Caring Bridge Entries

Wednesday, April 15, 2009 9:55 AM, CDT
Happy Wednesday! Hope this week finds everyone doing well. The weather sure has been a gift! This morning I was working from home and had the patio door open, listening to music of the birds…they were singing “good morning, today is going to be a great day!” The only thing better would have been if you were all here to share a cup of chai tea with me!

Well, round 2 tomorrow, 1/6th of the way done by tomorrow night! Can you tell I am grasping at whatever encouragement I can find? I believe the plan is that I will be getting Abraxene, which is like Taxol, but hopefully with less allergic reactions (so I won’t have to take all the premeds I did with the taxol). Abraxene does have the same side effects as Taxol—bone pain and numbness in hands and feet, so far I haven’t experienced the numbness, but I did have a lot of bone pain on Sunday. (Just keep praying this is kicking the cancer!)The last few days have been better and last night I was blessed by being able to go to a church service project! I couldn't really do anything, but just being there was such a great encouragment! Okay, back to tomorrow, my brother, Nick, is taking me to my infusion—bonus for the day! My mom will join us when she is done working. I will be admitted to Avera after the infusion to monitor my heart and potential side effects. Hopefully just a one day stay, but am very thankful that we live in the US and have access to such great health care.

As many of you know Ferlin’s company is lawn maintenance and landscaping, so he is really getting busy…yippee!!! However, I find that I am going to have to depend on the help of others, just a bit more, especially with transportation…thanks to you who have volunteered to help us!

Yesterday a very dear friend emailed me this….thought I would share….

Do not pray for easy lives.
Pray to be a stronger person.
Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers,
Pray for powers equal to your tasks.
Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle,
But you shall be the miracle.

Thanks for praying for me as I once again start a new chemo med with all the unknowns. I literally can feel the prayers on Thursday morning pushing me into the infusion center, especially when my mind is saying “RUN! RUN!RUN AWAY!”

REMINDER: The 21st annual Avera Race Against Breast Cancer will be held Saturday, May 9, 2009 at the Avera McKennan Fitness Center.

Only 5 more days to join!!!! Come join our team!
Team: Kim’s Angels with Attitudes (need to know the name to register for the team…we need 15 people to be an official team, so everyone is welcome to join!)
Captain: Jody Reisch (Kim’s brother)
Info: email Kim or Jody at jody_reisch@cinfin.com
Website:http://www.averafoundation.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=183&srcid=183
Deadline: April 20, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009 8:48 PM, CDT
Happy Sunday!
Okay everyone hold up both hands….count your fingers…10 more treatments is all I have!! The countdown has begun!!
Although I did have a slight reaction to the new chemo on Thursday, it was reversible with some IV meds. Spent the night at the hospital and was able to go home on Friday morning. Thanks to Kathy and Brittney for picking up Kelsey. Thanks to Nick for hanging out with me the whole day. Thanks mom for everything—she even did our laundry! Saturday and Sunday I did have some bone/muscle pain, but able to find relief with Advil. Kalina and I were able to spend some time together on Saturday morning which was great fun—we made a funny pair—cute pregnant mommy and bald headed grandma! Spent Saturday afternoon working from home and Saturday evening Ferlin and Kelsey and I relaxed in front of the fire place. Tried to go to church on Sunday morning, but by the time we got there, I was too tuckered out to go….bummed! I told Ferlin I was tired of “doing sick”…but, I am not going to complain. A dear friend of mine’s sister is in hospice for stage IV cancer, I am humbled as that so easily could have been me. I am so blessed and thankful that I have been given the chance to fight this ugly disease! Last night I found out that a 10 year old girl was diagnosed with the same type of invasive breast cancer that I have….how challenging for her and her family. It seems so unbelievable.
Counting my blessings….and giving praise to God! My body may be weakened, but my spirit is growing! Hope you all have a great week and I will touch base with you on Wednesday night.
Remember to sign up for the RACE!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 11:40 PM, CDT
Well, we did it! We took a drive this evening with the top down on the Mustang and my hat didn’t blow off! Last summer one of my most favorite pasttimes was to take a little convertible drive and let the wind blow through my hair…and for those of you who don’t know me….I’m not even a car person. (Typically if someone asks me what kind of car is this or that, I will say “I don’t know it’s the blue one or the black one…” ) Anyways, it was sure nice to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather!
After tomorrow’s treatment, I will be ¼ of the way done with this round of chemo…yah! I couldn’t have made it this far without the Lord carrying me and all of you holding my hand. I am humbled and very appreciative. So far the side effects of the Abraxene have been some numbness in my feet and general body aches and pains (thankfully advil has worked for the pains). If all goes well, I will have my chemo in the morning and can come home after the infusion. Ferlin will be working, so my mom is going to spend the day with me…blessing! The last few days have been really busy and pretty exciting at work, which is good, as it helps put “cancer” on the back burner.
This past Monday, one of my chemo partners finished her chemo—praises, while at the same time a woman who is very dear to my heart—started her chemo journey. Although chemo creates such havoc on our bodies, we are so fortunate that there are treatments available for us to attempt at stopping the disease that has found its home within our body. Speaking of chemo, with this round I have started to lose my eye lashes and eye brows…yuck! As an eyelash fell yesterday, I couldn’t help but think, one more thing being stripped from my body. Kind of reminded me of my Christian walk….as I continue to grow in Christ, having my “ugliness” stripped away, so I can become more like Him. I know that I have a long way to go, but am so thankful that He loves me and has the patience to teach me.
Special thanks to Sarah for the “mini” pizzas, Kelsey squealed in delight when I told her you supplied us with some more….yum! Thanks to Kyle and Lynn for picking up Kelsey after school so she can go to youth group—you both are great and we appreciate you so very much! Thanks to all who write such encouraging words on caring bridge, who email, send cards and call to check on us! It makes our day!!
Ps…I think that even if the team deadline for the Race is done, you can still sign up on our team. So, please, if you would like to join the Angels with Attitudes, we would love to have you!!