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

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.

Sept 13th: Happy Birthday Jerry!

Sept 13th: Happy Birthday Jerry!
The Robisons (sans Jordan away at school) celebrate. Karri has had a good weekend too! She is eating a healthy normal diet without nausea, and with the benefit of an epidural shot, she is beginning to regain some mobility. While her back pain is not entirely diminished, she has begun to get around with a cane instead of a walker - yay!

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

June 22: Welcome Home from the hospital Karri! Good Luck w/Chemo
The Robisons with Mother's Day gifts and the "Wrap Yourself in Our Love" quilt made by friends from church. L to R: Matthew, Brandon, Karri, Jerry, Jordan and Allie

May 31st - Jordan's Senior Prom photo op

May 31st - Jordan's Senior Prom photo op
Despite looking great, Karri is fighting post surgery complications including serious infection and debilitating, persistent nausea.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Out of Hospital; Not yet ready to Dance the Limbo!

Karri came home to Myrth and Claude's on Saturday evening in time to be a part of Myrth's birthday celebration, which under the circumstances was rather bittersweet, not only due to Karri's weakened physical condition, but also as it is the time of year when grandchildren depart for college and there are more departing every year. The Sunday dinner ended with cakes and family blessings for those staying behind. Here is a brief look ahead at our week:

*the two youngest grandchildren, Karri's Allie and Randy's Jenna begin their second week of high school and their first week of early morning Seminary (religious instruction) at 7:00 am, at the church across the street from the high school. Both girls will be staying at Myrth and Claude's this week while Jerry takes Jordan and Randy and Colleen take Rachel and Kenny up to Rexburg to begin the school year at BYU-Idaho. Our week with the girls will be enlivened not only by Seminary and high school, but also by volleyball, soccer, band practice etc.
*Amidst this excitement, Karri will be trying to recover from chemo and from Jordan's departure. (We are thrilled for him but sad for us b/c he is such a great kid.) This is assuming she gets the go-ahead for chemo tomorrow - we hope the lab results will show her infection is gone and her blood counts are good. She is on a new round of pain meds, which make the back pain manageable, just barely - they sort of dull the agony. She is sleeping in a hospital bed, using a walker, and trying hard to build up her muscle tone and body strength, but she is clearly very weak, and it all happened so suddenly. We are all very perplexed that the hospital stay did so little to address the issue and hoping for a referral from her oncologist to a back specialist so we can get better answers and a comprehensive treatment program going. (Any answer would be better than the non-answers we got at the hospital.)
*On the Hooray side - the acites fluid build up seems to have ceased. Although Karri is very miserable with the back issues, we are all so grateful she isn't dealing with that as well. Given what the oncologist said previously about this fluid, we are assuming it has stopped due to a combination of chemo killing off the cancer cells which produced it and to Karri's improved diet helping her vascular system to absorb fluid more normally. Karri has almost no nausea these days and is able to eat small meals two or three times a day. I'll post a new report after her appointment for chemo tomorrow. Posted by Kim with regards to all on behalf of the family

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'll take the good news over any bad news at this point. Here's keeping Karri in our prayers for tomorrow.

On another note we havae two on Leon's side of the family at BYU-Idaho, Ben and Trisa Francis. They are sibles. It would be great if we could get together some time with my cousins while they are in ID and maybe they can connect with our niece and nephew.

Karri, once again please be aware that we pray very hard for you and yours.

Love,

Clairlyn and Family

Anonymous said...

Hi, Karri,
Seems like this is the best of the news we have heard yet. I know it might seem a little to you, but any improvement is welcome. Hope they can help your back soon. Many prayers are coming your way not only for you but for the whole family that are helping you.

Love aunt Pat

Anonymous said...

Karri,
You are in our thoughts and prayers. We know no one better able to fight this fight. You are a strong and determined woman. Best Wishes and Here's to a quick and full recovery. Love always, Len and Shelly Robison

Anonymous said...

Hey, Karri! Glad to hear that you're home!
Everything is fine here at school, don't worry. We loooove the air conditioning! The kids this year are sweet overall, but low. And of course teaching is crazy, as usual!
Take care, let us know when you're feeling well enough for us to come visit again!
Love,
Beth