Monday, October 2, 2023: Bacon & eggs, Tom caught a bluebird but he got away, windy again, Brian update, Scott update, Text from Sam, Trip to town, puzzle finished, book finished, "Think Celestial"

Reno, Nevada

81st operating temple

Dedicated: 23 Apr 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Book of Mormon Reading

Helaman 13:21-39

Book of Mormon 100 Favorites

3 Nephi 17:23-24

And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones. And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as if it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.

Come Follow Me

Ephesians "For the Perfecting of the Saints."

October General Conference

"Abide the Day in Christ" by Sister Amy A. Wright

Rescuing Wayward Children

"Our prayer is that our children may someday remember who they are."

An early morning breakfast of bacon and eggs at which time I heard a story about our cat, Tom. Jared said there was a bluebird on the edge of the water trough getting a drink and Tom saw him. Tom crept over and caught the bird and was playing with him. Tom let the bird go for a minute and the bird flew away. Yay!! Note to Tom: If you're going to catch a bird, catch an ugly one, not a bluebird. Wow, that sounded kind of mean but it's how I feel.

I made breakfast for the guys and James brought me breakfast in the bedroom.. a bowl of cereal with pecans.

It's windy again today. I got a text that the Relief Society trip to Green's Peak on Saturday has been cancelled. No reason was listed. I checked my weather app and there is a 34 percent change of rain. Maybe that's the reason.

I also got an update on Brian Maxwell's condition:

Here is the bomb: Brian has High Grade Invasive Urothelial Carcinoma. In other words - aggressive bladder cancer that may or may not have spread beyond the bladder wall. Our next step is to meet with the team at MD Anderson on Oct 13th and come up with a plan of attack, which will most likely involve a complete removal of the bladder, prostate, lymph nodes and possibly other tissue. The next few months are going to be rough. But we're going to take it one step at a time and do our best to kick this!

Here are the latest texts from Rebecca regarding Scott's condition and treatment. 

Wed, Sep 27 at 10:30 AM

We are currently at the cancer clinic and they have just started Scott on the chemo that will kill his bone marrow. He will do this for 5 days then into the hospital on Sunday for the last dose on Monday before the transplant on Tuesday. Nathan will start his shots here at the clinic on Friday to increase his production of stem cells. He will do this for 4 days. Then on Tuesday they will take his blood, run it through a machine that filters out the overgrowth of stem cells, and simultaneously return his blood back to him. They they will immediately transfer the stem cells to the hospital next door and give them to Scott. The whole process is fascinating!

I want to share the most recent tender mercy we have experienced. One of many! On Sunday Scott received a priesthood blessing from Brent in preparation for this next phase. One of the things that was mentioned was that the doctors and specialists who work with Scott would be guided and inspired in his care. And then Brent paused for a second and said "and make changes as necessary." On Monday we met with the oncologist, the transplant coordinator, the doctor in charge of the stem cell process, and the pharmacist to discuss what would take place and to answer questions. Scott was scheduled to start with a nasty type of chemo that has some nasty side effects. We were worried about that one and Scott was nervous about it. But one of the first things they told us in that meeting was that the oncologist decided that because Scott has responded so well to the other treatments, he felt that that one was not necessary. God hears and answers prayer! 

Sun, Oct 1 at 9:25 PM

It is Sunday evening and Scott is back in the hospital. Tomorrow he will receive his last dose of chemo before transplant on Tuesday. Nathan's bones are beginning to ache like they said they would. The time is getting close.

Scott is filled with faith and peace. We all are.

Mon, Oct 2 at 4:18

Thanks to all of you. By the way, we have a new baby girl! Jason and Marin just had their sixth child on Saturday, Dawn's birthday. 

Rebecca and new granddaughter

Tue, Oct 3 

They will begin Nathan's stem cell collection at 8 a.m. They started by injecting Nathan with a stem cell growth factor every day for 5 days to increase his production of stem cells so much that they overflow into his blood stream. Then on the 5th day they hook him up to an IV for about 6 hours and circulate out his blood. The blood goes through a machine that separates out the stem cells then puts the blood right back into him.

