wow, it's really almost December?

Whoa! It's been over a month since my last post.  Sorry about that!

You are probably wondering how my bronchoscopy and lavage went.  It was outpatient surgery. I came out of surgery with just a sore throat for a few days. I have a lesion deep in my top lobe, possibly into the middle lobe. In case you aren't familiar with the anatomy of a lung, the right lung has three lobes, or chambers.  The left lung is smaller and only has two.  My left lung has taken on 75% of breathing. Normally the left would do 45% of the work. The right would do 55%.  I also have some irritation in the lower lobe. I still have pain in my lung. That's probably because cancer jacked it up.

I'm still a little torn about them not removing my lung. I mean,  if the lung is gone the cancer should be too. On the other hand, have I mentioned I hate chest tubes and tape? I really do! I am glad to have a team of doctors that have my best interest in mind. Dr Luketich and Dr Levy are my surgeons.  Here is Dr Mo,  my oncologist.  The picture doesn't do him justice.  He really has an amazing smile. If you press the links you can see how legit they are.  They are just three of the awesome people I am proud to have on my medical team. My nurses are all amazing too. They have always taken great care of me.  I'm blessed that they have all been brought into my life.  I am blessed!

My Nashville workplace walked in my honor at the Lungevity Breathe Deep Walk on November 5th. Over 20 people walked in my honor. I can't even begin to tell you how loved I felt to see the pictures of the event. I haven't seen them in over six months and they still took time out of their lives. Time to help raise money for research of the disease I will be fighting the rest of my life. I appreciate them so much. They also did a jean week in my honor. Awesome!  Big thanks to my coworkers! I'm getting teary just thinking about it.

My birthday came and went.  I had a nice day with my family! We went to the Texas Roadhouse for dinner!  YEE-haw! If you noticed above, I'm now a 35 year old that has lung cancer. It's hard to believe I'm that old!!  I still have lots of balloons flying around here!! Heck, yeah! Here are some pictures my lovely sister took from the evening!

 Oh No! The old empty card trick!

No worries! I got a gift card

Yee Haw!

My nephew Lukas, bro-in-law, Drew, Taylor, Morgan and me

                                                

My Mom, my sister, Kim and I

Lukas, Taylor, Morgan and me!

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Kim and I  

Lukas, Charlie, Taylor, Morgan and I

                                                                        

This is the necklace Taylor made!     

Let's go Mohigans! from the ReVeals!

                                                                                         

Taylor made this card!   

Lukas, Dad, Taylor, Morgan and I

                                                                                              

My parents, my brother and I spent Thanksgiving with what I refer to as the Greek side of the family.  I am really referring to the neighbors that live behind my parents house. I wonder if this will become our new tradition!   Their youngest son, Chris, and I grew up together.  We are a little more than two months apart in age.  I used to understand Greek as a child thanks to Yia Yia Effie and Yia Yia Maria. I have so many childhood memories that include them. No wonder I've always considered them family.

Tuesday I went in for a CT Scan. I'm not sure when I will hear the results from that. This week, I begin maintenance chemotherapy. I will be receiving that every three weeks from now on.  My surgeons want to see me every 3-6 months.

Having to be dependent on others is so frustrating at this point. Heck, I haven't driven since APRIL! I'm working on this now. Hoping to take the wheel this week. I'm pretty sure it's like riding a bike.

Everyday its harder and harder to be away from these lil gals.

It's amazing how much time has passed.  I'm still on oxygen and waiting to see where this adventure will take me next.  I'm hoping to make a trip to Nashville soon.

Meanwhile, I saw "The Muppets" yesterday.  Loved it! I'll probably be seeing it more than once. I was pretty apprehensive about it at first.  However, they stayed true to Jim Henson's vision for those lovely Muppets. Did I mention I loved it?

I've started Christmas shopping, have you? 

Amazing!

I went to see my surgeons after getting another PET/CT scan on Thursday.  Well, everyone I received incredibly awesome and shocking news! The Senior Surgeon told me that removing part or all of my lung would be incredibly risky at this point.   That at this point the lung doesn't look like active disease. So, the major surgery is now been cancelled!  Instead, they are going to do a bronchoscopy and Bronchoalveolar lavage on November 1.  So,with that they will do some more biopsies and all.  This is an OUTPATIENT procedure and I should not have to worry about recovering afterward.  YAY! God is good. (All the time!) 
My parents and I sat there in shock as we were told this news. You have no idea how happy I am to not have to deal with all the chest tubes and tape again! Also my parents will not have to watch me suffer and my dad will not have to commute back and forth. SO Thankful!
The surgeons plan for me to have regularly scheduled bronchoscopies. I will be seeing my magnificent oncologist Dr M soon.  I believe, he plans for me to finish my cycle of chemo and possibly start my maintenance plan. 
Despite that, I still have some pain and am on oxygen all the time. My right lung will probably never be normal or function normally.


 I can't fathom the awesome power of God.  It blows my mind. I know that between the awesome power of God's healing and the prayers to him from everyone all over the world on my behalf has made has made all the difference.  Resting on sweet Jesus has made all the difference! I AM loved!





And whether you like it or not he loves you too! 


Love,
K*

P.S. I designed this and my friend Jennifer made it pretty! November is Lung Cancer awareness month! Wear a white ribbon or pearls to show support.

