the results are in.........

I got the results from my CT Scan and it's CLEAR!!! I haven't seen the doc yet, but they called with the good news. I am so very excited. When I had my last scan, before I finished chemo and they said it was gone I didn't believe it 100%, but getting this result solidifies it in my mind. Remission is official and I am happy. I am so grateful for good health. I know I took it for granted before I was diagnosed and never will again. I have my next scan in a few months, and every 3 months for the next little bit. I'll keep on praying!

I love remission!

Well things have been going really well. My hair is growing back, I've even gone a few times without a wig or a bandana. I am loving being back at work and I feel better every day. Tomorrow is my first CT Scan to check on the status of the missing cancer. To be honest I am a little nervous and I am having problems sleeping. It's like when I was doing treatment I could never sleep the night before my chemo...that's how it's been for the last week. I have faith that I'll be okay and the cancer won't be back. But I also know that I can accept whatever happens and that I can handle it. I sure don't want to but what can you do. I'll do another post when I get the results. I meet with the doctor on Monday.

The worst is over or it only get's better from here...

Over these last few months I have been through a lot and it was hard. There wasn't anyway that I could have made it through without the love and support of my friends and family. I like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who was so great through this cancer adventure. I am so blessed and I have learned so much about myself. I know who I am, I believe I can handle anything as long as I don't have to do it alone, I know there is a God in Heaven who is very aware of me, I know that I can turn to the Lord with anything and be understood, I know that I am more loved than I ever could have imagined and I know I will be alright.

I have started back to work- at the same job I had when I was first diagnosed. I love it there. The people are so great, the job is interesting and I have a lot of fun. I am still the same old person I was before this, I still get stupid in front of the really cute guy. But I am stronger. I couldn't have done this alone. Thanks to my wonderful family who was perfectly supportive and I feel so much closer to each on of you. I am grateful that families are forever. Thanks to all my friends who gave me the time, space and support I needed. I love you all.

Today is a day to celebrate!!

So, it has been forever since anyone has posted and from all of us, I apologize. However, today is a monumental day. It is Kristen's LAST CHEMO DAY!!! We are so excited for this crap to be over with. SO, Kristen, way to go, you've been a trooper through all of this and we love you. So, everyone keep checking back cause in the near future we will be having a party to celebrate the end of the chemo and we want all her friends and family to celebrate with us. It will most likely be on a Saturday evening, and it will be a open house kinda thing. Ciao!

Lets give 'em something to blog about

Well, we had a great weekend. Our garage sale was very fun, hot and successful. We're glad we could help Kristen. We had tons of help and tons of people came, and tons of people donated tons of stuff!! Thanks so much to everyone who helped in every way. Whether it was buying stuff, or donating stuff or just being there, we really appreciate it all. The garage sale was accompanied by some really great news. Kristen got the results of her tests from last week. The spot that was found in her lungs is no longer there!! There are only a few "mini" spots that were found, and that means she finishes her chemotherapy in September like we had all originally planned and hoped for. She only has three more treatments and no radiation to follow. Yeah!!! We are all so excited and so relieved. She was so shocked, she had prepared herself for the worst news, that the treatments weren't working at all. We are so blessed and know Kristen is being watched over. Thanks again for everyones help this weekend and for all the paypal donations!!

Its not too late!! If anyone has some stuff for our garage sale, bring it on by.

Thanks in Advance!!

Here is another way to support Kristen. Every little bit helps and is TRULY appreciated!!

We Need Your Help

Kristen is an absolutely amazing person. A person so full of love and kindness beauty and strength. She has been a rock for so many people and has touched so many lives. Now WE have the chance to return the love that she has always shown to us. There have been many of you that have asked what you can do to help Kristen while she is fighting cancer, and so, here's your answer. We are having a yard sale/fundraiser to help raise awareness about Lymphoma and to help Kristen with any medical bills and expenses that may come up in the future. In addition to the money that we raise for Kristen, we will also be donating a portion of the proceeds to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

We could really use your help with donations or help getting ready.

We are in need of help in the following areas:

-Yard Sale donations
-Making/hanging signs
-Food-(think bake sale)
-Sorting and pricing before the sale
-Help during the sale

Also, if you have any service that you can donate for the sale (example: photography, haircuts, tutoring, computer training or ANYTHING else you can think of) please let us know so that we can sell that at the yard sale too.

