Kimberly

Kim was diagnosed with AML Leukemia on July 22, 2009, just after she finished high school. She'd been feeling well, just showing a few bruises when she went to Primary Childrens Medical Center for a heart surgery to fix a relatively minor condition she's had since she was born. A blood test before the surgery showed that her blood had been completely taken over by the cancer. They admitted her that day and began treatment right away. She went through five long rounds of chemotherapy, doing relatively well, with the exception of one infection that led to a very scary stay in the Pediatric ICU. She spent almost all of that time in the hospital, with just a few breaks to go home. By the end of March 2010 she was allowed to go home for good- officially in remission! She was so excited to finally go to USU Fall semester, and got strait A's in all of her classes! Psychology, Humanities, Family Finance and ANATOMY. Not a week after finals, at a regular check up at PCMC, her blood tests showed that her cancer was back. And thus began round two- Kim's goal was to make it to a bone marrow transplant. We had found a donor, so all that was left was to get her in remission once more. After three rounds of chemotherapy, her body was no longer strong enough to keep fighting, no matter that her spirit was. She will always be with us. 7:48 pm, March 31, 2011

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Just a little more evidence that this is going to be a looong and slow process for Kim: today her ANC went down again (back to 100) and this evening she had a fever for a while. But, they are hoping they can have her off the feeding tube on Monday, if she's very good until then and eats a lot, and doesn't throw it all back up. There is one more medication that they are hoping they can slowly get her off of- an antibiotic that is very time intensive, before they will consider sending her home. Once she does get home, they will probably have her stay a little longer than usual, to have a chance to build back some of her body before they bring her back for the last round of chemo. She's lost even more weight in just the past couple of days, but hopefully that is a trend that will soon be reversing.
She's still so tired all the time, and very weak. She jokes that the physical therapy she's doing isn't really helping- because she feels weaker every day rather than stronger, but she really is getting slightly better. It's just a much slower process than anything she's used to.
I told her today that since she's going to building her body up again from scratch, she could be anything she wanted to be: a ballerina, a cross country runner, a swimmer... but she said all she wants to do is sprint and lift weights! So I said it's a good thing that she already knows how to do that, and how to build up to it. The trick is just getting there.
Today we started thinking about the "track meet" we want to have when Kim gets better- this spring or early summer. A little like the Laps of Love we did in her honor in October, but this time as a tribute to all cancer patients and survivors- with maybe a few other small differences. Like maybe some short distance races? T-shirts? We'll let you know, and if any of you have any great ideas, let Us know!
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3 comments:

  1. CarolJanuary 10, 2010 at 10:35 PM

    We are up for a track meet, anything. Just bring our Kim home! But not too soon, we really would not want to expose her to any germs! I have lots of extra weight I woulld more than gladly share, if only there were a way. As always you are all inour prayers! Nolans

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  2. Don RawlinsonJanuary 11, 2010 at 1:51 PM

    We are excited to hear you and Kim talking about a track meet! We really enjoy both of your optimistic attitudes. That will really help. You are in our prayers.
    Love to all the family.
    Don and Lois

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  3. mommynolanJanuary 11, 2010 at 6:56 PM

    I would love to build a red robot and video the members of our Relief Society beating it up, destroying it! But somehow I doubt I will actually do it. I thought it might give you a laugh to thing of all these "old" ladies just demolishing a red robot. Laughter is very beneficial for healing! Keep up the good work---all of you! the Nolans

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