Cycle 2

Doris began Cycle 2 of her treatment on Thursday. This cycle will have only one infusion, which was on Thursday. She will continue with her first prescription of oral chemo pills - the first of two prescriptions she will take. Her next infusion will be on July 25. July 24 will be the first day of Cycle 3, during which she will be adding a second oral chemo pill to he regimen. We really felt celebratory about completing Cycle 1 of treatment. Considering this is projected to be a 24 month treatment, it does not seem too significant. However, because Doris tolerated three courses of infusions, and the twice daily administration of the first chemo pills for 28 days, AND the results seem very promising, we felt encouraged. It is not unusual for treatments to fail to find traction in patients. We are therefore very grateful for the indication in her blood work - the first since she began treatment - that her white blood cell count was normal. The doctor proclaimed that the treatment was working. His description of her blood work was, “It is beautiful!” As I have shared this good news with some individuals on occasion, I have had the response from more than one of them that they have been praying for Doris for weeks. It seems that this result does not take us by surprise, but rather brings feelings of overwhelming gratitude for the kind and encouraging words of others, and their exercise of faith and prayers on our behalf. While I recognize Doris is the primary focus of those prayers, I realize that those prayers often include me as well as the rest of our family. We have continued in our study together centered on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We started with a couple of my favorite references, such as 2 Nephi 9. This is the chapter where Jacob, the brother of Nephi gives us such an amazing treatise on the benefits of the atonement against the backdrop of what our lives and the eternities would be like without that wondrous gift. When Jacob encountered Sherem, an anti-Christ, he gave a brief summary "And this is not all—it has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost⁠." To enjoy more of the up-side of the atonement against the stark comparison of our existence without that atonement I refer you to the aforementioned reference, 2 Nephi 9 I find during our study time together that my attention is often re-directed as we study the topic with the references to the Atonement in the topical guide. We are also seeing that studying these passages in the context in which they are given is also very meaningful. Up next: We are headed to St. Lukes in downtown Boise for genetic counseling and testing. What we learn from this testing may certainly be of interest to Doris’ blood relatives - her siblings and their children, as well as to our posterity.