If you would like to donate but can't make it to the yard sale, we will be setting up a paypal account in the near future so please check back.

For all questions or information about how you can donate, please email us at

kickkristenscancer@gmail.com

Thank you all for you love and support of Kristen. It means more than you will ever know.

-Team Kristen

(Feel free to forward this to anyone you know who would be interested-Thanks!)

#8

Today Kristen had her 8th chemo appointment. She met with the doctor before and he wants her to do a PET scan, CT scan, and a Lung Function test. She gets those done in ten days. He'd do them sooner but she has a cold and he doesn't want it to interfere with the results of the tests. If the scans all come back clear she will continue on and do the four more chemos that she has been planning on. If there is anything on the scans she will have to not only do those four, but four more. We are praying hard hard hard that all will be well with the scans and she can finish this H-E-double-hockey-sticks in September. So keep her in your prayers.

The next issue at hand is money. She is now on long term disability, so is not working anymore, and is not guaranteed her job when she is done with all this. Her work has been so understanding through all this and we appreciate their patience and support. SO, she is hanging on right now, but in the future may need some help, so I have come up with a plan. I'm thinking of doing a garage sale, with all proceeds going to her to help with the bills as they come in. If she doesn't get to that point or has extra, the money will be donated to the American Cancer Society. There is a slight chance I might sneek some and keep it aside for a nice relaxing get away or massage for when this is all said and done. Who knows. SO.... keep that in mind when you see that extra stuff you have lying around in a DI pile. More information is soon to come. If anyone wants to help, let me know.

So my kids and I went and stayed at my parents house while Sean was at Scout Camp. We had a lot of fun hanging out, but I especially liked hanging out with Kristen more than usual. Mostly at night after the kiddies were in bed, so it was nice to have no distractions. While we were there Lulu said she wanted to brush Kristens hair and not mine. I had to gently remind her that she has no hair to brush. She also told Kristen that she should come and sleep over when she got her hair back. When I asked her if she could sleep over now without hair, she said no. Funny girl. She also told her one day to go put a wig on.

As for my dear sister, she will be having chemo #7 this Thursday. After #8 they want to do some follow-up testing to see how things are going. She has been pretty well lately although at the beginning of this week she looked pretty much like a zombie because she was so exhausted. And today she has a horrible sore throat and cough. And her back has been hurting too. And as usual has a really hard time sleeping. So I guess maybe she hasn't been doing that well.

Thanks again for the continued support!!

Here is a recent photo...

We had a family party and my cousin Amy (http://www.amylittlephotography.blogspot.com/) took this picture of me. I am still really hesitant about posting pictures of me without hair, but it's who I am so I'll slowly get used to it. My eyelashes are falling out now and my eyebrows are thinning. I miss hair.

I don't know what to say.....

other than

THANK YOU TO ALL!!!
I have been given so much support, so many goodies and lots of love that I am often times overwhelmed. This is truly the hardest thing I have ever done(I thought having a kidney stone would have counted) and I am so grateful to everyone I know and to those I don't know for everything. I am truly blessed. I would love to thank each and every one of you individually but I know that's impossible. So just know that I am grateful, I do notice and I need it.
Love-
Kristen

#5

So Kristen has her fifth chemo treatment today and as usual on the day of, she is feeling nauseus and really tired. She is being a trooper though and has a good attitude still. She has a hard time sleeping and the doctor recommended some melatonin. She also has blisters on her hands and feet and the doctor said to put sunscreen with an SPF of 30 on it three times a day. Hopefully that will help cause lately she has had to bandage her hands a bit.
I've decided that we've all been careful so far with keeping away when we are sick, but my mother in law who is also undergoing chemo, is in the hospital with an infection and low white blood cells. She is having a hard time fighting the infection because of her poor immune system. It makes me think we need to be even more careful with Kristen and I'm sure my mother-in-law would say the same because she's miserable. So, if you want to visit but feel sick at all, please call instead, I'm sure she'd love to talk.

The Jazz....

