Sorry for the delay in posting....

Hello Folks!

Well, I haven't posted because I haven't been on the computer much at all. I've been pretty exhausted in between all the appointments.

Last week, I believe you all missed hearing about the following:

Monday: CT Scan

Tuesday: "Girly" yearly exam and my consult with the surgeon for my port. Then the preliminary tests needed for the port surgery: EKG, Blood work, and chest X Ray. 

After about a week long break from anything, tomorrow morning I get my port inserted.  Then I start prep for my colonoscopy. That is on Thursday.  After which we consult with my Oncologist.

It looks like the next two days will be a blur.  Hopefully, an update will appear sooner than it did last time.

Thursday May 19th

So, yesterday I had a bone scan.  It wasn't a bad experience. I mean, I did have to get up early. (I usually get up long enough to take my meds around 7 or 8 and then sleep until noonish.)  We checked in, and then they injected me with the radio active stuff.  I felt a lil nauseous afterwards. The tech was more than happy to hook me up with some apple juice.  I then snoozed on the gurney in the hallway (they are remodeling the hospital) for two hours. My Mum read by my side (because she's awesome.)

When my radio activeness was complete, I went in for the scan. It was another scan where I didn't want to find out if I was claustrophobic. This time, they covered my face with a washcloth. I think it took about 30 minutes or so. 

So, now it's a test free Friday! YEA! My sister and my nieces are spending the weekend with me. My parents are headed out to ride the rails. It will be a nice change of pace, I'm sure.

I'll be so glad when all the testing is done, which is hopefully next week!  Prayers and all are appreciated.  This is just all so crazy. 

However, I'm feeling the love from all over the world. Plus the most important thing...that I'm in God's Hands.

mammogram day

Ok, so not too much to say about this other than boob squish!(That made me LOL, hopefully you did too!) My Mom and older sis, Kim, took me to my appointment.  It wasn't painful or anything.

Just one test off the list. I think, I have two tomorrow.   I also realized that I may have to change the name of my blog.  That will happen when the time comes. Trust me I know that of all things is nothing to worry about.

Since this is turning out to be super short,  I wanted to take a moment to thank you.  Thank you for praying, thinking, caring etc. for me. It means so much to me. It also amazes me that is coming from all over the WORLD!!! This world ain't that big, Baby!

Tuesday, May 17

May 10th was my first appointment at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer .  My parents went with me. (Thank you God for making them mine!) Everyone there is super nice. It's quite a beautiful facility.  I went in and they took my vitals. We then met with the nurse and went over my paper work.  We then met with Dr "Mo." He went over with us what the doctors for TN had sent via fax and what we had brought with us.

This is where it got scary. Dr "Mo" saw things on the reports that the doctors in the south had never discussed with us. That was very disturbing. He wants to find out definite answers and wasn't positive through what tests, scans and all that had already been done had that answer.  So, he ordered a bunch more tests and said we should know a lot more in about 10 day. (Ten more days?? say what??)

So, in the next ten days I have mammagram, CT, bone scan, colonoscopy (i know you are jealous of that one), and get my port installed. Port, you ask? This is so they won't have to poke me so much.  The one I'm hoping to get is a "Power Port" which allows you to get your treatment but also used for contrast for scans.   Ok, and most of the appeal lies in the word "Power."  After all I'm a Cancer Super Hero, YO!  Super K-Star all the way!

Despite all this scariness, I am in Jesus' hands. I know He will heal me with one of his miracle or guide the doctors mind and hands to do so.  Jesus is my Peace and Hope!

The Journey to WV!

So, I was finally released from hospital on May 12 around noon. My parents had already dropped Ava and Misha at Misha's "Fairy God Mother." (She is Misha's foster mom who took care of her after she was rescued from a puppy mill.)   What can I say? I am more than blessed in the parent department 

(and most definitely in the friend department too!) 

After getting me settled into the Expedition, we went to pick up my oldest dog, Ivory.  I knew I couldn't be dealing with all this and be without one of my lovelies.  She is the most well behaved and trained of the trio.  She has also flown and done well. All loaded up, we were ready to head off to the mountains where the rhododendrons grow.

I slept most of the way. Ivory spent A LOT of time on my Mum's lap up front.  Ives is a very inquisitive Beagle/Chihuhua mix.  She likes to stay in the know.  Ivory did have some cuddle sessions with me too, though. After all she is the one who convinced to to take her home on December 10,  2005 in the first place.

We wound up stopping in Huntington, WV for the night.  This was awesome!  Huntington is where my Bestie, Jennifer lives!  So, we got to visit while my parents went to dinner. (They brought me back some white cheddar mashed potatoes.)   It was so awesome to see her face.  She had brought me some awesome loot from her family's recent trip to Disney World.  I'm so blessed to have her in my life!  So, I'm going to take this moment to pimp her blog: Whiskerbeans Blog  She should have a shop up on Etsy soon, too. Right, Nifer? 

The next day we headed for the last portion of our journey to Morgantown, WV! Easy-peezy, lemon squeezee! DONE!

