General Update

 From Paul:

Doris has completed Cycle 15 of her 24 cycles of treatment. That milestone date was August 13, 2026. Since we were subject to scheduling availability of the oncologist, her blood draw and appointment were delayed until August 18.

 I am encouraged that Doris’ blood labs indicate that her remission is still evident. The doctor also indicated that her labs show she can fight off infections. We will still be cautious, but we can relax our masking practices, especially for visiting family or friends. Her doctor suggested visitors should wash their hands when they arrive. This news is encouraging and we are grateful for the positive indications.

This chapter of our lives often brings a mixture of good things and challenges. Many of these challenges are associated with Doris’ ongoing treatments and the side effects of the medication. In general, I sense improvement in her strength and stamina. We are grateful for the improved air quality, because we have been avoiding walking outdoors for about a month. We have substituted some indoor walks at either Walmart or other indoor locations. The satisfaction of enjoying the beauty of our surrounding green space cannot be matched by indoor walking.

I love hope. Hope is such a meaningful concept because it paints a picture of the future, both now and in the more distant future. Elder Neil A. Maxwell often used the distinguishing terminology of “proximate hope”, and “ultimate hope” to describe the difference between a short-term versus a long-term hope. For our proximate hope, we look forward to continued success in this treatment regimen and eventual healing or sustained remission without treatments. For our ultimate hope, we look forward in faith to the redemption provided by our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Because of Him, we will be raised in glory with perfect, immortal bodies in the resurrection, and reunited with our Heavenly Father and our families into eternity. That reunion is conditional upon how well we continue our journey of faith and keeping our covenants. We strive daily to bring both redemptive blessings of that reunion to a reality, knowing that all these blessings are possible only because of a Savior, Who loved us enough to suffer, bleed and die. His resurrection broke the bonds of death, and our eventual resurrection is the part of our ultimate hope. This hope helps to dissolve fear and bring promises of peace, comfort, and joy in the small daily pleasures of our beautiful surroundings, and interactions with friends and family.

From Doris:

My sister was diagnosed with liver cancer this month. Miraculously, her cancer is curable. She will have radiation treatments and then surgery, but she will eventually be cancer free. Her cancer was caught early. So was mine. My brother was also diagnosed with cancer this past year. He had surgery and is cancer free. I am one of eight siblings. Five of the eight of us have had or currently have cancer.

According to a genetic specialist my sister saw, we are all likely downwinders from the nuclear testing done in Nevada. In a way, this news was comforting to me as it seems to indicate I could not have done anything to avoid getting cancer.

My type of cancer is considered very rare and very aggressive. What a miracle it is that my cancer is responding to treatment. The treatments are much easier on patients now than they were just a decade ago. How grateful I am to all the men and women who have dedicated their lives to cancer research and treatment. But most of all, I am grateful for the miracles God continues to place in my life.