I have been able to go to a few of the Jazz playoff games. I have a very good friend with season tickets. We have a blast. I am glad I am able to do some fun things while I am not feeling well. I wore my wig to one game...kinda looks real and then just a beanie to another. Don't you think that one or 2 of the Jazz players should meet me cause I have cancer...it's just a nice thing to do ;D

Here is a pic from Britts trip

I let Brittany post this one of us on her blog, but I've been really hesitant to post, let alone take any recent pics of me. I'm still freaking out a little about the no hair concept. But it's time to let go. So let me tell you this story....as I am pulling in the driveway from work (yes I've been working part time) I see my mom, my nephew Miles, his mom Amy who is holding this little girl who I was pretty sure lives in Chicago. I sat in my car just staring so confused and asked some really intelligent question about how in the world little Sophie got there. Then Brittany walks out. I was so surprised I couldn't really say much for a bit. I was so excited I was in shock. The 5 of us girls, Brittany, Me, Stacey, Amy and Alisa have pretty much grown up as sisters. Brittany and I have always been close, we're only 9 months apart. It's been hard on both of us to be apart for this. My whole family knew she was coming and didn't say a word, that's next to impossible. Secrets aren't kept that well. We had so much fun, and while I didn't take any pictures (still in shock) I know others did. We had a blast. We went to dinner one night just us and I can't tell you how much needed that was. Then we did lots of other fun things. I have a wonderful, extrememly supportive family. Which I need especially as I settle into the day to day life with cancer. Thanks Mom for putting this all together!! I love you all!!

So in the next post you'll see I said nothing has really happened, but in my sleep deprived state I forgot momentarily about Kristen's surprise visit from our cousin more like a sister Brittany. I don't have any pictures but my mom does so a post will be coming soon.

Sorry there hasn't been an update recently but nothing has been happening really. Which is a good sign right? Kristen had her fourth chemo yesterday. She's exhausted and nauseous, but gets to go to the Jazz playoff game tonight with one of her friends, so hopefully, again, she'll be feeling well. The only new thing is she has blisters all over her hands. The doctor said she needs to be really careful with her skin, and when she is opening bottles or anything to use a towel or pliers or something to help. Who knew!! So, all seems to be going well. We'll keep up the updating. Ciao!

"Come to the edge, he said.
They said: We are afraid.
Come to the edge, he said.
They came. He pushed them,
And they flew ... "

Guillaume Apollinaire

To all of you who are flying with us - thanks again for your love and support!
Enjoy the flight ... :)

I went....

I was able to go to the Real Salt Lake vs LA Galaxy game on Saturday night. Thank goodness for feeling well!! It was a wonderful time. Our seats were on the front row and on the 45 yard line. I quite enjoy soccer and wished the Real had won. But I did enjoy seeing David Beckham and it was fun to get out.

Kristen had her third chemo yesterday. So far so good. And lets all pray she continues to feel well because she has great tickets to the Real Salt Lake game tomorrow and David Beckham (Kristen sighs) will be there. We love you Kristypoo!!

God only made so many perfect heads....

the rest he covered with hair!! Ha ha!! So has we know I have no hair anymore of my round head. We have been wig shopping, and here are some pics from it. When I get really brave I'll maybe post a pic of my baldness on here. Good times.

the joy of a pedicure and family...

The day before my first treatment of chemo I went and got a pedicure with my Aunt Joy, Cousins's Amy and Alisa, sister Stacey and cute mom. It was a blast we all got cute toes and then went the dinner. It was wonderful. I have amazing people in my life who love me!!

If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or fight like hell. ~Lance Armstrong

A little update...Kristen had her second chemo on Thursday and has been really fortunate to be feeling good. Still! The Sunday after her first chemo she was feeling pretty crummy. So we were expecting her to be sick by now. But other than a little nausea and tiredness she has been feeling pretty good. Yeah!!

Hair is overrated.

So, the last few days when Kristen has put her fingers through her hair, she has been getting some extra hairs coming out. SO, today after her second chemo treatment, I went over to her house along with Amy, and my mom, and I shaved her head. I'll tell ya, there are really no words to describe doing something you would never dream of in your life. And I'm sure there aren't many words Kristen could use to describe that moment either. It was nice to be able to be with her in that moment though. She looks great. I mean it. Her eyes really stick out and I think she looks so pretty. We also went wig shopping the other day, so she has a wig she can wear if she wants to. It amazingly looks like her real hair. The same color and texture. (Thanks Grams!)
She feels good today other than really tired. If this time is the same as last, she is due to feel sick starting tomorrow night or Saturday. Hopefully it won't be as bad as last time. We'll hope for the best. We love you Kristen!! So for you, here is a Deep Thought, by Jack Handey

"It's true that every time you hear a bell, an angel gets in wings, but what they don't tell you is every time you hear a mouse trap snap, an angel gets set on fire."

pretty flowers

I have been given many pretty flowers. Thank you to everyone for them!! Here are some pics of them!

