Karri's blog: Graduation Party

Chronology prior to June 2008

Karri was diagnosed with probable endometrial cancer on April 6, 2008. Here is a brief chronology of the progression of the diagnosis and treatment before we began this blog on June 12, 2008. Many thanks to Dave Adair for helping us to get this blog started, with a special nod to his beautiful mother, Pat (1932-2008), who blessed our lives even during her last months as she was suffering pancreatic cancer. We love you both!

December, 2007

Karri began bleeding heavily in the fall but assumed it was connected to the onset of menopause. As it steadily worsened, she discussed it with her regular doctor who sent her to a series of specialists for ultrasound and biopsy over the next few months. We assumed the problem would be related to fibroid tumors which run in the family.

April 6, 2008

Karri’s doctor called to tell her that the biopsy showed that she had cancer in the endometrial lining of her uterus and that she needed to meet with a surgeon who specialized in women’s cancer without delay. This was a complete and unexpected shock.

May 6, 2008

After turning her 3^rd grade class at Cambridge to a long term sub for the rest of the school year, Karri had surgery at the Concord campus of John Muir. Dr. Edraki, the surgeon anticipated that her scheduled hysterectomy might be performed vaginally if the cancer hadn’t spread too widely. After a surgery of more than six hours, he emerged to tell Jerry, Myrth, and Claude who were waiting that the cancer was very widespread and invasive but that he had removed everything he could see. Recovery would be longer and more complex than anticipated because her gastrointestinal tract was also involved. She would definitely need chemotherapy.

May 11, 2008

Karri’s fierce determination kicked in immediately and she worked very hard to be a cooperative patient. To the surprise of the medical team, she was able to come home on Mother’s Day. What a delight for the entire family. She came home to Myrth and Claude’s house so that they could continue caring for her during her recovery while Jerry and the kids held up their end of things with school and the house. Jerry has spent more than a few lunch hours shopping for groceries and many friends and family members have made dinners for the extended family to share together. At first Karri was able to tolerate small amounts of food and was on track for a speedy recovery.

May 23, 2008

Karri’s recovery was compromised by the onset of nausea and vomiting about 10 days into her recovery. Despite trying a range of anti-nausea drugs, she has continued to have these complications, which her medical team has struggled to explain and resolve. The incision also became slightly infected and was opened to drain off fluid that was building up under the skin. A ‘wound-vac’ machine was attached to speed drainage and recovery and Karri had home care nurses come every two days to change the dressings on the openings. She has endured all of this with courage and optimism and complete lucidity, but on this date her energy declined and she began to run a fever. On Dr. Edraki’s advice, she was admitted to the Walnut Creek campus of John Muir with infection. As it was Memorial Day weekend, it took all night to be admitted and nothing much happened in the hospital in the five days that she was there although she did get IV antibiotics. The hospital doctor was not very communicative although the nursing staff at both Walnut Creek and Concord campuses have been extremely helpful and responsive. In the intervening weeks her condition has not improved and she now has several openings attached to the wound vac to drain fluid from her surgical area, increasing the possibility of infection.

Happy Birthday Karri!! Final Chemo is 10/15 - hooray!!

The actual date of Karri's birthday is October 8th but we've been joyfully celebrating all week long. She's been able to go out to eat, see movies, watch Allie play volleyball, and attend church. We love watching her enjoy her favorite foods again. We are so grateful for all your support; it has been critical to help her to celebrate this birthday with gratitude for her return to good health. She continues to improve steadily each week. Pictured here: Allie (14), Brandon (24), Karri and Jerry, and Abby (6). Matthew and Jordan are away at school. Love from all of us to all of you.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Graduation Party

I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to write this. This is Karri talking again and I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed going to the get-together on Sunay and seeing so many of my friends there to celebrate Jordan's graduation. It was so great of everyone to come and talk to me and share things with me. It was hard getting out of the house, but it was definitely worth it! Thanks Lyn for sharing your beautiful house with us! On other notes, we went wig shopping this week - what a kick! Wig people are definitely weird people, but I found one that I think will work, just don't laugh at me when you see me in it! Maybe I will prefer going bald, or wearing a hat, I don't know yet. I still have 2 weeks before I find out. Today I'm going to a support group meeting at the Wellness Center in Walnut Creek, so I'll probably talk about that at the next posting. You've all been so great about responding with comments - Keep it up!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...: Hi Cuz!

I'm glad you got a chance to get out of the house. A change of scenery can do wonders, and for a party, even better!

We, who don't live close to you, will definitely need to see pics of you in your wig--hint, hint. ;)

If you think of anything we can do for you from this end of the state, let me know. Say "Hi!" to the rest of the clan for me!

Love,
Jolene; July 3, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Anonymous said...: That goes ditto for this side of the family :) I wish I could come for a visit or something. We do keep you in our prayers and on the Temple prayer roll.

As for the wig. I think they're fun! Even though I didn't have to deal with no hair I use to wear one once in awhile for kicks a long time ago.

Here is a funny wig story for you.
My husband, Leon was telling me that the Lord played a joke on him. He asked the Lord to send him a woman who would love him for who he was not what she thinks he should be. Leon said he forgot to state that he liked blue eyed brunettes.

Well, of course you know that I'm blonde and have brown eyes. Well I thought that I could take care of at least part of that. I had a brunette wig from a long time ago. So I put it on before Leon came home from work. He saw the backside of me and asked where Clairlyn was. I turned around and I thought he was going to fall over. Of course he said the right thing when I asked if I should change my hair color. He said, "It doesn't matter what color of hair you have I love you for who you are." Of course he added that I sure looked good as a brunette too, but I still had brown eyes....lol

Love to you and yours,

Clairlyn; July 3, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Nancy said...: Hi Karri,
I have been keeping up to date through this wonderful blog. You are a stong woman with many reasons to fight this fight. I know it isn't easy, my son Ben's girlfriend is fight her battle too with cancer, but there are many miracles. Keep the faith and we will keep praying. God will carry you through this. You have a great support team there.
Love,
Nancy Kahl; July 3, 2008 at 3:22 PM

Karri's blog

Feliz Natal e um Próspero Ano Novo! (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!) Best wishes to all!!

Chronology prior to June 2008

Help Solicited from MDUSD teachers

Blog Archive

Happy Birthday Karri!! Final Chemo is 10/15 - hooray!!

Sept 13th: Happy Birthday Jerry!

June 22: Welcome Home from the hospital Karri! Good Luck w/Chemo

May 31st - Jordan's Senior Prom photo op

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Graduation Party

3 comments: