The Unexpected Adventure Continues....

DEAR ADVENTURERS.....

So now after Ronalds official first post , I (stephanie) will give you all a few generalities of what we are told to expect starting today.....after 3 days of "kidney conditioning" and prep... Ronald will start CLAG-M Chemotherapy today... it will run for 8 days with the hope that the cancer cells will respond by getting lost!!! During this time and for the weeks to follow we are told that Ronald will feel very sick and weak.... He will also start hitting that neutropenic stage where he will have no immune system yet hopefully regain his numbers in about 3 weeks or so. If all goes well to that point they will administer an "obliterating" chemotherapy (meaning so powerful that is can hopefully ZAP every left cancer cell possible) and then a day later begin his transplant! WHEW!.... and then.... we are told he will get even a bit sicker and we wait for about 2 weeks to see if the transplant took enough to start grafting!... and then... since we plan on that happening (since he has a sibling match donor, his sister) he will then have to be watched very closely to monitor for any set backs, infections or complications for a very long time...but when his numbers all come back up for at least 3-5 days they will release him to stay within 20 min of the hospital for 100 days ( those days starting with the day of his transplant)! This is because at any time he could get a fever, infection etc, that would need to be treated immediately!!...WHEW!!! As we plan on all going well even to that point.... then he will be given the ok to settle back home but still very isolated for about 3 more months as he is still monitored very carefully! What an incredible adventure ahead huh??? NOT comfortable, NOT good timing, NOT planned, maybe may appear as NOT fair right!????.... we say to that... IT DOESN'T MATTER! It is what the Lord has allowed and He is in every detail and THAT IS WHAT MATTERS!

I gave a RS Lesson 2 weeks ago  and during the preparation for that lesson I felt like I wanted to play a song for them that I wasn't planning on playing since it wasn't a hymn or in the planned curriculum , it is actually comes from the movie "Joseph, King of Dreams"....but, I think now I know better why my spirit was drawn to that particular song, as the lyrics really express what we are feeling at this time.... The link with lyrics is below, if you want to just take about three and a half minutes sometime to put this a bit more into the perspective our family has chosen to place this adventure... Our challenge for ourselves and for you is to do what one of the lines of that songs encourage... to allow the Lord REACH us all personally, so He can TEACH us all personally!- We sure love you all and truly desire all the fasting and prayers that you are inspired to participate in .  We plan on keeping up this blog the very best we can to keep you all informed as I know how many hearts are investing in Ronald's well being!! For now, we are well enough off as this latest unexpected adventure begins!! LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER.... AGAIN!!
All our love,
Stephanie and Family
                                     
: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4c7DaAAGrQ&list=RDk4c7DaAAGrQ

"I Know That He Loveth His Children, Nevertheless, I Do Not Know the Meaning of All Things!" 1 Nephi 11:17

Friends and Family!

I felt that I wanted to write this to tell all of you how grateful I am for your prayers and support since I found out that I have leukemia. This last year was quite eventful. I need to let you know that regardless of what happens in the future that I know that our Heavenly Father knows and loves each one of us.  I have been apart of and seen many miracles in the last year. I tell you this because I my cancer has returned. It is more aggressive this time, but we are going to pursue treatment. That means that I have been admitted to Huntsman for high dose chemotherapy, then in about 4 weeks they will prepare me for a bone marrow transplant. I am fortunate because one of my siblings is able to be the donor which improves my chances of survival.  I ask that you will continue to keep my family and I in your prayers and thoughts. I don't know the how and why We are chosen  for such a trial, but I do know that God loves us and each of you and knows us each individually. Stephanie and I know that it will be hard, but we know that if we are to have miracles again it will be up to HIM.  I will never be able to repay all of the love and support that I have and will yet receive, please know that I am eternally grateful and know that with out your support this would be a much more difficult journey.  I will not be able to have visitors as I did last time. The rules and treatment will be much more strict. I love you all and I testify that God and our Savior Jesus Christ love each one of us. Keep a smile and serve one another. 

Love Ronald Brent Simmons