Left Lung: 75% Right Lung:25%

So that's the score right now! They also believe that the tumor is in the top lobe of my right lung which is only kicking in 4% of the breathing work right now.  Which is pretty awesome! Can I get an AMEN?

So, I have been out of the hospital for nine days. My next surgery is currently scheduled for November 1. This unfortunately means I can't make it to Nashville like i was hoping for the Lung cancer walk down there. Bummer! I was really looking forward to seeing my Nashy friends beautiful faces! I really miss you all BUNCHES!

I went to the Dr on Thursday. They originally wanted to do the next surgery this past Friday. Then, it was Monday and then Wednesday.  While we were in the appt. my surgeon spoke to the Senior Surgeon (who I still haven't met.) My surgeon spoke to him while he was in the room with us. He then stepped out for a moment. We aren't really sure what all was said, suddenly he thought I needed more time to heal. As I had a rough time recovering from surgery. He also thought that I should have another PET Scan.

It was very odd. We were going a more conservative route. I felt MUCH better about this. Despite all the downsides, (missing seeing Nashville in Nov and possibly being super sore on my Nov 15th bday) I am ready to have this tumor out of me.  They currently believe it to be a lil less that 2 centimeters big! Chemotherapy, the love, prayers and well Jesus have done immense healing.  I still have plenty to go but I have made huge strides.

Speaking of strides, (nice segway,eh) I can't believe all the people from my workplace who have stepped out to walk to fund Lung Cancer Research. I am so touched! I feel so loved and supported by you. You all are amazing! If you would like to donate to their team, or join them you can by going HERE  The walk in Nashy is Nov 5  in Centennial Park. 

For those in the Los Angeles area, my Woobie, Kristin and her family are walking in Manhattan Beach, Ca.  If you would like to walk or donate to the California Team KStar please go HERE

And finally the walk that is coming up quickly is for the American Lung Association here in Morgantown, WV. It is on October 22! If you would like to join me and my friends walking or donate, you can do that HERE

So enough pimping my cause.  Here are some drawings I did some shrinky dinks of:

Please note my"rotten potato"

Here's a song to move your soul

Much Love!

K*

Info Info

As I mentioned in my last blog I am having diagnostic surgery on Monday.  I mentioned in my last blog that I would supply the hospital address. So, here is the address for UPMC Presbyterian:
UPMC Presbyterian
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2582
412-647-2345I will be there until Wednesday or Thursday. Also, there are a few walks for Lung Cancer/Disease going on around the US in which people are walking in my honor. (SO FLATTERED) If you would like to join in and walk/run or donate to one of these walks, here are the links:

Morgantown, WV:

http://ala.convio.net/site/TR/RunWalk/ALAMA_Mid-Atlantic/2092744537?pg=team&fr_id=4322&team_id=34303

Nashville, TN:

http://events.lungevity.org/site/TR?fr_id=3010&pg=entry

Manhattan Beach, Ca

http://events.lungevity.org/goto/teamkstar

Hope you all are having a great week!

Love,

K*

October Third

Well, I went to Pittsburgh last Thursday for a consult with a world known lung surgeon. The results were..kinda shocking.  They believe my staging is incorrect. They also mentioned that I was on the right chemo, after we told them my story. They were very adamant about getting in there as soon as possible to find out exactly what is going on in there.  This is why we are pretty sure Dr Mo wanted us to see this guy.  

I am going to see Dr Mo later this week, so I will let you know what he says about the report back from Pittsburgh.  Anyhow, I wanted you all to know what all may be going on when I head to Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. (I will try to get the address and phone number of the hospital in my next blog.)

Another bronchoscopy is being done.  This is the initial procedure in which my lung cancer was originally found.  They also will be making an incision in my lower neck to look in my wind pipe to see what all is going on there.  They also will be going in some incisions on my right side to do some looking around. They will be doing plenty of biopsies and exploration along the way.  They have also mentioned deflating my right lung and playing with it like Play-Doh.  Oh, hold on they didn't say that...that's just how I pictured it.  It should be interesting to see what comes of all this. I'm so glad to have proactive measures are being done.  I'm especially interested to know what my rotten potato is doing in there.

The Dr said I would be in the Hospital 3 days. (Which kinda surprised me.)  Looking kinda forward to a new bad @ss scar.  We were very shocked when they said what all they would be doing.  I was very glad they were doing it all in one swoop.  Also glad that they wanted to explore my insides before making a decision of whether to remove the rotten potato.

This is the excitement in my life! Crazy huh? Well, I trust God will be watching over me through all this.  After all I'm young (that's what everyone tells me :) THAT is so peaceful, powerful and there are times when the very thought brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes.

So, have you just ever asked God, " What is going on in my life blows my mind. I feel like its totally out of control and have no idea what I can do next." Well I do, A LOT. When I find myself calling out I take a VERY deep cleansing breath. Then, I usually find myself praying," I trust you Jesus. I give this over to you. I know you want this burden far more than I do. Lord, please wash your cleansing peace over me. As only you can.  My life is in your control. For in comfort brought by you I do not have to worry. I only have to breath. "

If you haven't tried, you should. It tends to be pretty amazing.

 Much Love!

K*

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*