Since then I have been spending ALOT of time with my family. Which has been awesome! Gotten out a tiny lil bit.   

Overall, the trip went super smoothly. Didn't overdo it. Slept ALOT. 

Let's see so where did I leave off...

I apologize for not writing more sooner.  I've been pretty tired and just lying around. My energy level is starting to rise a little, though. Cut a gal some some slack. Not to freak you out but I'm on oxygen and breathing treatments. Soo back to my story:

We found out about the cancer, but still there were many tests to be done so we could find out where exactly it originated and where all it was.  Nothing occurred the weekend after we found out.  The following week I had more bloodwork, another CT Scan, an MRI and a PET scan.

Blood work was always at 5 AM. What the heck is that about?

CT Scans were never too bad.

MRI, well, I never opened my eyes for that one.  It was a closed MRI. It was loud and noisy.  I've never been claustrophobic, but I didn't want that to be a start for it.  There was a saving grace, though. The MRI tech was easy on the eyes :)

Lastly came the PET scan.  I was transported by ambulance. The same ambulance they use for babies! So, I was in very good hands. Apparently, they don't keep these scans in hospitals for some reason. I had to drink some radio active fruit punch (which didn't taste bad at all.)  Then they injected so more contrast into my IV.   I was then told to be still and relax in a cozy chair. I slept.  They came back to get me an hour later. Set me up for the PET scan. I fell asleep AGAIN!  Then, the same ambulance took me back to Summit.

Here are the results of all of this, here is what we know so far:

I have an Lung Adenocarcinoma Stage 3 (which means it's all up in my right lung and that is where it originated from.)

The are also keeping an eye on my lymph nodes and my T2 vertebra.  They believe the T2 issue is just arthritis as I have had quite a few back and neck problems.

With this diagnosis, I discovered that I would be able to receive the most modern up to date treatment back home at West Virginia University. BIG blessing to know I can have my Mum to take care of me through all this. Despite how much I miss my Nashy peeps, this is where I know I need to be.

Next blog the journey home.....

The begining and how April 29, 2011 changed my life.

Ok, I've had to recall this again. Please keep in mind it's my best under the painkillers they have me on. But, i believe it to be fairly accurate.

At the beginning of March 2011, I got an intestinal virus.  I wound up in the hospital during my third day of it to get fluids. While i was there, they informed me that I could wind up with some sort of bacterial infection. They said that was rare. To which I thought to myself for a brief moment, " Crap, I'm rare." Then I let the thought go. I went back to work the following week. I felt better, but was still nauseous. 

The nausea went away the following week, slowing the coughing, itchy throat and congestion began.   I wound up in a local clinic to where they just treated my symptoms.  Told me if things continued to see my GP. I already had an appointment with my GP.  When I got there, he was sick and i wound up seeing one of Physicians Assistants.  She gave my antibiotics, meds for cough.  I finally saw my GP the following week. He was convinced it was allergies, and gave me a steroid shot. I still continued the antibiotic. ( As anyone knows you always finish those off ;)

The following day I couldn't breath very well and the electricity was out at my GP's office. CLOSED!  I went to a local clinic where they told me to continue what I was doing but gave me an inhaler. 

The following week,  I called my GP knowing I was going to WV for Easter the next week.  Told them I wasn't feeling well.  They mentioned giving me Z-pac and seeing if that helped,  and if it didn't I would need a chest x-ray. I hung up the phone. I was super tired of dealing with the cough, conjestion, lack of appetite and fatigue. I called back asking for the chest x-ray. I went in that day.  I got the x-ray. My GP took a look and with a surprised look on his face stated, "Impressive!" I said,"what?" He stated I had pneumonia in my right lung!  After stating he wanted me to check back in with him Monday, he then changed some of my meds, gave me an antibiotic shot and sent me on my way. I also asked him if i should still be working.  He stated you have been this far. True dat.

Monday, I went in again and got another x-ray. Not much had changed.  He then sent me for a CT scan.  Upon completing that, I asked the tech how it looked. She had nothing other to say really than "Icky-poo!"  This is a new medical term, in case you were wondering.  My GP's office called soon after and stated that they wanted me to see a Pulmonary specialist. They would call the following day with the doctor and appointment.

I saw the Pulmonary Dr the following day. He said I had an "Atypical pneumonia with an inflammatory process. He changed my meds AGAIN.  I made an appointment to come in when I returned from WV.

The next day, I headed to WV.  I overdid it for the first few days, and rested the remainder of my visit.

The trip home was long. I found myself becoming even more sensitive to smells. 

So, I headed to the Pulmonary Dr and they did another x-ray. Again, not much had changed. The Dr wanted me to have a bronchoscope. Then he was going to admit me to hospital. 

The procedure wasn't bad.  The following day we got the news. Very briefly, very abruptly! He introduced himself to my parents. (They headed out early the day of the procedure to be there for me. I am so blessed in the parent department.)  He stated that through preliminary tests they discovered that I had lung cancer and that the oncologist would be in to speak to us soon. Say what?

So, that was the story of how April 29, 2011 has changed my life.  More very soon! I need to locate my Macbook charger :)

~K*