It's surgery time!

Hi Everyone!
I wanted to update you on a few things...

1.  Kimmy is doing really good these days.  Although her taste buds aren't back to normal yet, she is starting to eat a few things that were favorites of hers in small amounts.  This is a huge improvement from a few weeks ago!  Her energy is alot better also.  She was able to get back to grocery shopping without getting winded, driving her Yukon and other little things you take for granted when your health takes a nose dive.  It's great to see her in the living room when we come over (Steve and I now live down the street from the Nelsons), talking and lauging with her instead of in her bedroom because it's too much of an effort to come down the stairs. 

2.  Kimmy's surgery (double mastectomy and reconstruction) will be occurring tomorrow late morning.  She had her final appointment with her plastic surgeon last week to go over the particulars.  The type of implant, size (she wanted to go DD!!  I told her that was too big so she's going smaller - j/k), how long the surgery would take (2 1/2 to 3 hours).  After an 11 page consent form, booklet and other forms to sign, we were done there and as I type, my mom and Kimmy are with the general surgeon going over last minute details for what will happen tomorrow, what will be biopsied, etc. 

She'll be in the hospital for one night and then she'll be able to come home with her new boobs!  My mom, dad and sister will be here to help take care of the daily chores since she won't be able to lift her arms and Duane has to work.  Someone has to feed her!  And what about me? I get to hang with the kids after they get off of school.  :-)

She calm, cool and collected.  She isn't really nervous (except for a few things ~ anesthesia, intubation) and she's looking to this next phase and continuing on her road to a full recovery.  So, as tomorrow approaches, send her all the positive energy you can and wear your pink to show your support! 

Thanks and I hope you all have a wonderful week,
Erika

The countdown is officially at ONE!

It was almost six months ago that we found out that Kimmy had breast cancer.  Tomorrow marks her FINAL chemo treatment for this second phase.  It's been a very long journey for Kimmy, Duane and her kids.  The second round proved just as taxing as the first round with more physical side effects that have really taken a toll on her.  From her eyes and nose continuously watering and her fingernails lifting to not being able to stomach much of anything and losing 10 lbs.  The one bright spot was this weekend when she showed me her hair and said, "LOOK!  I have fuzzies!"  She was very excited that her hair is growing back.

This past weekend I took Kimmy and Nicole to the mall in search of dresses for my daughter's upcoming wedding.  She was a bit nervous about the excursion because she tires so easily.  But we had to get it done before they came out to California so off we went to the mall!  We rented a wheelchair to make the trip a little easier, but with all the people at the mall, it was a bit difficult to play NASCAR to get to Macy's.  I also had a hard time maneuvering the darn chair and I'd hear "AHHHHHHHHHHH!  You're going to bump me again!"  Getting into the elevator *WHACK* getting out *WHACK*...  all I could keep saying was "Sorry...."  Luckily, I didn't topple any displays AND we did find a very pretty dress for her to wear to the wedding as well as for Nicole so I considered the trip a success!  

Hopefully now that her last treatment is tomorrow and the last steriod she has to take is friday that she will start the process of sleeping easier, her taste buds go back to normal so she can savor those dishes she loves so much, her energy returns to her in record time so she can run and play with the kids as before, she can help in the classrooms and cafeteria and she feels like herself again. 

She met with her general surgeon and plastic surgeon today (20June) and her general surgeon couldn't feel the lump anymore (YAY!) and if all goes well, she can have her mastectomy and reconstructive surgery as early as August 1st.  Let's all keep our fingers crossed that this happens. 

You all have been so supportive of Kimmy and the family.  Thank you so much for continously wearing your pink on Thursdays, for the sweet messages you send Kimmy and above all else... the LOVE!  It's much appreciated... 

So for tomorrow... why doesn't everyone wear pink from head to toe!  Just douse yourselves in pepto bismol.  hahaha.  Just kidding!  Have a wonderful thursday and I truly believe with our collective positive thoughts, Kimmy will be able to feel them from all over the country (and world). 

Love to all ~
Erika 

5........

5 more infusions to go....I don't think that's any consolation to Kimmy. This is getting tougher.

