8 p.m. ….

Hopefully you were able to view part of the total lunar eclipse which occurred very early this morning …. fortunately, I was able to get a photograph from our deck ….

ECLIPSE is a very intriguing word ….

Eclipse defined as a noun:  the disappearance of the whole or part of the sun when the moon comes between it and the earth or of the moon when the earth’s shadow falls across it.  Since the earth is bigger than the moon, the process of the earth’s shadow taking a bigger and bigger “bite” out of the moon, totally eclipsing it before the shadow recedes.

Eclipse defined as a VERB: “…. be greater in significance than ….”

The verb definition is fascinating.  In every way, God ECLIPSES our human understanding.  Check out these examples:

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:9

A man’s (or woman’s) steps are directed by the Lord.  How can anyone understand his (or her) own way?
Proverbs 20:24

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?  Tell me if you understand.  Who marked off its dimensions?  Surely you know.  Who stretched a measuring line across it?  On what were its footings set or who laid its cornerstone ….?
Job 38:4-6

For me, it’s very comforting to acknowledge that God’s ways ECLIPSE ours.

We had a very encouraging day at UCSF which included an unscheduled visit with Dr. Lloyd Damon, the attending physician who has been overseeing Irene’s stem cell transplant process.  Here is what we learned:

• RBC (Red Blood Cells) at 3.76 with a target of 4-5.2, even with the blood transfusion yesterday.  UCSF is conducting a test which will determine if Irene’s body is producing a substance which counteracts the red blood cell production.  We won’t know the results for two weeks.
• Bilirubin level is 3.0 with a target range of .3-1.2, but lower than the last test
• Creatinine (liver function) level is 4.0 with a target range of .6-1.2, but lower than the last test
• Platelets are at 59; still low, but stable with a target of 140+
• Dr. Damon and Dr. Kumar are discussing Irene’s kidney function …. although the kidney function is not improving, there is still hope that it may do so in the future

There are more interesting statistics we learned today combined with some encouraging news.  On a national basis, each year there are over 700,000 new cases of cancer; 13,000 new cases of Leukemia and about 30 new cases of Primary Amyloidosis.  The obvious conclusion: Primary Amyloidosis is one of the rarest blood diseases on the planet.  Therefore, much is known and also still unknown about this disease …. and it will perhaps take up to 1 year for Irene to fully recover from this treatment …. which will be very slow and arduous.  There will be physical and emotional swings throughout the process.  The net report: be patient, persevere and hope for the best.

Irene was also told that she can occasionally go to the grocery store …. I said “YAY” to that!

She was also told that she can occasionally venture out to a restaurant.  Irene was cautioned, however, to stay away from large groups of people and children at this time.  Emphasis on the word “cautioned” ….

One personal note: my credit cards and I are hoping that she has some time before she can go to the mall again ….

As we continue on this circuitous journey we are grateful that God’s ways ECLIPSE ours.  He is in control.  He knows best.  We may not understand, but we know that He does.  We entrust our present and future to Him.

Caminando con Fé
Dave