Random

Been up since 4 am, cannot sleep in this place very well...just finished  my 5th bag of cytoxin. Today...the "red devil" doxirubison and vinchristine! I hate those two, especially the vinchristine....creates neuropathy in my fingers.  Dr. G came in last night at 11 pm...really? why? He didn't speak two words to me other than hi how are you, i just looked at him, he got on the computer, made a few notes and just walked out...good I didn't really feel like dealing w/ you or your tantrums at 11 pm.  He is not the man that is going "cure" me, God is MY ultimate healer, no one else is going pull me through or take me home but him.  No new news other than I'm thinking he's thinking bone marrow biopsy...very soon, as soon as I clear the very last 0.8 % of the cancer left they can barely detect, then I can start my part of testing (and trust me he is just as ready to get rid of me an my smart family for calling him on all his BS as we are to get rid of him =), consisting of PFT (pulmonary function text, more blood , like they haven't taken enough already, and several other things...ready for my transplant and new birthday! Funny thing, after 5 bags of cytoxin and mesna....my counts haven't dropped one bit, everyone around here just kind of looks baffled....everything seems back words with me....I can guarantee the vinchristine and doxirubison will wipe the counts to where I'm nupogentic.  I'm so excited to see my sister Jenn today!  I hope she comes bearing starbucks!  I'll take a venti iced cafe con leche w/ breve and vanilla kay? lol jk..well no I'm not because once I'm nupogenic they won't allow the "cream" or any dairy....Miss you Kjenn muah! see you in a few hours.  Thank you for all the continued prayers to our Ultimate Healer!  still fighting,
Katie

God Is Good

Today we got the call of a lifetime...well my lifetime anyway lol....They have found a perfect bone marrow match for me!!!! All I know is he is a 23 year old male from somewhere in the WORLD!  To not only have someone so young on a donor list like this is just amazing and I cannot wait for the day I have been transplanted, recovered, then meet my mystery man who saved my life!!!! We were planning for transplant in May or June and now it looks like it will be February! This is possibly my last round of chemo. I'm cool with that....only 3 rounds, no side effects, obviously hair loss but hey GI Jane looked cool right?  Only two spinal taps, and maybe one or two bone marrow biopsies (under anesthesia) I'm good...I can handle the rest!!!!  I'm just that much closer to moving back to Austin, getting back to work at the hospital and having my babies 24/7!!!!!  Ahhh, it's great to look to the future but one man here on my floor just told me..."Live in today, the devil keeps you in the future, he causes worry and despair" (which were my feelings exactly yesterday). So as my future dreams are nice, I'll stay here and keep my head in the game a few months longer!  I feel so great right now! Still fighting!!!!

Katie

About to start Chemo

Well it's almost noon and not much has happened since I go here yesterday around 3pm.  I have a cold so they were debating whether or not I would even start chemo. The doctor wrote the order this morning so starting at 1pm the first poison of choice, Methotrexate, will start.  I've had Methotrexate twice in the spine and once for a regular chemo session so I know I don't have any "major" reactions to it....some people get horrible mouth sores but my Oncology sis Jenn advised me if I drink a ton of water before and with it, I will usually fare pretty well...so far she's been right! Thanks Jenn!  My housekeeper came in and she's one of those that will tell anyone her life story to anyone that will listen. Today she decided to tell me about everyone in her life that she's known that has passed away from cancer, thanks housekeeper.  Christmas was fantastic, love love love being with all my family!  The babies came from Austin. Poor Ryan had the croup but you would never know unless I told you and Rachel is just as sassy as ever. I was sad to let them go back home but Daddy is really doing a great job with them!  Having said that, it's time for me to get back to kicking this cancer out the door and trying to be as strong and healthy as possible! Thanks for all the continued prayers, it is greatly appreciated!

Round 2A

Well, tomorrow I go in for round 2A of chemo....(same as the first 30 day induction round).  It's supposed to be pretty intense from what I understand, but I didn't have any problems the first time so I'm praying for the same this time. I'm not really worried, although I do not really enjoy the unknown. I'm sure all will be fine.  The only major difference this time is I have a port in my chest instead of a PICC line....they do have to stick a 1 inch needle into my chest to access it and I'm definitely not a fan...stick me all day with needles and I don't mind, but this port thing...not fun.  Everyone says I'll get used to it....um, no I won't, I can assure you that right now!  Yeah ,yeah I know all the "benefits" of it but still.  I wonder if my doctor reads this...I would love to blog about him right now, once again, not a big fan!  That's all I'll say about that right now.  So I think I'm way over packing for this gig but I can't stand hospital gowns and all the staff know I wear all my own clothes. I guess I got bored packing for the next 30 days because I'm sitting here blogging...this is probably why I've never had a blog, a) I feel scatterbrained as I keep switching subjects, and b) my life doesn't seem that interesting to myself. But I had a blog to read just days after I was diagnosed by a wonderful man who had the same diagnosis as me, so I was able to know what I was "in for" for the most part and I hope one day I can return that favor for someone who stumbles upon this by pure chance!  Well, I'll keep everyone updated this next month! Still Fighting,

Katie
Diagnosis Date (10/05/10)

Katie decides to Blog!

Hey guys, I decided I would "help" Kim out a little as she is so busy with work and her two children to get on here much, so I guess y'all will get to hear some of this from my point of view! Of course while I'm having chemo or sick Kim will tag team with me to keep everyone in the know. This is my first blog ever! The intrathecal chemo I had last week went smoothly. They also tested the fluid around the spine for any cancer cells, negative...for the second time! Yay for that.  I do dread my weekly meetings with my oncologist because I always know he'll have some fun new "activity" for me.  For instance last week he sprung on me the intrathecal chemo with few days to even think it over; today he decides its time for another bone marrow biopsy!  YUCK!  I reminded him that as long as an anesthesiologist was there, I'd see him bright and early!  Let me remind you the first one of these I had was with just lidocain and a scalpel....well there's another instrument that kind of looks like a screw, anyway that will never happen again haha.  He actually had the nerve to ask me " Do you wanna do it in the office or at the hospital" lol funny Doc! Since I had pneumonia (I don't think that was blogged about but that was about two weeks ago when I spent Thanksgiving in the hospital) I've only left my house a few times!  I'm trying to stay well so my babies can come for Christmas and see me out of the hospital!  So, I've learned Wii Fit. I also learned the cycling will make you nauseous after taking Gleevec (a home chemo drug), I've learned lots of patience, so I have now read the entire Twilight series of books in this two weeks, and now that I'm done with that, I guess I'm blogging now. I'll keep y'all updated as much as possible but right now it's pretty boring around here. Still Fighting!
Katie

Intrathecal chemo today

Katie arrived at the hospital at 7 am expecting to start the procedure at 9 am. The doctor apparently did not write the correct orders for the chemo drug or anesthesia for the procedure. Katie finally was taken back to get started at 10 am. She had to do this without any anesthesia just lidocaine. During the procedure the did hit a nerve and it was very painful and sent several shocks down her leg making her leg jump. Kinda like hitting your funny bone. Well they pushed through it and Katie did well. She is in recovery now laying flat for 2 hours. Katie is very ready to leave the hospital now and go eat at Cheddars! I know she is back to normal when she starts talking about food! Lol.

Next round of chemo should start Dec 27th, after the Christmas holidays if she can stay well by then. If anything happens between now and Dec 27th I will try to make a new post. Sorry for the long delay.

Kim