For a few days prior to Mother's Day, Kimmy wasn't well....at all. She had quite the date with the toilet, if you know what I mean.  All I know is the Friday prior, she sounds like crap on the phone. Saturday, she didn't even make it to Nikki's last volleyball tournament, which is a true indicator of how lousy she's feeling. Sunday, my dad delivers his Mother's Day gift....himself....on her doorstep, wearing a bow. Monday, he takes her to the doctor and then by Wednesday I get a call from Kimmy.

"I'm ALIVE!" she says and sweet lord, she is a whole new person. She highly recommends that we all let our nose hairs grow long, until we can at least braid them. Blech....but that IS what she said.

Apparently, having no nose hairs allows all the junk we normally collect up in there, to travel down into her throat and stomach. That is what was making her sick, not the chemo itself. She had a feeling and told her doctor, received some medicine and had a nice recovery from this random setback.

Dad has been out there since Mother's Day and I know this has helped lift everyone's spirits. Having another person around really does make a difference when the going gets tough. We are all so grateful that he is able to make these trips. My mom left yesterday and will return on Sunday. I know she was anxious to get back to Goodyear and see Kimmy.

Kimmy thinks she might lose her nails, they are still painful to the touch and really red. Her hair is starting to grow back. Just a little.

Most often, when I ask how she's doing, she simply says "fine"...like when we were in high school and mom asks how your day was. That kind of fine. I don't really like being relegated to the one word answer corner so I try to remind myself that my role in this is not to be that person. I think my role is to talk about just everyday normal stuff. I think. So, in our normal fashion, Kimmy texted me to tell me that she LOVED Phillip Phillips last song of the night on Tuesday. (He is the newly crowned king of American Idol, who I love. period.) Anyway, when she says those kinds of things, I sit on the edge of my seat waiting because I know Kimmy, and she only expresses like that when she really really digs something.

Here comes the song, and I'm a bawling mess. It was just so beautiful, the artistry, the production value, the words. Wow. He just sang it to Kimmy....

"Hold on to me as we go...as we roll down this unfamiliar road...and although this wave is stringing us along...just know you're not alone...cuz I'm gonna make this place your home...settle down it'll all be clear...don't pay no mind to the demons they fill you with fear...if there's trouble it might drag you down...you get lost you can always be found...just know you're not alone, cuz I'm gonna make this place your home."

Thank you Phillip. I've watched it twenty times.

Kimmy, I know you feel like giving up and taking a break from the weeklys, but just hold on. Keep fighting and like Phillip sang, know you are not alone....YOU. ARE. ALMOST. HOME.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_11/performances/phillip_phillips_home/


All my seesterly love,
Jessie

39th rotation of the sun...

Hi friends!

Today, Kimmy completes her 39th rotation of the sun....IT'S HER BIRTHDAY! Shoot her an email or a facebook message if you can because today is unique day.  It's her birthday.....it's Thursday, and we all know what that means. It's chemo day. Not one of us can relate to the highs and the lows of the emotions behind celebrating a birthday with a chemo cocktail.

In true Kimmy fashion, and despite not feeling good, I am positive she is going to find a way to laugh. I already got a few HA HA's in response to some silliness I posted on facebook. We all just want to make her smile today.

Kimmy hits halfway today....I'm sure I am missing some details, but what I know is that this round is harder than anticipated. Her hands hurt to the touch and she just feels constantly sick. She isn't sleeping well at all, is very very tired and her tastebuds are shot. Everything tastes bad, except for a few random food items.

Two mornings ago, I called her and she sounded terrible, exhausted. Yesterday, I called her at dinner time and she sounded so much better! I told her so and she said "That's because Duane made me laugh!". Apparently, corn is on the list of cravings, an item that gets past the tastebud duel. She asked Duane for corn, he prepared it, she dug in and SPIT it out! "What IS that? That's not corn!". Welp, Duane actually prepared hominy and didn't realize it. She didn't get her corn but she got a great laugh out of it and that seemed to make up for it.

Kimmy, just keep remembering that today, on your 39th birthday, you sit at the top of the chemo mountain. You are halfway there.  Look at how far you've come in what we all call a battle, a word that I now truly understand.

I close my eyes and see you as my little sister, sitting atop of a park slide, anxious to get to the bottom. After today, you get to slide down. Slide, slide, slide....it's not fun, it's not exhilirating, and it certainly may not feel like it's all downhill, but you are almost there.  Soon, you will be able to plant your feet firmly on the ground.