PS these pics were taken by Amy Little, check out her blog at http://www. amylittlephotography.blogspot.com

Message from Mom

Thanks to everyone for your love and prayers and support! Kristen is being such a trooper and not complaining - out loud anyway. I really admire the way she is handling all of this. She has had her moments of course - like cutting two inches off her hair herself because she was frustrated. Other than that ... :)
It's been almost a week since the first chemo treatment and she's been nauseous, felt like she had the flu with all of the aches etc., then got a cold and today a bad headache. Her mouth and throat have sores and she's stuck eating soft foods. Luckily she's a fighter and doing her best with all of this.
Kristen - I LOVE YOU and even though I feel SO bad that you have to go through this I really admire you and the way you are dealing with it all. You well deserve all the good that is coming your way. In the words of NKOTB - you are truly "hangin' tough" and I am glad you are my daughter!

I'm grateful for....

As Stacey says, I'm not feeling so great.....it'll pass. It helps me to see all the comments of love and support on here and in my email. You all have no idea how much strength it gives.
Thanks

Picture time

Here is a picture from her appointment the other day. (Her right foot really isn't twice as big as the other.)

Hello!

So it has been a few days since Kristen's first Chemo appt. That day she felt a little strange but okay, the next day she felt sick, but still went out with friends for a little bit. That wiped her out and since then she has felt pretty crappy. She says she feels like she got hit by a truck. She feels nauseus, tired, restless, and now her mouth is hurting. All which are normal. Hopefully she'll be feeling better soon.

My sister

I just wanted to say that I love my sister. Seeing her go through this is one of the hardest things I have ever done, and as it continues, I'm sure that I'll ever do. I just want her to know how much I love her and am continually amazed at her strength. Kristen has always been the most giving person I know. I'm grateful for all the people who are now giving to her, whether its in prayers, calls, treats, hugs, or even just a thought. K10, thanks for letting me go with you today, I am glad I was the one to give you company. Love you!

Treatment Day #1

So, today was Kristen's first Chemotherapy appointment. Overall I think it went as okay as something like that can go. Granted I'm not the patient but here's how the day went. The appointment was at 10:30. First, she met with the doctor who seems like a really nice guy, maybe a bit quirky, but really nice. He basically just asked if she had any questions and gave her some Tylenol saying it would help with the flu-like symptoms that can be around the first day or so. He did say that her bone marrow test came back normal and there is no cancer there. Whew!! Her heart function test was also normal. The lung test was "decreased" he said. Which he didn't really give a reason for, but said they would just keep an eye on it over the next while.
Then into the room where the chemo was done. She had a nice comfy recliner to sit in and there was a tv/dvd/vcr in there to help pass the time. It was about 11:30 when they finally got her all ready to start the IV and the drugs. So, once they started it took almost two hours which was a lot shorter than we thought. Kristen said it burned a little and that it felt cold but other than that, it was ok. She'll go in to do this every other week. It will be the same treatment with the same drugs so they say whatever side effects she gets this time, she'll likely get every time. So lets all pray they are very minimal. So far she has been nauseous but luckily they gave her some anti-nausea medicine that has helped. I wrote down a few facts people might be wondering.
-Her itching should go away in less than a week!! Yeah!!
-The doctor said to not try and tough it out, if she feels even the least bit nauseous, he said take the medicine.
-I have a very weak stomach.
-Her hair is likely to fall out in about 2 1/2 weeks from now. Her hair will hurt and her scalp will tingle first.
-She will be cold a lot.
-She is tough, and hardly batted an eye when she got the IV.
-She will have radiation after Chemo. 5 days a week for 6 weeks.
-Her cancer is likely to have been around a while. Longer than the four months since she started itching for sure.
-Fever is the biggest worry, she is suppposed to call if she gets one.
-Her nurse is Kathy.

Thats pretty much it. I probably left out some stuff, so if there's any ?'s, just make a post. Someone will update about how she does the next couple of days. Adios!

Mother Theresa once said:
"God will never give me anything I can't handle.

I just wish He didn't trust me so much!"

