The unknown

Hello Friends and Fam!

So, today was interesting. I didn't sleep very well between having chemo today and my Woobie, Kristin, ending her week long with my beautiful Niecee, Noey. I love that family! They mean a lot to me. I also got some balloons from a college friends. I love surprises!!

As we all know, I was really hoping to find out if I was definitely getting my lung removed today. Well, that is still unknown. Dr Mo wants me to consult with a surgeon here and a world known surgeon at my least favorite hospital. He spoke of possibly having an endoscopy to biopsy the lung lining to see if that is cancerous. Also definitely having an ultrasound of my lower abdomen. That is where I am now. A little frustrating, but it brings me peace knowing I am in his hands. I know that's all that I can do-TRUST and know God has the ultimate plan for me.

On a brighter side,  chemo went quite quickly. My Power Port was very cooperative. That is always nice!

Luv,

K*

Tomorrow, yet another Chemo day, yet more!

Well as I said, it's another Chemo day! Exciting, I know!!

I will also find out about the big IF!

What is the big IF?

IF I will have my rotten potato removed, or rather my right lung.

I can't recall if I mentioned it in early blogs, but in the early days they were not going to remove my lung. Over the summer, between it deflating and having fluid. Then, re-inflating and the fluid disappearing. 

This is now a possibility. Scary, yet, this could rid me of the cancer. Scariest thinking about possibly being in a medical induced coma for a few days. Yes, i will probably be on maintenance medication the rest of my days. Possibly, also oxygen.

But alas, I am o.k. with that. I am ALIVE. Living my life to the best of my ability. Being thankful for all of YOU! My supporters!  I am a SURVIVOR! No one can take that away from me!  The blessings that have poured over me have been more than I could ever dream of. You, there reading, help so much. I hope you know how much I appreciate your love, thoughts and prayers!

Also please know:

You all are all AMAZING!

Much Love!
K*

It's a Miracle!!

As you all may know, today was the day of my needle aspiration. This entails using a needle guided by a CT scan to get some of the fluid that is in my right lung.

I was a lil anxious, but calm as I checked in to the hospital for this procedure. I checked in and didn't wait long before they came and took me to pre-op. I got ready and they did my bloodwork. My port gave them a lil trouble but they managed to do the blood work from it.  The Physicians assistant came and told us all about the procedure.  Shortly, after they came to get me for the procedure.

I got into the room and they tried to flush my port and had problems with it.  We decided to just put in an IV. (This of course bummed me out.) The nurse prepped the meds to put me to sleep.  I moved over to the CT Scanner where the procedure would take place.  The Dr came in and said " Let's do the CT Scan first." They did the scan and the Dr came out. I looked up at her and she said, " There is no fluid to do the procedure. It's GONE!"  

I was a little shocked. I took a deep breath and outloud said, "Thank you, Jesus!"  Upon this discovery, they canceled the procedure.  No fluid=no biopsy!  

So now we wait to see what Dr Mo says. It was said if the fluid wasn't cancerous they would remove my lung. What if there is no fluid? 

I must say I'm still a lil shock. Yet, not as I have trust in Him to take care of me.

Anyhow, that was my day. Again....Thank you Jesus, you are AMAZING!

Love,

K*

A lil look in my head today

Kristi sleepy! 

I know you are probably thinking, " then why the heck are you blogging, K Badge? Go to bed?" 

Well mostly because I realized what Tuesday is...and it keeps popping into my head. 

September 6th, I have the CT scan guided needle aspiration of the fluid in my right lung. This will determine what happens next.

If it's cancerous then I guess the chemo fun goes on and on. They will also possibly later remove the lung fluid and replace it with antibiotic.

If it is not cancerous, then I will see a surgeon soon to discuss the removal of Rotten Potato. ( *artistic thought*Came up with new figurine idea here...must work with J. Beau on this weekend.)

That's right so many thoughts: 

removal of cancer

future possible major surgury

balloons (I love balloons ok...and yes that is a shameless hint)

new scar

possible removal of a rib

Being a one lunged wonder

and some others.

I am anxious about it, but mostly, to get it over with.  I am well aware I won't sleep much Monday night. I'm not really even scared.  I know this is something I will possibly have to deal with the rest of my life. Whether it's being on oxygen or having to take medication the rest of my live long days. 

And all of that is ok. It doesn't define me. It makes me stronger. REALLY STRONG. In fact, I should probably go ahead and design my cape...haha.  Regardless of it all I know I am loved and cared for. 

And there is only one thing I need:

Love~

K*

WOW, I just noticed re-reading, that I'm pretty sure (in my being,) said lung fluid is NOT cancerous.  Come on, some of it HAS been reabsorbed...I guess we will know for sure soon.

