Good News!

We haven't given any updates until today as we have been waiting to meet with the BMT Clinic oncology doctor so that we could get the results of Jeff's bone marrow biopsy, which was done on January 11th.

We had a great visit with Dr. Finn Peterson today.  He told us that Jeff had an excellent response to the bone marrow transplant and that there is no evidence of disease.  We had met with the BMT Clinic coordinator last Friday and she had really prepared us for the possibility that Jeff would be entering the hospital in the next week or so to undergo another transplant.  But today Dr. Peterson told us that because of Jeff's excellent response, no second transplant would be necessary and we will now return to our oncologist, Dr. Nibley, and be watched by him.  Jeff will be on an oral low dose chemotherapy treatment to keep the cancer down and out.  The nature of multiple myeloma is that it will eventually return but we're hoping for a long-term remission from the disease.

We are so very grateful for this wonderful news.  We are grateful to our Heavenly Father for his blessings to us and our family and we are grateful to the outstanding medical staff who have given us such excellent care.  Thank you also to all our family and friends who have prayed, supported and helped us through this challenge.  Thank you!  Thank you!

Jeff continues to get stronger every day and to recover from the effects of the transplant. He has even sprouted some tiny, wispy white hairs from his shiny head, with more to come soon (we hope). We are now excited to make plans to enjoy life and to serve. We had made no plans except to be in the hospital and then recovering for the next three months. So our calendar is completely blank, just waiting for us to fill it.

We'll get back to you as soon as we've seen our oncologist.