Family Hair Cutting Experiment

In 2015 I lost my hair doing Taxol and Avastin for 21 weeks and it was way more emotional than I expected. Now my kids are much older and I recruited them to help cut my hair so we could have more laughs than tears. I have to say at one point I laughed so hard it brought me to tears! You’ll know which haircut caused this as you view the process! 

Original hair Front and back. 

Alyssa cuts my hair first. 

Isaiah cuts my hair next. 

Then....he cuts a little more and adds bangs. 

If I just had black glasses and hair.. . 

I tried to fix it a little. 😂

Next night was Billy’s turn...

I hope you got some laughs! We respect our hair stylists’ talent! 

A humbled thank you

Tomorrow I will have  my 4th radiation on this newest metastatic cancer tumor by my tailbone. I only have to have five, so I will be finished next Tuesday. The biggest side effect from the radiation is extra fatigue. I have had pretty extreme fatigue and physical weakness from the chemo, Taxol, and Avastin. Nausea has been a problem as well, but this is my off week from those meds and I am feeling quite a bit better. I was hoping I’d have a pep in my step, but that hasn’t happened yet! 

However, I have been so encouraged  - and very humbled - by the almost 2 dozen people who have given to our family financially to help provide some help at home, help with medical deductibles and copays, plus has expenses and prescriptions.  Please know that Billy and I do not take your generosity lightly. This is a true encouragement and blessing and we pray you are paid back tenfold.  God bless you. StY safe and well during these unprecedented pandemic times. 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/team-kristi-prayer-warriors?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

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. 

A HUGE THANK YOU.....Oh & Merry Christmas!

 In my last post I shared with you everything that had been going on and what a struggle the last few months had been. I asked you to stand with us in prayer, not only for healing, but for the energy and focus - and joyous spirit - to get through the upcoming family events.

I helped set up the dessert table and caterer's backdrop for Isaiah's Senior football banquet and still had the stamina to attend and feel good that night.  Thankful for the support Isaiah has in his life.  This would be double this size if everyone were local and it weren't a week before Christmas. :)

Lydia (Chris' Adopted Mom), Brittany, Chris, Alyssa, Isaiah, Me, Billy, Katy, Rachel, Joshua and Emeric

Two days later Billy & I, along with Chris' Mom, Lydia, were honored to host about 65 family members at Chris and Brittany's Rehearsal Dinner.  I plan events and parties for a living, but it is so special and meaningful when I get to do it for my own family or friends.  We had great food, decorations, games and a time to get to know so many important people in Chris and Brittany's lives.  It was a true joy to plan and host and be a part of.  And I felt good enough to do it...on steroids! :) Of course my family tribe helped us so much.  Danina, Worley, Josh and Amy all stayed behind while we attended the actual rehearsal, so the appetizers, drinks and food were all out and waiting on us to arrive!  Even us hosts! #bestfamilytribeever

My sister, Amy, and I at the dessert table.

The next morning my sister, Danina, led us in making the bridal boquet, bridesmaids boquets, boutineers and corsages.  Lydia, Rachel, and I helped.  Danina's husband, Worley and Billy's brother Steve pitched in also!  We just barely got them done so we could get ready! 

Then the beautiful wedding was at 3:30 Saturday and we left there about 9:30 that night after a fun reception of dinner, visiting and dancing.  My feet barely survived, and I could't dance like I used to, but I enjoyed it all so much.  Such a beautiful happy day of celebrating hosted by Brittany's parents. We are so grateful Chris is marrying into a big, fun and loving family! 

Brittany and her Bridesmaids - Alyssa is the 3rd from the Right

Chris and his Groomsmen - Isaiah is his best man and is 3d from the left. Brittany's brother, Johnny, is 2nd from the left.

My, Billy, Brittany's parents, Justin & Cindy

The beautiful couple

The next morning we got up to see off our company and then went to watch Chris and Brittany open presents.  They were so blessed with many's generosity and we loved to see what they received. Brittany's parents hosted many of us at the Indian Dealership her Dad manages, provided food and drinks and lots of space, plus looking around at lots of fun Indian motercycles!





I crashed Monday, but bounced back enough to finish Christmas prep and enjoy company and dinner at our house Christmas Eve, then Christmas day fun.  Thank you so much for praying.  I felt the strength of prayer and joy overflows!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.Romans 15:3
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.2 Corinthians 12:9-10

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her."
Ephesians 5:25

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife,
and they shall become one flesh." ... He who loves his wife loves himself.
 Genesis 2:24

9 years & 1 month since cancer diagnosis

I haven’t updated in a while. October was hard. November was hard. Early December has been hard. 

Cancer grew. I radiated 1 lung spot. Got an infection, extreme fatigue and weakness, vomiting. Got meds, recovered. 

New Cancer in neck found. Had an insane asylum creepy-type experience having a giant wet, hot mold formed around my head, neck and shoulders and bolted to a table to keep me still. I radiated it. Thought I was in the clear. 8 days later, last two days of Alyssa’s Pageant trip to CA I got a terrible raw throat, infection, extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, vomiting. Got meds. Wrong meds. Got fluids. No help. Finally right meds and steroids. Recovered. 

New cancer found in right side of my brain. Today we left the house at 8:15 am and got home at 6:15 pm. Used that same molded mask bolted to the table. I radiated it. Got immunotherapy infusion. Started with energy and ended physically exhausted, even on steroids. Told I will lose my hair in the size of a quarter, possibly forever. They don’t know as everyone’s different. Told I’ll have swelling and headaches. Told I could have a brain misfiring causing me to have seizures. 

I laid on that radiation table, bolted down in that mask today and said, Jesus you are my healer. Please make this my final cancer-killing, full-healing radiation treatment. I know you can by the power of your Holy blood shed for me. I thank you in advance and put this in your hands. 

Chris was with me all day keeping me company and entertained. 

We also enjoyed a great visit with my past clinical trial nurse and friend, Mary. 

Wednesday we will celebrate Isaiah’s high school football career at a banquet. Friday we will host a rehearsal dinner for Chris and Brittany. Saturday we will attend Chris & Brittany’s wedding officiated by my Dad. We’ll meet new family and enjoy family visiting! 

We’ll also be thinking of our uncle who passed away today and will be honored at a service in CO On Saturday. We are all sad not to be able to attend. 

What a week it is, but how incredibly blessed I feel to be here still battling. Still living. Still parenting, loving, worshipping...9 years & 1 month after my original diagnosis. Jesus continues to provide and go before us, sustaining my life for His glory alone. 

Please pray against side effects and for complete healing.