Chemo Day Four and More

Soo, on August 23, I went to UPMC. I must say the the experience wasn't overly all that impressive. We valet parked our car, only to find out when we picked it up it was 5 bucks. Then why did they need us to validate it...stupid! (WVU cancer center is free valet, yo!) We checked in with the volunteer and she took us up to our floor and said the next step. That was nice.  All of the checkin process was good and quick. We were taken to our room where we sat for way over an hour. No one else came to check in with us. Then finally the resident came in to take my history (did they not get that in the huge packet of info my nure sent up?.) He left and said Dr T would be in shortly. A "short" twenty" minutes later in came back in with the resident. Dr T. seemed kinda pompous and wanting to take over my case, which didn't really impress me.  The only other thing he mentioned was explained by Dr Mo later. That was that IF the fluid in my lung was cancerous, they would remove it(the fluid) and replace it with antibiotic.

So, mainly my parents and i left major unimpressed. Later we had heard other stories of issues with UPMC. So, i must say WVU cancer center is definitely my cancer"home."  I feel like they generally care and are very positive.

So, onto Thursday...Chemo day.  I went in for blood work at 7:30 AM, Ugh.  They had issues drawing blood from my port, big boo. So, after trying multiple positions, the put in some TPA in my port to help break down the possible clot that lurks inside. I decided to let them multi task and we put in an IV to do the blood draw and to use for the Chemo. I'm a trooper like that. Unfortunately, it took the third vein before they sucesslully got the blood drawn. The appointment with Dr Mo went well. Linda, the nurse, came into say hi, since Joan was on vaca. Dr Mo went over our next plan of attack.

Sept. 6- I wil get some of the fluid from my lung removed to see whether it's cancerous. If it is not, they will plan to remove my lung.

Along with Chemo 5 I will have another PET scan. 

After all of that since my cancer isn't in fact curable, I will have a maintainance chemo drug for probably the rest of my exitance. Which brings me to another reason i love Dr Mo. He never uses words like "terminal" or deadly".

So, here I am in in you arms, Lord. Trusting you whole heartedly. Please help turn my mind off at night as it seems to like to race at night for some reason.  I love you, Jesus!

That's where it's at. Lung removal scary, but not so much when in the arms of Jesus.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!! I'll probably be resting, as I usually do the weekend the weekend after Chemo. I firmly believe it helps this body heal.

Much love and thankfulness to you all!

K*

so sleepy!

I've found myself very sleepy this time round.

I thought I would let you know what is in store for next week!

Tuesday- I head to Pittsburgh, Pa to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center ( I should probably wear a WVU shirt right??) to get my 2nd,  really 3rd, opinion.)  Dr Mo works closely and shares notes with the doctor I am seeing up there, Dr T.  Dr Mo is looking forward to seeing what opinions and all Dr T has to share with him about my case.  Personally, I think he just wants to share his medical anomaly with him. I am pretty sure I've mentioned this before, but Dr Mo has only seen one other case similar to mine.  A 28 y/o male non smoker.

Thursday- I have bloodwork at 7:30 am ( WTH?), appointment with Dr Mo, then round 4 of Chemotherapy.

In other news, I'm tired more...oh yeah I mentioned that.  Which leads me to my other side effect-no short term memory. Not that I had a great deal before but dang. Much worse than before.  

I did have a lovely visit with some friends from high school last night. Andrea E and Jenny S.. I have had plenty of good times with those ladies, especially in high school!!

Anyhow, I think I'm going to nap or maybe knit.

Love~
K*

The good news!

Well, I guess I won't keep you all waiting! Here is the good news. My right mess of a lung is no longer pushing into my left.  Also, some of the fluid in my lung has been absorbed. I am still going for a second opinion on the 23rd in Pittsburgh, PA at UPMC. (I think my Doc just wants to share his rare medical anomaly)  Sometime after that, they are going to do a simple procedure with a tiny lil needle to remove some fluid from my right lung. IF there are not cancer cells, I will see a surgeon. Then, they may remove my right lung and lymph nodes. Thus, removing the cancer :) 

I also found out that I do NOT qualify for the ALK-1 mutation trial that they have in PA.  

So, my doc is looking forward to hearing what his fellow doctors in Pittsburgh's opinions are on my situation.  Looks like I'll be mentioned in their lil conference meetings in PA too! I am so famous in the medical community!

So, that's what I found out. Exciting, eh. I may someday be Kristi, the one lunged wonder. ooooo

More when I know more....or if I have something to entertain you!

Much appreciation for your love and prayers!

I love you all! You keep my spirits up, ( you know along with the Spirit in the Sky!)

Much Love!

K*