Nicole is 100% James

Nicole is getting stronger every day.  This journey is so different then her first bone marrow transplant.  With her first transplant we spent 95 days after the transplant at PCMC with about 1/3 of those days in PICU.  The big drug Nicole had with her first transplant was called cyclosporine.  Cyclosporine doesn't play nice, meaning Nicole was on more drugs to help with blood pressure and her kidneys.  Nicole came home with 18 differnt medication plus IV fluids and feeds.  It was super intense with the first tranpslant.  With a haplo transplant they don't need to use cyclosporine.  Than means Nicole is only on 8 medication with 2 of those being anti-nausea meds plus IV nutrition, one IV anti-fugus and feeds.  It is a world of difference to mange that level of meds. With her first transplant Nicole needed to stay away from crowds for about a year.  With a haplo transplant she will need to be away from crowds for 18 months.  Just another reminder that you can not compare two journey's the Lord customizes the journey for what you need at the time. 

This week we got the result back on Nicole chimerism test. (The test tells us how much of Nicole cell population is Nicole, her first donor and James)  The test came back 100% James!!  That is just what we wanted to hear.  Nicole is also holding her own with blood counts which is another great progress forward. Hopefully Nicole won't need any more blood transfusions.  Nicole still has a long road a head of her.  We still about 75 days before we can all be home together in Hyrum.  (Yes, I am counting) plus 15 more months of building her immunity back.

I've been thinking a lot about sacrifice since we came home from Primaries.  People have sacrifice so much of their time, talents and resources to help up over the past two and half years.  President Snow taught: … "There is a self sacrifice to be made for the interests of those with whom we are associated. We see this in the Savior, and in brother Joseph, and we see it in our President [Brigham Young]. Jesus, brother Joseph, and brother Brigham have always been willing to sacrifice all they possess for the good of the people; that is what gives brother Brigham power with God and power with the people, it is the self-sacrificing feeling that he is all the time exhibiting. It is so with others; just in proportion as they are willing to sacrifice for others, so they get God in them, and the blessings of the eternal worlds are upon them, and they are the ones that will secure not only the rights of this world but will secure the blessings of eternity. Just in proportion as you … sacrifice one for another, just in that proportion you will advance in the things of God. Now if you want to get heaven within you and to get into heaven you want to pursue that course that angels do who are in heaven. If you want to know how you are to increase, I will tell you, it is by getting godliness within you." (https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-lorenzo-snow/chapter-22-doing-good-to-others?)

Sister Carol Thomas quoted President Hinckley definition of sacrifice:  "President Gordon B. Hinckley defined sacrifice so beautifully when he said: “Without sacrifice there is no true worship of God. … ‘The Father gave his Son, and the Son gave his life,’ and we do not worship unless we give—give of our substance, … our time, … strength, … talent, … faith, … [and] testimonies” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 565)." (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/04/sacrifice-an-eternal-investment?)  

Our family has experienced many personal and touching acts of sacrifice for our family that we won't be able to "re-pay".  I love how President Hinckley added time, strength, faith and testimonies to the definition of sacrifice.  How grateful we are people who shared not only of their substance but have also given of their hearts. What means the most to us is when someone feels a prompting and acts.  We pray that they will feel the "blessing of eternity" in their lives.

Long day at clinic

We love the primary kids in Hyrum. Thanks for brightening our day!