describing in detail the purpose of our visit to India. After several phone calls and a few trips to the visa office in Manhattan, we had our visas in hand. Next, we got all of our immunizations and enough malaria pills to keep us protected for our entire stay. We did quite a bit of research by talking with friends and colleagues who have been to India before to get a sense of what to bring with us and what to leave behind. One friend, Christine, said it best, “there is nothing that can ever prepare you for your first trip to India.” That resonated with us every day.

Once we did one last visit with our team of doctors to make sure Tyson was fit to fly, we spent every last waking moment with Calvin. Thanks to our awesome neighbors, we took him to see Yo Gabba Gabba at the Capitol Theater a week before we left! We had a blast.

So, several evenings spent with friends and family, lots of movie and cuddling time with Cal, three suitcases packed w meds, food, and clothes and we were ready for our adventure.