Karri's blog: Things Are Looking Up

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.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Things Are Looking Up

Hi everybody - Karri here to give a current update. I had a Dr. appointment yesterday and it yielded some important news. He said my cancer is now in remission, but I still need to go through the next two chemo treatments. He also said it would probably come back someday, but they don't know when or how bad it will be. So I guess I will be getting checked and tested quite a bit for the next while, but I suppose that is to be expected in living with cancer. I am also now officially off the TPN - the liquid nutrition in a bag that was hooked up to me every night - and I am a free woman without a needle in my shoulder anymore. I still have the port under my skin to use for chemo, but that's about it. I feel really good these days - I can eat almost anything I want and I don't get sick at all anymore. The only problem is that I am still having a lot of back pain and I still need to use the cane to walk around, but I guess that's better than the walker. It feels very strange for me to have school be in session and not to be a part of it, but I will return someday when I am totally healthy and can handle the work and pressure. Until then - I am still staying at my parents house until my back gets better. Please feel free to comment or call or come and visit me anytime.
Love, Karri

12 comments:

Unknown said...: Hey I meant to send Jerry a happy birthday message-so happy birthday-wishing you a good coming year--
Jeanne from Everett; September 16, 2008 at 5:59 PM
Annette said...: Yay! We're so happy for you Karri. and happy b.day Jerry!
Bary & Annette; September 16, 2008 at 7:39 PM
Rachel said...: Oh I'm so glad to hear how much better you are doing! It's great to have Jordan, Kenny & the others here at school with me & for Sunday dinners! They seem to be enjoying themselves a great deal. Continue getting better!

Love,
Rachel; September 17, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Anonymous said...: That is great news Karri! We have kept a constant prayer going for you and yours. Hope you get the back thing fixed soon I know your pain ;P

Love Ya,

Clairlyn; September 17, 2008 at 12:08 PM
joyce said...: Karri,
We miss you at Cambridge, but know that your students are in good hands. Your grade level team has been a great support. It's still as busy as ever, but you knew that!

Continued good wishes for relief from the pain. It's wonderful to hear that the cancer is gone (keep visualizing it staying away!) and that you are "tube-free."

Hugs to you and yours,
Joyce; September 17, 2008 at 5:08 PM
Anonymous said...: Hi Karri,
I'm so glad you are feeling better, and you recieved great news from your dr. The back pain will pass in time. Keep up your great attitude, I'm positive that has helped in your recovery.
Stay strong!
Joanie; September 17, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Anonymous said...: Great news, Karri! I'd do The Happy Dance, but I don't want my back to join yours. And a belated Happy Birthday to Jerry!; September 18, 2008 at 9:32 AM
Anonymous said...: I miss you lots! I haven't been able to go back to Cambridge because I have no where to go!! :( Glad to hear that things are looking up!!

Always
Nicole; September 18, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Anonymous said...: Great news Karri :)

So glad that things are getting better for you. I hope to talk with you soon.

Hugs,

Brandey; September 19, 2008 at 6:20 AM
Anonymous said...: Karrie,
I am so happy that you are feeling better and you are tube free!!!!! Your back pain will pass as well and I know that when I come back to Cali to visit I will see you teaching in room 17.
Lindsay Mattingly; September 20, 2008 at 8:36 AM
Marilyn said...: Karri - Marilyn and I are soooo happy that you are doing better. We pray for your often. I talked to jordan the other day and he seemed great. I wish Matt well as he heads back to school. Keep up the good work, we are all in your cheering section.

Steve and Marilyn Leininger; September 21, 2008 at 8:55 PM
Anonymous said...: I'm so happy to hear that you are doing so much better! That is fabulous news. It was so sad but exciting to leave our "baby" boys in Rexburg. They were having a lot of fun before we even left. Keep getting better and know that the many prayers so many people offer for you will continue and that you are so loved!

Lyn and Kevin; September 21, 2008 at 10:17 PM