Scan update

Caronavirus “All Clear” Stickers were orange for my last appt! 

The nurse called and read me the radiologist report from my scans and PTL, whether due to radiation or this new chemo regiment, the spot in my neck shrunk more and the largest spot in my upper left lung also shrunk! We’re thrilled as this could show things moving the right direction to keep the metastatic spread under control and shrinking to minimize cancer symptoms. 

I’ll begin radiation on my tailbone next Tuesday. 

God Will Make a Way

I can’t see we learned much of anything yet today. They canned my neck and abdomen/pelvic, but I didn’t expect much new I do from that. The results weren’t back yet and rather than makes us wait, Dr B said I’d get a call this afternoon. 

In regard to the trial, the tissue sample from my biopsy was sent to the clinical trial group and they are still analyzing it to see if I meet all the criteria/parameters. I asked Dr B what my odds were of getting in and he said about a 15% chance because my cancer is so rare and they have so many parameters. I have to believe if this door closes it’s because it’s not my best option. 

Dr B didn’t feel or see any swelling around my tailbone tumor like he did 2 weeks ago and my pain has diminished greatly so we are excited about that. I haven’t heard when radiation will begin, but probably next week. 

We are in a hurry-up and wait mode right now. 

Chemo (Taxol & Avastin) was tough last week. I only had Taxol this week and my anemia has risen from an 8.8 to a 10.0 so that’s helping the fatigue be less severe. Less nausea & vomiting, also cough and shortness of breath has improved. Still low, but iron supplements are helping even on treatment. 

We know God is still in control and still faithful. He was faithful to part the Red Sea, to lead & provide for His people in the dessert, and He’ll provide for us now. 

Thank you for your prayers & encouragement. I felt them on my darkest days last week, for sure. ✝️👆🏻💜

Lyrics are from a song by Don Moen called, God will Make a Way. 

Prayers must be plentiful

Words are scarce. Emotions are many. Prayers are plentiful. 

Sunday in church we sang the words “Have Thine own way Lord, have Thine own way.” So often I can sing these words with hope and belief that God is going to lead us in the right path and bring us something good and enjoyable in our life. Yet, when suddenly I’m literally scared of death. Not actually dying and meeting Jesus face time face (how amazing that will be! And I’d get to hug my Momma!) but the process of dying and the people I would leave behind. It is then, that it’s so difficult to feel the genuine trust required when I say to the Lord that I want him to have His way, and I’m not sure what that is going to be. 

Thursday after my MRI we learned that I have a 5th cancer tumor in the muscle near my tailbone. It is around 3 nerves including the sciatic nerve and pressing into the tailbone. This has been causing my severe pain. 

In case you’ve missed some posts that I posted on Facebook’s Team Kristi Prayer Warriors page I currently have the following. 

1. A dozen scattered tumors throughout both lungs. Dr Beck believes that I have a tumor pressing on a nerve in my lungs that is causing my chronic cough. I’m also experiencing some shortness of breath as these tumors continue to grow and take up more space in my lungs. 

2. A small spot in my brain. It’s been radiated and we believe that it is dead and the spot we see on image is just scar tissue. I’ve lost my hair in a quarter size spot on my head where this was radiated. 

3. My neck has a tumor that was in soft tissue and bone. The pain is so much improved after radiation and the tumor has shrunk but is not gone. I meet with the radiologist Thursday and will learn what he thinks about the activity of this tumor. 

4. A new tumor in my adrenal gland that sits on top of my kidney. I will find out Thursday if  this should be radiated. 

5. A new tumor by my tailbone and sciatic nerve. I will find out if this can be radiated on Thursday also. 

I’ve been off of my clinical trial meds for 6 weeks so they want me to begin a maintenance chemo until I can find a new clinical trial. I began this chemo regimen yesterday. It is Taxol and Avastin, which is the same thing I did for 21 weeks in 2015 and lost all my hair. I will lose my hair again in a couple weeks. 

I don’t feel like we have a very hope-filled plan at the moment, but I did do a biopsy of a tumor in my left lung last Wednesday to apply for a new immunotherapy trial locally. I did not qualify for the MD Anderson or St Louis trials we were looking at. 

I want to continue to feel hopeful and be able to live well as wife and mom, daughter/sister and friend. Praying for God to go before us in this and that I can align my will with His will. That my heart and mind can settle into the process. 

May His will be a miracle still! I’m just tired and weary from this almost 10 year battle, so this latest news hit me hard and discouraging. Billy as well. You can pray for our spirits to be positive and hopeful. We do believe God can still heal me if He wants to. He has always been faithful to walk closely with us, providing our every need, and we know He will be again. 

Thank you in advance for continued prayers and encouragement. We love you all so much.