75 Days Post-Transplant - And Why This Blog?

Nicole has made it 75 days from her second bone marrow transplant!

We are still hoping that we can bring her home to Hyrum in another 25 days, but the doctors still need to figure out what the problem is with her platelets.

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When Nicole was diagnosed with the ALL relapse back in February, our oldest daughter, Kersten, created this blog as a way to communicate what was happening with Nicole from week to week to anyone interested in knowing.  But as Cathy has indicated, almost immediately, if unconsciously, we extended the purpose of this blog to be a kind of journal, and as a result, we typically share some feelings that are deeply personal on the blog.

In March, one of my best friends from childhood asked me how I could write about intimate experiences and feelings and be comfortable putting those on a blog where a billion complete strangers could read it if they wanted to.

The short answer to that question is, "I don't know."  As my friend who asked this question knows, I am a private person.  I don't enjoy "reality TV" shows, and I definitely don't want to participate in one, and social media of any form just isn't my thing.

The long answer is still, "I don't know," but for Cathy and me it seems both emotionally dishonest and pointless to post a detached, clinical "infomercial" on what Nicole is going through.

During Nicole's first battle with Leukemia, we sent out text messages, which were a draining and inefficient method of communication, and really couldn't reach everyone that wanted to stay informed about Nicole.  However, neither Cathy or I think we could have done a blog at that time either.  We also didn't have Facebook back then, but Facebook isn't the right venue either.

But this time around, Cathy and I both feel this blog is important, and we feel prompted to express our thoughts and feelings on it, and the fact is, I doubt many "strangers" ever get to this site.  And for those who do, along with all of our family, friends, and other "strangers" who are pulling for Nicole, we hope that each person who reads here leaves with a greater determination to, "Never give in.  Never give in.  Never, never, never..." (Winston Churchill, "The Complete Speeches of Winston S. Churchill," edited by Robert Rhodes James ), during the many trials that each of us face throughout our lives.

We sincerely hope that anyone who reads this blog will be strengthened to meet and overcome the personal challenges that they are facing, whatever they may be.  For me, Nicole is a living testament to the tender mercies of a loving Father in Heaven, and also to the resilience of the human spirit.  The Savior said:
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  (Matthew 5:14-16.)

Nicole is too young to express her story herself, but if this blog can become a window through which each person who reads it can both see and feel the light and love of our Savior in their own life, then we are happy to share what we can of her journey.  I know that Christ is the True Light of the world (see 3 Nephi 15:9 and many others).  The nature of mortality is to test our faith in God and His promises, and to refine us into gold, into people that are like He is (see Abraham 3:24-26, Isaiah 1:25, 48:10), and I know that He sustains us through our afflictions as we look to Him in faith.