Another Clean PET Scan! 25 Months Straight!

Great News! Another clean PET scan! Now I have gone 25 months without any sign of cancer!
We are so grateful for your words of encouragement, prayer, fasting and support.

The man in this photo is Sirdar A.E. de Alencastro Guimaraes, my best friend from Porto Alegre, Brazil. This photo was taken while he was talking to me on the telephone. Brother Guimaraes is a man of great faith. He reminds me of Nephi. His and your prayers have invoked the tender mercies of the Lord on my behalf!

I am still working to get rid of Host vs. Graft Disease. My walking is complicated, but I receive weekly blood treatments (ECP) and infusions to help eradicate the disease. We are confident that I can return to normal and gain back my muscle strength in my legs and arms.

Graft vs. Host Disease

Well, just a little speed bump. Last week I was diagnosed with Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD).

It is very common with bone marrow (stem cell) transplant patients. Essentially, Vicki's stem cells and my body are having a little tug-of-war: creating rashes, hard scar tissue in weird places and general fatigue.

The HemaOncologists actually want their bone marrow transplant patients to have a little GVHD because it attacks lymphoma and helps prevent a relapse.

So I have a little GVHD. Just another speed bump to perfect health!

60th Birthday Celebration at Disneyland

All the girls, including granddaughter Evie, celebrated my 60th birthday at the "Happiest Place On Earth! We spent two and one-half days in the Magic Kingdom. It was absolutely wonderful!
Here we are pictured in front of my "old stomping grounds": "it's a small world" where I worked for three summers. Wonderful memories past and present.

We also celebrated another clean PET scan on May 12! Another tender mercy of the Lord!

Utah's Legal Elite and Mountain States SuperLawyers

I was honored this month to be named by my peers to Utah's Legal Elite and Mountain States SuperLawyers in the area of Corporate Law. I was also included for the twentieth year in Who's Who In America. I am very grateful to my law partners and staff at Hill, Johnson & Schmutz for supporting me through this health crisis. I am also grateful to my clients who have remained loyal to me. I am still practicing more than part-time while I continue visits to Huntsman Cancer Center for treatments and examinations.

The City That Never Sleeps / NYC

Last week, I spent the entire week in "The City That Never Sleeps." I went with Ali to enroll her at Shillington School, where she is studying computer graphic design during her final semester of high school. Ali is living with Natalie in her apartment in Hell's Kitchen near the Theater District.

Ali and I saw "In the Heights" and "Spiderman." We were excited to see our old friend, Patrick Page, starring as The Green Goblin. He was extraordinary. He has the greatest voice of any actor I have seen perform.

New York is amazing....constant movement of people and traffic, great restaurants and wonderful theater! I am so grateful for this experience with Ali.

The Arrival of Evie Marie Gerulat (First Grandchild)

We had momentous news with the arrival of Evie Marie Gerulat born on November 15, 2010 to Nicole (our second daughter) and Adam. Evie is our first grandchild and we are so grateful for her safe arrival and Nicole's good health. We are enjoying her sweet spirit and endearing personality! Nicole and Adam are perfect parents. Evie has a wardrobe fit for a princess (compliments of Nicole and friends) and Adam kisses her incessantly. Sorry I haven't blogged in so long, but with this great blessing in our lives, things have been really wonderful. I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas...and Happy New Year!

Another Clean PET Scan!

Another beautiful rainbow day in my life! Another clean PET scan!
That means there is no sign of any cancerous activity in my body!
Another tender mercy of the Lord!