Valentines Engagement!!

Steve proposed to Taryn Nicolaides on Valentines Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010! She said Yes!!
Steve invited her to a little afternoon 'activity' before their Valentines dinner date. He drove her to the Real Salt Lake professional soccer stadium and said they were going to go on a little tour. Taryn loves soccer and has played for Air Force, as well as being an assistant coach for a womens' college soccer team. Steve directed her around the deserted stadium for a few minutes, (arranged with owner Dave Checketts, a friend of Steve's from his mission). Then they heard a helicopter approaching overhead and Steve said "let's go see it." To Taryn's surprise, the helicopter circled around and set down on the grass directly in front of the stadium entrance with Taryn and Steve watching. A passenger set out a large box on the ground, then the helicopter took off again and flew out of sight.
Steve went and picked up the box with Taryn on the grass. Taryn thought it was a pretty spectacular presentation for a Valentines gift. They walked back into the stadium to the balcony where Steve had flowers and chocolates, and Taryn started to open the large box. Inside she found a little ring box-then she knew what was happening. Steve dropped to one knee and asked her to marry her for time and all eternity. She said yes!
Pretty exciting time for all. No date is planned yet for the wedding-possibly late summer if all goes well. Congratulations, Taryn and Steve-we love you!

Time for the Transplant!

Steve just finished his third hospital stay January 26-30 and had another large dose of chemo. He got his number back on his last bone marrow test on Jan. 26; the number was .10%, slightly down from the last number of .12%, but still not a 0%. They have told us that they will go ahead with the bone marrow transplant now anyway, that it is really the only cure option to overcome Steve's own cancer-producing marrow.

Steve will enter the hospital on March 2 and the radiology team will prepare him for transplant by killing off all of his own marrow. On March 9 Steve's donor from the national marrow registry will have his marrow harvested. The next day, March 10 is the day Steve will receive the bone marrow transplant. They transfuse the marrow into Steve's veins and the marrow knows just where to go and travels by itself to the bones.

Steve is feeling pretty good right now and is recuperating and getting prepared for the transplant. Thanks again for all the prayers.

Photo: this is Steve and his close friend, the I.V. tree. This buddy goes everywhere Steve goes when he is in the hospital and they have become quite close!