It’s About Time…………

For an update! I know many of you are wondering why it has taken so long to update “the Blog” so I will try to summarize as quickly as possible. In a nutshell, it has been a rough month+ since I finished the last round of chemo. I haven’t been on email very much lately and hope everyone can understand if I haven’t returned a call or note(s). I have not felt good and have been working on my recovery which includes sleeping & radiation therapy.

The last round of tests, MRI’s, Scans, and X-rays prompted the doctors to advise me to prioritize my healthcare; 1) consult with an Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in oncology for a possible hip replacement and 2) review the tumor in my right chest wall for possible radiation.

1) David, Theresa & I went to UCSF last week and saw the Chief Orthopedic Oncology Surgeon. Although Dr. O’Donnell has excellent credentials, and had performed hundreds of surgeries, he has never done this surgery. This is a very vascular (bloody) surgery which makes it much riskier. After “family review”, we are going to pass on UCSF. Marla & Char think they may have located a doctor out of Boston who has done this exact procedure, so that’s there homework this week.
2) Thursday, 9/27, I finished 12 days of radiation treatment to reduce the tumor size in my right chest wall. The good news is everything else looked good from the last set of tests, and this radiation hopefully gets me one step closer to remission. In the mean time, the treatment has made me really fatigued, nauseated, and dizzy and all the other fun things that come during recovery. My Radiation Oncologist is working hard to dissect many of my pending problems; for example changing medication dosage. Dr. Fischer has also referred me to an Ear Nose Throat specialist, who I will see on the 10th , as there is a possibility I could have wax build up from years of radiation treatment, which can throw off your equilibrium. It would be GREAT, if for once the solution was that easy – my fingers are crossed and daily prayers are said to unclog my head!

Other than working on these health priorities, Char & Marla are still working with the people at MD Anderson as there staff of doctors, nurses & admin gather and review all of my files – it’s HUGE!

In addition to keeping busy with me, David has just opened his second store while he is working on the third store to open in 2008. Thanks to Char & Gina who came up to stage “decorate” for the soft opening and wrapped 200+ giveaways for the Grand Opening scheduled for the 26th & 27th of Oct. Thanks also to Karen & Theresa who came up a few weeks earlier to deliver decorator product they had picked up in so Cal and delivered for the opening of Store #2. Thanks again, we couldn’t have done it with out you!

My eyes are starting to get heavy – must be getting close to knap time. Right now I must stay off my left hip as much as possible, so my days are spent trying to rebuild my energy level and making sure I don’t damage the left hip with an accidental fall, etc.

Please feel free to call David, Marla or Char for an update while I am working on my road to recovery. Also, know that I think of all of you and appreciate the prayers & letters. I look forward to when I am feeling better and will be able to “entertain” or see you soon!

God Bless – My Love to All,
Kelly