43 Hours and Counting

Kristi has completed 43 hours of her treatment and will be unhooked from her radiation at 1:00 today.  They will then remove the radiation needles and she will begin her journey of recovery. The Dr. told her yesterday that she feels very good about this treatment for Kristi and believes they will beat her cancer with it.  However, they will have to wait about two months until the swelling goes down and all the radiation sores have healed for them to be able to do another PET Scan and compare it with her previous scans.  You can pray for Billy and Kristi and the family as we wait for this news.

Billy was able to stand outside the door and see Kristi for 10 minutes yesterday and was so grateful to see her personally.  He is tired as he hasn't been able to sleep well as you can imagine.

Kristi's allergic reaction to the narcotics continues, but the benedryl has helped and has enabled her to pass some of the time with more sleep.  Kristi has a new appreciation for those who talk about "bed sores" as laying on her back has really taken its toll on her rear and back and legs.  Kristi's Dr. removed one needle yesterday that had slipped through the vaginal wall to the rectum in order to ease some of her physical pain.

She said outside of blurry vision, major cotton mouth and itching from the pain meds, and only being given a liquid diet for three days, she is doing pretty well considering the circumstances. It has been quite entertaining to try and figure out how to lay flat on her back and somehow receive a tray of all liquids from a nurse who is a distance away handing her the tray while hiding behind the protective radiation wall. A few spills have occurred and Kristi said she may never eat jello again!!!!

Her Dr. told her yesterday that she was a delightful patient to which she replied, "It's because I have a lot of people praying for me!"  Her Dr. thought that was great!

Kristi also chose to sign the paperwork and give samples of her cancerous cells and healthy cells for research both at OU and to the National Cancer Association.  Her Dr. told her that the cancer researchers will be fighting over her cells because her cancer was is so rare.  Kristi was not excited to go through the painful process of having these cells scraped off.  However, she has been passionate from the beginning about being part of some type of research because of her own experience with numerous Dr.'s telling her they had very little data on how to treat her type of cancer.

Please pray specifically today for Kristi as she finishes this treatment and as she goes through the procedure to remove all the radiation needles.  Pray also for her recovery as she will have many painful sores internally from the radiation and as her bowls have to recover from being shut down for three days.  She is not looking forward to the 31/2 hour drive home on Friday morning so she would appreciate your prayers for her as she travels as well.  Also, please pray that God will protect her long term from other kinds of cancer.  Being radioactive for 47 hours greatly increases Kristi's chances of incurring some other type of cancer in the future. Pray that they will not live with this fear controlling their present and their future, but that they can embrace each day as we all should......as a gift to be lived to the fullest!

Thanks you once again from our family for your support and prayers and for those of you who have also encouraged them with meals, gas cards, books and words of encouragement, financial gifts and caring.  There are still a few more open spots for meals on the care calendar if you can help the next couple of weeks.

Galatians 6:2 says "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."  Thank you for the many ways you have done this.

Danina....for the entire Wright and Nay Family