Kristy and her husband Kyle were our friends that joined us on our house hunting trip to Hawaii back in November. We have gone on other vacations together as well. They are such an awesome couple, and since they live all the way in Springfield Missouri, we don't get to spend too much time together.
Here's how it all started........
Kristy called me one night and among the other topics of discussion she mentioned a lump in her neck. She explained to me where it was, and the other symptoms that went along with it. I urged her to go have it checked out immediately. Never in a million years did i think it was going to be cancer, but i knew in my heart that it needed to be looked at by a professional. Her doctor referred her to an ENT who decided to do a needle biopsy on the lump, and then eventually remove it and have it tested.
A few days later I called her to find out how the results came out, when she answered she was crying and asked if I was at home. I told her no and that i wouldn't be home for a few more hours. She said to call her back when I got home. I was confused and urged her to tell me why she was crying. She refused and told me to call her back. I rushed home so that I could talk to her. It was then that she asked me to sit down, in the bottom of my heart i knew what she was going to tell me. When she broke the news to me, we both cried together, while she told me what her future held for her (in regards to her treatment). She told me that they had classified her tumor as non-bulky. Her oncologist explained to her that there are 3 different sizes of tumors; large, non bulky, and bulky. So basically small, medium, and large. Her tumor was non-bulky, between medium and large. He said that she was going to need 16 weeks of chemo, with one treatment a week. And then radiation to follow that. No one knew how her body would accept the chemo and what would happen, but we all had the highest of hopes.
side note: her husband got laid off shortly after receiving the news of Kristy's cancer.
Before her treatment began Kristy and her husband went to a local wig shop, in the event that she lost her hair from her chemo treatment. When they walked in, she quickly realized she was in the wrong place. Her first clue came from the smell of the place. She described it as the smell of "old people," I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I know i surly don't want to smell like an "old person" at the age of 30! Her next clue came when the majority of the wigs were grey. She and Kyle looked around a little bit, before being approached by the store owner. She was confused as to why a young, healthy looking couple with a head full of hair was shopping for a wig. After talking with her for a little while, Kristy explained that she has cancer and would be starting chemo the next week, and would be losing her hair a few weeks later. The woman began crying immediately and gave Kristy a hug. She then proceeded to gather the other employees and another shopper to the middle of the store. As Kristy explained this to me I was getting goose bumps all over my body. She said the woman gathered everyone in a circle and began praying. The woman assured her that she had never done anything like this before, and she didn't know why she was doing it, she just felt like she needed to.
The next day was the beginning of Kristy's treatment. She had to go in for blood tests, PET scans, and to have the chemo port inserted. After reading the results of her newest PET scan her doctor was ASTONISHED! He reviewed her test results over and over again. Then he met with Kristy to give her the news. First of all her tumor had shrunk! That's right, without any treatment her tumor was now being classified as "barely a large" tumor (AKA small in size), and her oncologist said that instead of 16 chemo treatments she would only need 8 treatments, one every other week for 16 weeks. How awesome is that?!? Her doctor was so confused by the scans that he was going to send them to other radiologists around the country to get their opinion.
The next week Kristy went in for her 1st chemo treatment, it was really tough on her. It basically put her in the bed for the next couple of days. She was so sick. She got an infection and her body couldn't fight it off. After her next chemo treatment, her white blood cell count dropped dangerously low. This is very common when undergoing chemo, however hers was too low, and even the tiniest of infections could cause her to be hospitalized, or worse...... death. Her oncologist told her that she was no longer able to go into public places, and she needed keep one of the rooms in her house as a "clean room." Which meant that before anyone, including her 4 young boys, could enter the room they had to wash and get as clean as possible. Kristy continued on with her next 2 treatments before her oncologist decided to refer her to a specialist in St. Louis. After meeting with that doctor she learned that her tumor was completely GONE! After just 4 treatments her doctors where SO ASTOUNDED! So despite the bumps in the road, her body was accepting the chemo and it was working fast, very fast! Her next 2 treatments went pretty much the same. And yesterday she completed her 6th treatment. She has only 2 more left to go! And then 30 days of radiation.
All the nights I laid awake praying, all the days spent wondering and hoping everything would be ok, they have all paid off. So after all is said and done and she has recovered from her chemo and radiation, we are all going to take a vacation together. That means 4 adults and 6 kids will be hitting the road for a location yet to be determined. I CANT WAIT! I really hate the fact that I cant be there for her. I cant go to help her recover after her treatments, and it kills me. I guess everything happens for a reason, and that is why when her husband lost his job, it was a blessing in disguise. He has been able to be at her side for every treatment, and he is there to nurse her back to health in the days following the treatments. He has taken over the role as mom when she is too sick to do it. She has also had the support of her community, they have made countless meals, come to clean her house, and even held fundraisers to raise money for her medical bills.
So Kristy here's to you!
I LOVE YOU!!!
and
I am so proud of you!
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