What do you do when you’re facing a medical mountain that feels impossible to climb? After a rare Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia (MPAL) diagnosis, a bone marrow transplant, and an unexpected relapse, we learned what it truly means to hold onto hope. Against all odds—by the grace of God, the brilliance of our medical team, and a selfless donor from Germany—Thomas' new immune system fought off the cancer, and we just celebrated his one-year milestone in sustained remission!

In this episode, we are sharing our story from diagnosis to today. This isn't just a story about surviving—it’s a story about being a steward of a second chance. We discuss the overwhelming gratitude we feel for the doctors and nurses at OHSU and the Bend Cancer Center, the anchor of our faith, the prayers of our community, and the incredible gift of our donor, who changed everything. By exploring the science of Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), we share how we worked to keep our hearts focused on hope during the darkest hours, and why guarding your mindset is a vital part of the healing process.

📺 Watch the video version of this episode here: https://youtu.be/BfHTecVzVRE (We share some special visuals and photos, so head over to YouTube if you'd like to see them!)

In This Episode, We Share:

• The Smallest Beginnings: How a simple finger cut led to a diagnosis that changed our lives overnight, and the humor we found in being a "medical advocate."
• A Debt of Gratitude: Honoring the medical teams and our donor, who bridged the gap when it mattered most.
• The Logistics of a Miracle: The scary reality of rapidly stopping anti-rejection meds to fight the cancer, and the suspense of getting donor cells across the world.
• The Science of Hope: A look at how shifting from fear to hope physically supports the body's natural ability to heal.
• The Gandalf Perspective: Why the ultimate goal isn't just avoiding "bad math," but deciding what to do with the time we are given.

Resources Mentioned:

• Podcast: Blood Cancer United
• Quote: When Calls the Heart (Hallmark Channel)
• The Gandalf Quote: J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

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