Hi Everyone! I'm very happy to report that I have lots of good news, and as always, lots of favors to ask!
First of all, Kim is doing well. Her feet are feeling a little better, and she's feeling more energetic. She is still having trouble with side effects (no saliva, aching body, dry throat, burning feet, bored out of her mind...) but yes, is feeling as a whole a little bit better.
When Monday rolls around, all of the regular doctors check back in, and we start to get big news! They have narrowed Kim's bone marrow matches down to the lucky one! Apparently, this person is able and willing to save Kim's life. It is so strange to think that he/she is out there, and yet, we can't know anything about them, or even send them a message, until a whole year after the transplant has gone by. (I keep telling Kim that I hope "he's" a tall, dark and handsome, 28ish, International businessman... but really, anyone at all will do ;)
They are also holding on to those two units of Cord blood that were also matches for her, just to use as back up.
Dr. Barnett, her primary Oncologist, also laid out the plan for Kim's near future. She will be getting her next Bone Marrow Aspirate (test) some time next week. If her Leukemia cells have dropped to less that 8% of her total marrow, they'll send her home for a break and then get started on the transplant round (PRAY FOR THAT ONE!) If, however, the Leukemia is still more than 8%, she will have to stay at the hospital and start this round of chemotherapy over again.
Please, please, please pray for us that this round has taken out the majority of her cancer. Each round is harder on her, and we need to get her through this as soon as possible.
Thank you again, as always, so much- we could never do this without you.
Love, Emily
The Story of our Beloved Kim (May 30, 1991 - March 31, 2011) and Her Battle with AML Leukemia
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Relay for Life!
Please register for Kim's Relay for Life team! The event will be April 15th at Utah State University. Our goal is to come together to show our support for Kim and the fight against cancer, and raise a little bit of money for the American Cancer Society in her honor.
Go to this website and search for Kim's team: KEEP RUNNING KIM!
http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11GW?fr_id=30405&pg=entry
I've got new writstbands ordered for this Battle- they should be available in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know! (They're exciting- lime green this time!)
Thank you all, so much!
Go to this website and search for Kim's team: KEEP RUNNING KIM!
http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11GW?fr_id=30405&pg=entry
I've got new writstbands ordered for this Battle- they should be available in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know! (They're exciting- lime green this time!)
Thank you all, so much!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Hello Adoring Fans of Kim! I bear tidings of great... feet. You wouldn't believe what this last round of Chemo has brought on.
She started this round on Monday, both her first day back to PCMC after her little break at home, and her first day of Chemo. They've had her on a few different kinds, but the main two have been ARA-C, one she's had almost every time- it's rough. And a new one- they call it Cloe. She usually feels feverish and itchy with the ARA-C, and is prone to rashes, so that was to be expected. But Cloe seems to have brought on something all together new-
The feet. As strange as it is, her feet have swelled into puffy little balloons, with aching bones, and skin as red and tender as the worst of sunburns. It's so bad at times, that she can't stand to have them touched, let alone walk on them. We've been keeping ice packs on them 24-7, and giving her pain meds around the clock, just to try managing it. The rest of her body is in reasonably good condition- it's just the feet.
Fortunately, today they feel just a little bit better than yesterday, and as yesterday was the last day of her chemotherapy, we're hoping this means she'll keep feeling better bit by bit.
I have another story to tell you from earlier this week. I'm not really sure how to lead up to it, as I've never written anything like this before.
Kim's life has been one of many miracles, small and large. This week she was able to be a part of one of the most miraculous yet:
Early this week, just after starting chemotherapy again, she had a day of terrible nausea. She threw up several times, and was miserable the rest of the time. This was very strange for her, as she usually never gets sick until after her chemo treatment is already through. The nurse she had that day was spending almost all of her time with Kim, and ended up quite neglecting the other patient she was taking care of.
The day passed, and the other patient, a one year old little boy named Michael, was due for a round of chemo himself. The nurse put it off and put it off, until his mother, Rachel, was very nearly getting upset- it was getting late. Just as the nurse was finally getting ready to start the chemo, nearly two hours past it's scheduled time, the doctor rushed in telling them to stop. They had done some tests and found that the walls of Michael's small intestines were sepparating. If they gave him that chemo, it probably would kill him.
Later, Rachel came by to tell their story to Mom and Kim. She told them that Kim had saved her baby's life.
Later that week, Rachel came by again. Michael had been given a blessing stating that he would be healed, and she wanted us to know that his intestines were better- something that should have taken a long time, and a lot of treatment. He was able to start his chemotherapy again.
