Debbi's Email Update 8/11/2010

WOW!!! What a difference a week can make in our lives.  Yesterday was a particularly busy day.  At rounds we discussed the treatments and what would happen next as well as the preliminary findings from the bone marrow biopsy.  The biopsy was a particularly difficult process.  The Dr had difficulty getting a good sample and had to do 2 dry taps since they could not get any fluid out.  A dry tap is when they carve out a button of bone and marrow.  The reason for this became apparent once they began to study it.  They discovered a lot of scar tissue in the bone marrow.  There are a number of reasons this could happen but what it means is that the marrow is injured and will require a bone marrow transplant (BMT). We met with a transplant coordinator and discussed some of the concerns and a little about the treatment.  We were told that family members and friends can join the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry at www.marrow.org  but generally speaking only full siblings will be considered initially for a match after that they will go to the registry for a match.  Mary will have some time at home in between the chemo and the transplant to mend even if they find a marrow match quickly. Many of you have asked about blood donations.  Blood can be donated through ARUP Blood services. http://www.utahblood.org/index.html  Although it may not go directly to Mary it is always in need and that is one way you can show your support.  There is also information on setting up a blood drive. We spoke with T on Monday because of some changes in the schedule of his P day.  It was very positive and Mary and T talked and laughed for half an hour.  T is good and committed to serving the Lord.  He is aware that this is part of our Fathers plan and has been comforted.  We are in close contact with the mission mom and she has been great.  She used to work as a social worker at St. Marks Hospital and LDS Hospital and will be a great source of knowledge and comfort for T I am sure. Mary has a different Blog page – carepages.com ended up too difficult to navigate so here is the new link. http://magicalmaryfairy.blogspot.com/   Nothing is posted yet but we will have some post by tomorrow. We are still planning on a special fast for her this coming Sunday, August 15th, and I would like to invite family and friends to participate in a priesthood blessing at 6:00 pm at Huntsman Cancer Hospital.  We will not be having a party at that time and ask that, if possible, younger children with a lot of energy be left in the care of someone else to reduce the distractions.  The Doctors have indicated that Mary will not be feeling optimal by then and were concerned about her feeling overwhelmed and of course the germ factor. Some highlights of the week: Many family members and friends have visited and we appreciate all the prayers that have been offered on Mary’s behalf.  Mary has her people poster on her door that Sonja has made and would love to have it filled with all the people that are behind her.  This is so she has a visual reminder of all those that are supporting her during this earthly test.   She has die cut-cuts in her room and would encourage you to participate as you stop by to visit.  If you are not close by and would like have an avatar made for you we can do that.  Just let me know and I can delegate it out. We were able to attend church on Sunday.  Huntsman Cancer Hospital and University of Utah Medical Center have a branch in the hospital that is part of one of the student Stakes at the University of Utah.  We had a shortened sacrament meeting and were able to meet the Branch President and his wife, President and Sister Smith.  They were very nice and have added Mary to their list of members. (Oddly enough, Mary had been listed as no religious affiliation during the admitting process.  If we had not attended they would not have been able to visit with her.) Elliot the dog came to visit on Sunday.  He is a therapy dog that visits Huntsman, Primary, Shriner’s and University of Utah Medical Center.  He is a poodle mix, very tall (he was up to his handlers waist while standing on all four), with brown curly hair and he said a prayer for Mary.  Imagine this, he knelt down more or less, put his front paws on Mary’s bed, bowed his head and barked Amen.  It really was fun to have him visit. Yesterday Mary was feeling rather depressed, like she would never be better again. While she was describing it to me she specifically called it “evil that surrounded her”.   It lingered around her for several hours.  We read a scripture and said family prayer and then I left to go home.  After I was gone she read her scriptures and sang some songs but the feeling continued to linger.  Many thoughts were running through her head about death and then she realized that everything would be fine, she would recover and so she told them,  “Leave me alone.  I am going to be fine.”  The evil left immediately allowing her to get the rest she needs.  She woke up this morning with a renewed faith that all would be well.  What a testimony building experience on so many levels.  We realize the impact this is having on all those around us and we pray for all of you that you might know that Heavenly Father is in charge and that he loves all of us, and that Jesus Christ is our Savior, brother and friend.  We recognize they are directing all that has happened to lead up to this and all that will happen in the future.  We are hopeful that we will recognize and act on the things that he is teaching us so that we might further his work here on this earth. Love always, Deb