Carmen asked how they get the stem cells into Scott's bone marrow.

Rebecca:

These are blood stem cells and they know exactly where to go. For Scott it is simply a transfusion. The cells do the rest. The human body is truly amazing!

Nathan is done for the day and they think they have enough cells but they want him to come back tomorrow for half a day because they would like to have extra just in case they don't have enough or in cast Scott made need a boost later on. 

Scott will receive the new cells on his birthday, tomorrow. Happy Re-Birth day Scott!

Nathan says he feels weirdly depleted. 

Wed, Oct 4 at 4:52 p.m.

Scott is receiving Nathan's stem cells. He is very grateful. Nathan is telling him "Happy Birthday."

Happy Birthday Scott

It took a long time because they got 7.5 million cells! Yesterday morning Dr. Torloni said they like to go for 4 million so we are surprised they did as much as they did. Probably because they could. When they get cells from another country they don't have a choice of how many. But Nathan is right here and a perfect match. He is very optimistic. He thinks Scott will be fine.

The infusion is finished and Scott feels fine. The nurse said that if there is a problem with the host accepting the donor cells it happens during the infusion. He had no reactions. Yay!!!

There is still a chance of graft verses host disease when the cells ingraft but his body accepted the cells just fine. Also he will have some side effects from the last chemo, and then keeping him safe for a long time. Still challenges ahead, but so grateful for all of your prayers.

Rebecca shares this spiritual experience:

I would like to share a spiritual experience I had as Nathan finished up and the nurse took the bag of cells down from that machine. She asked us, Nathan and I, if we would like to say a prayer over the cells before she sent them to the lab. I was caught off guard for a few seconds. Nathan wasn't feeling great so he didn't want to, so I carefully took the bag of cells in my hands. At first I just stood there in wonder at what I was holding, not knowing what to say. Then I took a breath, closed my eyes and was overcome. The Spirit was so strong that it took me a few seconds to re-gain my composure. It's hard to speak when there is a lump in you throat and you are crying. Then the words came. I expressed gratitude for Heavenly Father and His miracles and tender mercies that He has blessed us with so far. I thanked Him for all the team that has worked with Scott and all the people that have prayed with faith for him. I thanked Him for the wonders of modern medicine that has made this even possible. I then asked Heavenly Father to please bless these cells that they would heal Scott's body and that Scott's body would accept these cells and that these cells would accept Scott's body, that he would experience very little side effects. I can't remember what else I said but I closed the prayer, carefully handed the bag of cells back to the nurse and said "thank you."

After she sent them on their way and while Nathan was using the restroom, I asked the nurse why she asked us if we wanted to do that. I asked "Do you give everyone that opportunity?" She said that she kind of feels it out throughout the day and because of the conversation Nathan and Dr. Torloni had about growing up in a Catholic school and about religion that she thought we might want to. She said that sometimes people will have the Chaplin come in and bless the cells. A bit later when Dr. Torloni came in he said that in the many years that he has been doing this, he has noticed a big difference when the cells are prayed over. I was just so grateful for this sweet but powerful experience.

I will share Scott's long but amazing post on his birthday, Wednesday, October 4th.

I got a text from Sam today. She thanked me again for allowing her to come and visit. I sent her the picture of her and Jared at her request.

James and I went to town this afternoon. Our first stop was at Desert Title where James went in and paid for a new license plate. They gave him a temporary plate until the new one comes. We also got gas and washed my car as I am going to the temple tomorrow with Catherine Halcomb. 

I made pork chops, new potatoes, and a salad for dinner. James did the dishes for me. 

I finished my puzzle and my book, "Educating Elizabeth" today. 

Happy 96th Birthday Lois/Mom

Charlie, can you do these poses?