I know that blessings like these are brought on by people like you, with your prayers and thoughts and love for Kim, and the others in situations like hers. It's so amazing, the wonderful things I have been able to witness throughout this journey. Thank you all for being there along the way. We need you.
Love Always, Emily
She started this round on Monday, both her first day back to PCMC after her little break at home, and her first day of Chemo. They've had her on a few different kinds, but the main two have been ARA-C, one she's had almost every time- it's rough. And a new one- they call it Cloe. She usually feels feverish and itchy with the ARA-C, and is prone to rashes, so that was to be expected. But Cloe seems to have brought on something all together new-
The feet. As strange as it is, her feet have swelled into puffy little balloons, with aching bones, and skin as red and tender as the worst of sunburns. It's so bad at times, that she can't stand to have them touched, let alone walk on them. We've been keeping ice packs on them 24-7, and giving her pain meds around the clock, just to try managing it. The rest of her body is in reasonably good condition- it's just the feet.
Fortunately, today they feel just a little bit better than yesterday, and as yesterday was the last day of her chemotherapy, we're hoping this means she'll keep feeling better bit by bit.
I have another story to tell you from earlier this week. I'm not really sure how to lead up to it, as I've never written anything like this before.
Kim's life has been one of many miracles, small and large. This week she was able to be a part of one of the most miraculous yet:
Early this week, just after starting chemotherapy again, she had a day of terrible nausea. She threw up several times, and was miserable the rest of the time. This was very strange for her, as she usually never gets sick until after her chemo treatment is already through. The nurse she had that day was spending almost all of her time with Kim, and ended up quite neglecting the other patient she was taking care of.
The day passed, and the other patient, a one year old little boy named Michael, was due for a round of chemo himself. The nurse put it off and put it off, until his mother, Rachel, was very nearly getting upset- it was getting late. Just as the nurse was finally getting ready to start the chemo, nearly two hours past it's scheduled time, the doctor rushed in telling them to stop. They had done some tests and found that the walls of Michael's small intestines were sepparating. If they gave him that chemo, it probably would kill him.
Later, Rachel came by to tell their story to Mom and Kim. She told them that Kim had saved her baby's life.
Later that week, Rachel came by again. Michael had been given a blessing stating that he would be healed, and she wanted us to know that his intestines were better- something that should have taken a long time, and a lot of treatment. He was able to start his chemotherapy again.
I know that blessings like these are brought on by people like you, with your prayers and thoughts and love for Kim, and the others in situations like hers. It's so amazing, the wonderful things I have been able to witness throughout this journey. Thank you all for being there along the way. We need you.
Love Always, Emily
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Back to PCMC
Hey Everyone-
Kim went back to PCMC yesterday to start her next round of chemotherapy. She's currently in room 4413, but there are rumors going around that one of the large "suites" might be opening up, and she's at the top of the list. (There are a couple of rooms in the ICS Unit that are a little bit bigger than the others. We've yet to get one thus far, but keep hoping!)
Everything has been going very well lately. Kim doesn't seem to have picked up any infections from her time at home, and she's feeling good: ready to plow through Round Two and get on to Transplant Round!
Kim's focus right now is on keeping healthy and positive. She really needs to keep all the weight, energy, and spirit that she can before the big TR. (Transplant Round) It's a doozy. But you know Kim- she can hold her own!
Our upcoming projects:
-Relay for Life 2011 at USU! (Team KEEP RUNNING KIM!)
-Planning Kim's NEW Birthday Party! (The day she gets her bone marrow transplant) and,
-Getting ready for our Brother Mike to get home from his mission! (March 9th!)
Kim went back to PCMC yesterday to start her next round of chemotherapy. She's currently in room 4413, but there are rumors going around that one of the large "suites" might be opening up, and she's at the top of the list. (There are a couple of rooms in the ICS Unit that are a little bit bigger than the others. We've yet to get one thus far, but keep hoping!)
Everything has been going very well lately. Kim doesn't seem to have picked up any infections from her time at home, and she's feeling good: ready to plow through Round Two and get on to Transplant Round!
Kim's focus right now is on keeping healthy and positive. She really needs to keep all the weight, energy, and spirit that she can before the big TR. (Transplant Round) It's a doozy. But you know Kim- she can hold her own!
Our upcoming projects:
-Relay for Life 2011 at USU! (Team KEEP RUNNING KIM!)
-Planning Kim's NEW Birthday Party! (The day she gets her bone marrow transplant) and,
-Getting ready for our Brother Mike to get home from his mission! (March 9th!)
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