From the cancer patient herself...:D

Hello to all! I would like to thank you all for the love and support you have given my family and me these past weeks. They have definitely been a whirlwind and I am amazed at how many wonderful people I have in my life. Thank you!! I know there are some of you who are wondering how this all came about. Let me tell you the story…
One Sunday morning a few weeks ago I woke up and it was very hard to breathe. So since I don't like bothering doctor's, I went back to sleep. But later on that evening I wasn't any better, so my mom and I went to the InstaCare. They determined that I had pleurisy, took an x-ray and sent me on my way. The next day they called to tell me the radiologist saw a spot on the x-ray and recommended a CT scan. The following day I went and had a CT scan. I went alone, thinking it would be nothing. Bad idea!! They had me wait to talk to the radiologist-that should've been a clue something was wrong. The radiologist called the ordering doc at the InstaCare and I spoke to him on the phone. He said something along the lines of- swollen lymph nodes, sorry to tell you, CANCER, call your regular doctor and see an oncologist. All I remember from there for a few hours is tears and shock. I went to see my doctor and she got me in touch with an oncologist. It's been crazy since.
I am doing well. I am mostly optimistic but have my moments of freakimg out. I am blessed and knowing that there is a good chance of being cured, that there are people out there that love me- I can make it through this.

Hello everyone!
Thank you ALL for the love and support you have shown Kristen and our family. If her recovery depended only on the love, support and prayers of those who have expressed it she would be cured yesterday! It means a lot!
Kristen begins chemotherapy on thursday. I'm sure her fighting spirit will kick in and knowing that the "New Kids on the Block" reunion will be on TV friday morning will give her a reason to get up and get going! (inside joke) She gets to go through this every other week for 12 treatments and I am planning a big "she's cured party" for September when it should be all over with.

Diagnosis and Treatment Time

Well - it's official. Kristen has what's called 'stage 4b' in the lymphoma family - but don't let that scare you. Stage 4 mainly means that it has wandered to another location as well as her neck area and the 'b' means that she has other symptoms to go along with it (i.e. night sweats, itching, etc.) The cancer is centered in the lymph nodes around her neck and upper chest, the 'stage 4' designation comes from the fact that there is a small 'hot spot' also on her lower right lung area node. Bottom line - CURABLE! The Dr. said that this is the best cancer to have - if you have to have it - because it is curable.
What's next? She had to have a bone marrow biopsy today (ouch!) and also got a lung capacity test. On monday she will have a heart function test as well. The heart and lung tests are to help gage her overall health before beginning treatment. The bone marrow biopsy was to make sure there was no cancer there and these last 3 tests can also be used as baseline tests for later on if needed.
Sometime at the end of next week she will begin chemotherapy (no radiation with this). She will have to have 12 "doses" at 2 week intervals. About 2 weeks after her first dose the dr. said she will most likely start loosing her beautiful head of hair. (wig party!) She will be tired and have some nausea - but they will give her meds to help with that. She will also have to stay out of the direct sun - summer bummer - and her previously planned trip to Belize has to be postponed indefinitely!
Lot's going on but we are encouraged!
More later and love to ALL!!!
Kari

Greetings everyone!

Thank you all SO much for your love,
support and prayers - it's helping!!!!

Kristen is doing rather well except for
a bad cold she has caught which started
as a sore throat and has now moved
to her chest - on top of everything else!
Yesterday she ate something besides
pringles and sugar cookies - so I am
hopeful :) :) :) !!!

Love to all, Kari

Okay, this is what we know. Kristen has Hodgkins Lymphoma Nodular Sclerosis. It is the most common type of Hodgkins Lymphoma. She has an appointment with her surgeon tomorrow to just check her wound. Then after that she has a PET Scan at the new Murray hospital. The oncologist wanted her to have this scan before they see her. She has the oncologist appointment on Friday at noon. Hopefully this will tell what stage she is at and what the treatment will be.

Hello!

So this is a place where Kristen can send her 10 billion friends and family members that love her, to find out information about what's going on. She just can't keep up with all the updating of everyone so we figured this would be a good idea. And for the record, she chose the the blog address cause she thought it would be funny. It wasn't me. Who is me? you ask. I'm Stacey, Kristen's one and only sister. I'll be the one who is doing this thing so if anyone has any suggestions or questions, email me at dixon323@gmail.com. Ciao!!