Karri's blog: October 2008

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, October 30, 2008

Empty Nest

Empty Nest by Mother Myrth

This is the other half of Karri's Home Sweet Home. Here we are, Claude and I with an empty nest for the first time since May. It is an adjustment for us as well as Karri. We had grown so accustomed to her presence in the house that I still wake up at night and think of things to talk to her about in the morning.

We are all thrilled about her being home. She has made such great progress. She is truly a amazing person. During this whole ordeal, and it was an ordeal, she has never complained but has saved her energy for healing. I am in awe of her.

This has been a life altering experience for all of us. It would be impossible for me to explain it to anybody. The feelings go too deep. But it has given me a much deeper appreciation of life and love and family. Maybe especially love because this is what allowed Karri to heal so well. The power of love is amazing. Claude and I are glad to have had this experience to love and cherish and take care of Karri . It is one we could have done without, but, oh well. As they say, someone had to do it and we were glad it was us.

When I start missing Karri too much I just go and clean out a corner of the house. And Claude reminds me that although I have lost a daughter, I have gained a bathroom again.

And so it is with a grateful heart I thank my Father in Heaven for allowing us to go on as a complete family, and I end this blog entry.

As a P.S. I must mention how much we enjoyed having Allie with us for 2 months. She is a typical 14 year old, in fact she gives new meaning to the term "teenager", but she is ours and we love her. Claude and Myrth

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Home Sweet Home

Yes, that is right - as of last Saturday, October 25, Allie and I are now living back home. It has been an interesting adjustment for me - I feel like this is where I need to be, but I miss my mom and dad and sister, not to mention my two boys Matt and Jordan who are away at school. I didn't get to see very much of them during the summer! On the plus side, I get to be home with Jerry and Brandon and Allie and get to start being a wife and mom again. I get frustrated by my back because it's not back to normal, but it is slowly getting better due to physical therapy and exercise - I can walk without the cane most of the time.
I finally finished my chemotherapy treatments two weeks ago and am now officially done - Woo Hoo! I also saw my surgeon today and he said that everything had healed very nicely inside and out. They will still be monitoring me through blood tests and occasional CT scans, so I guess it will never really be over, but for now I feel great! I'm just waiting for my hair to grow back and then I'll feel like a new woman!
I want to thank everyone again for your continued support and love and prayers. I have been so fortunate and blessed to be cared about and thought of by so many wonderful people. Love, Karri

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Physical Therapy

Hi everyone - it's been a while since I've written on here, but you know the saying - No news is good news! Things are still going well for me - my stomach is totally back to normal since all the fluid disappeared and I am enjoying eating all the foods I missed during that few months. My blood tests are still turning up good - my cancer markers are back to the normal range and my red and white blood counts are normal as well. The only thing that continues to plague me is my back, and I recently found out why. I have started physical therapy as of last week and my therapist read my MRI that I had at the end of August and it showed not only degenerative arthritis, but a bulging disk that was affecting the nerves that run down both of my legs. The physical therapy has been in a swimming pool the first two times and it has really seemed to help me. I do a number of different water exercises for a whole hour and it really feels good, not to mention that my range of movement has been better and I am able to walk around more without my cane and without pain. I will have some therapy in their clinic where I'll be doing exercises out of the water starting next week - so I'm hoping that will help me even more. I've been able to be out and about and go lots of different places recently, and it really feels good. I want to thank everyone who's been out to visit me, or bring me gifts, or call me or send me cards - I really appreciate all the support from all you wonderful people out there! Take care,
Love, Karri

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

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