In an effort to continue to make you laugh today, I offer this image that I KNOW will make you laugh to tears.

Thanks to Anne Bergeron for sending this picture of her daughter with the Tennessee mascot Smoky! The Vols baseball team is rooting for you too!

To all of our family and friends on this journey with Kimmy, keep praying for her, Duane and the kids.  Add an extra prayer for the LA Kings to continue winning too. Kimmy would appreciate that!

Support, listen, and love.

Happy Birthday Kimbawick! We all love you!!!!!!

Jessie

Treatment 4 of 12.

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to let you know that today marks the fourth treatment out of twelve.  The first treaments came and went with little difficulty.  Minus the occasional numbness of the foot and her not sleeping well at night, she was doing great. 

Last week was her first side effect of the chemo treatment.  They had to stop the infusion of Taxotere and had to administer a saline solution and then benedryl.  Kimmy said "After my friend experienced her reaction I thought 'Would I know what to look for if I started to have a reaction?' and then started feeling very hot and my skin around my face started tightening up".  Yep, that will do it!  Along with that, the treatment went longer because once they started the chemo infusion again, they had to do it at a slower pace. 

So, this week let's hope she doesn't have another reaction and she's done a little sooner.  Her treatment just started... I'm praying everything goes smooth and with my mom there, I'm sure she will make sure everything DOES go smooth. :) 

BIG HUGS to Kimmy!

Hope everyone has a great Thursday and rest of the week,

Erika

Round 2....

Hi everyone,

Kimmy starts Round 2 of the next chemo treatments tomorrow (Thursday). 9:30am.  Remember, these are the ones that will be every Thursday through mid June. Entering the world of the unknown again as there is no telling how this will affect her.

We'll know in a few days and we will let you know.

Thanks again for all of your support.

Chemo 2.1, better watch out. Kimmy's in a fightin' mood.

LUUUUUUUUCCCCCC!

Hi everyone!

As you know, an ongoing mission has been to collect fun photos for Kimmy....random moments of inspiration! Kimmy texted me a couple of days ago and said Luc Robitaille, NHL Hall of Famer, was going to be at Living Spaces in La Mirada for an autograph signing. Sweet lord, I couldn't contain my excitement.

If you don't already know, Kimmy's love for Luc spans back into the 1980's. Her room was purple, she knew every statistic for every player and Luc Robitaille was her favorite player!

Late '80's - Jessie attends a Tip-a-King event with Kimmy. Mom drove us and got into a bidding war with some big company over a signed hockey stick. Apparently mom knew the woman in charge and got the secret notice when to add her final bid before the sheet was pulled at the auction. Mom's tigress silent auction ways were in full effect back then. She loves the drama of a good silent auction!

In between, Kimmy watched a zillion games and was at the game when he retired! The best full circle moment came when I was offered the chance to work at his retirement gala event. I said "I will do it for free on one condition...my sister Kim needs to be here too!" And wouldn't you know, Kimmy had the BEST job! SHE was Luc's personal contact for the event. SHE was his greeter, making sure the family knew where they were going, where to sit for dinner, make sure they were ok, etc. etc.  I watched and cried like a baby from the shadows. I was so happy. It is a moment we both will never forget, for different reasons.

Feast your eyes on this! 20 years later...

Here are a few more fun pics to enjoy from this glorious evening!

SO, when I get the call that he is going to be at MY Living Spaces, I have to be there!!!  Actually, it was a text that sent me all aflutter. I threw Sammies sock in the trash and put the trash in the laundry basket....

The online notes said only one autograph, so I printed my before and after shots seen here and my Kristin Chenoweth picture as proof, and armed with my planned speech, we were off! I took the girls with me, Megan taking cell phone pics, Mia taking video and while in line, trying desperately to teach the girls about Luc and why we love him so. Truly, this is Kimmy's love, I consider myself collateral damage.

Funny enough, last week, I made this picture, taken from his retirement party, to provide Kimmy with a boost in spirits! (you can click on the picture to enlarge and read the text)

Little did I know, just a few days later,  I would get THIS!

I am at peace, I can now relax. I got the only shot I ever wanted.

 It's April Fool's Day, make sure to trick someone today....GO KINGS!

Jessie