The Latest! Some pretty BIG stuff!

On Friday, June 24th, Kathy had surgery at the Huntsman Center. This is what she wrote today about the surgery,

"Well, life in a hospital is pretty boring.  The surgery went pretty well. It took seven hours!  I have an incision from my belly button to my pubic bone, which they put back together with staples, so it's pretty creepy looking.  When they got inside me they realized that everything was hooked together in one big mass, about the size of a baseball. it was hard to get it all out in one piece because it was so big, but they accomplished it. The tumor had attached to my uterus, my right ovary, and also to the pelvic bone. Oh yeah, my appendix was caught in it too.  They don't think any of those parts were cancerous, but they sent it off to be tested.  The uterus bled a lot, so I had to have four units of blood.

"So now I'm recovering. I had about a million tubes and cords coming out of me, or going in to me. Now I only have nine. No joke.  Plus the call switch that I have to keep track of.  And leg massagers on my calves so I don't get blood clots.  I go for short walks, which means I shuffle around in the hall and back, pushing the IV cart.  Actually, I'm feeling pretty good, considering.  I don't have much pain anymore. (Of course, I still have an epidural, which is a pain killer) I can tell that I'm getting stronger every day.  They don't know for sure yet, but it looks like I'm on track to be discharged on Friday."

The plan from here on out is that after some recovery time she will start another round of chemo.

She also posted a note on Facebook which I thought you might enjoy.

"Thanks to everyone for all your love, support, fasting, and prayers. I must be recovering because the little things are starting to annoy me! I'm so grateful."

Indeed, we are all grateful for the many prayers and the fasting on her behalf, and in behalf of us, her family! We are being taken care of in this difficult time. Thank you!

Katie's plan...

As much as I want to be there to help and watch over my mom, my husband needs me home some times. So for now, while my mom is still strong I am home with Eric and the kids in Washington. It's hard to be here when I feel needed there,and hard to be there when my husband is here. So I go where I am most needed. I plan to go back to Ashton in a few weeks, for the end of the treatments. That's when most people get really sick and tired and need help. For now, I need you Ashton-ites to be eyes, ears, and hands. Please tell me if you see a need that is not being met so I can make arrangements. Please let me know if there is something you would like to do to help, but are unsure. Please contact me with questions or concerns. Also, if you see that things are worse than I realize, please let me know so I can come sooner. One more thought. Your kind words and letters of encouragement will be the best support. The only thing better is your prayers.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Chemo/Radiation Take Two

It's been a while since I gave you all an update, but there hasn't been much to tell. Surgery went well. After about ten days of recovery Kathy started chemotherapy and radiation treatments yesterday, March 7. She is doing chemotherapy at home and radiation daily in Idaho Falls. She is so tough! Her attitude and spirits are great. Please keep her in your prayers though, as this is a very physically challenging time for her.
The plan, for now anyways, is to do this chemotherapy and radiation for 5-6 weeks and then have a recovery time before another surgery, followed by more chemotherapy.
It us critical during chemotherapy that she be kept healthy, and her resistance will be dramatically weakened. If you are sick or you kids are suck, please be very aware and do what you can to keep the whole Anderson family healthy. Thank-you

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

The Sick Kids

In our way here we woke up sick in Boise, with coughs, fevers, and stuffy noses. My mom said come anyway, and so we drugged up and came. Eric woke up with a fever on Wednesday, so joined the sick house. Then James came home from ski club with a fever, so he joined us, too. Thursday the rest of us were done with our fevers. Kate still coughs, I have a head ache, Eli is becoming known to me as another boy, and Eric seems great. However James is getting worse. Do this morning he woke up with a fever of 104.8, so we hurried and went to the clinic in town where he tested positive for influenza a. Yucky. He is miserable. He is quarantined to his room and on the best drugs we can get for him. He will be sick for at least a week, probably two or three. Please add him to the long prayer list. My mom can't come home until everyone is healthy.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

The Procedure

The procedure went very well. In fact, they said up to three hours, and finished in just over one. They looked around at her liver and abdominal cavity and they all look great, which means the cancer hasn't spread anywhere. They did what they needed to do. My mom was up this morning feeling good. Happy day! Now we need prayers that the rest of us will get better so she can come home!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

My Gratitude

Hang in there with me as I make one more post that I feel is very important.
I have been sitting all the way over there in Washington wishing I was here helping and taking care of everything. I have been so worried about my mom getting where she needs to be and the kids getting to all their stuff and dinner and a clean house and all that stuff that gets so hard when you are sick. Now that I am here I feel like all my worry was in vain. People have dropped everything to drive my mom to the many appointments she has. Friends and parents of friends have driven way out through the snow to pick up and drop off kids from all the many activities these crazy kids do. The kitchen is over flowing with leftovers from the wonderful dinners that people keep bringing, and the fabulous deserts. People have been so good to my family. I don't know how to show my gratitude to all of you kind people. Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU! We have been in need, and you have helped us. Bless you, and thank you again.

The Medical Update

This part is so hard to do. Last week I had people asking me what the news was, and I just couldn't figure out what to post. My apologies. I didn't want to cause any stress or worry, I just don't know how or what to write, because as soon as I post anything, everything will change. But here goes a shot at an update.
On Tuesday, the 8th (man that feels like a long time ago...) Kathy met with Dr. Dickson, at Madison Memorial Hospital. They discussed Chemotherapy and scheduled to start everything on Tuesday, the 15th. On Wednesday, the 9th, she met with the Radiologist in Idaho Falls and they scheduled to start on Tuesday, the 15th, as well. On Thursday they lined everything up for the radiology. On Friday they got all the stuff out of the way for the chemo. They should have been all set to start on the 15th. But everything changes everyday. I'll explain.
There are a few complications. Kathy has an abscess near the tumor and the tumor is growing, which have the doctors worried. She has a fever, although she is on antibiotics. What all this means is that they have put off the chemo and radiation until after they do a procedure to relieve and divert some of the pressure on the abscess and tumor. As of right now, Kathy will go meet with a doctor at the Huntsman Institute on Wednesday, the 16th, to talk about doing the procedure on the 17th. Hopefully then they will be able to start the chemo and radiation next week, and after maybe 6 weeks of that they will be able to remove the tumor (hopefully). Then after another bout of chemo she should be much better. Its a long haul and I am sure that we will learn something new tomorrow at our 9 am appointment.
 We are in good spirits here, and have strong faith that Heavenly Father is watching over us, and helping us grow.  We really appreciate all the prayers and help and kindness. We pray everyday and always that she will be healed. Let that be your prayer too.