Warning

We are very sad to report that there is a young man going door to door in the Las Vegas area representing himself as part of Kassidy's Army. We would NEVER go door to door asking for donations, please call the police or email us at kassidysarmy@live.com. See official fundraisers below!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

November 24, 2013

Last month's MRI results were stable!  YES!  Dr. B suggested that we continue to do monthly physicals and blood test to be able to stay on the trial for awhile longer.  He too feels that is best instead of cutting the chord completely to ANP, for a just in case scenario.  Also, he would like for us to follow up with a PET Scan.  Kass had one in May of 2012 so we already have a baseline and by repeating it could determine if there are any cancer cells left and if the tumor is dead.  At this time, we may decide to be done with ANP completely.  This will be at the beginning of 2014.

Kassidy's Army Run & Walk was success!  Thank you so much to all who always come support us and to those new supporters, without you it would not all be possible. We so appreciate those who donated, supported and volunteered.
It was such a great event  and it felt amazing to give back to Aurora and her family.  Aurora's family got the chance to make it to the event and give us a little update on her.  She had surgery the following Tuesday and her surgery went very well.  She is on her way to recovery!  Thank goodness.

We are hoping to help a new child every year!  Can't wait for next year!

Here are some of the pics of the event!
http://benniepalmore.zenfolio.com/p439872690

I know many of you have been wondering about Kass.  I'm sorry I haven't been able to answer all of you, there have been so many texts and messages!  Thank you so much for the thoughts and prayers!

As all of you know I had been boasting that Kass has not had any symptoms since she stopped treatment in July.  We have been so excited that maybe this would mean we are on the home stretch that we seemed to be feeling like "normal" family.  Making plans, enjoying each day and even talking with Kass about going away to college.

Well, about a week and half some symptoms came back, headache, nausea, and even the dreaded vomiting.  :(

She's been doing stairs at Majestic Park since she wants to get back into shape and that Friday she had to come home because she was so nauseous and had to throw up then slept the rest of the evening.

Three days later we invited her to hike Lone Mountain, since she has vocal chord dysfunction she had a bit of hard time breathing on the way up, but she didn't want to quit.  We would take short breaks to allow for her vocal chords to allow oxygen thru and then continue.  She made it and when we got to the top she had to throw up.  She had such a hard time going down that she needed help because she was walking so wobbly.  When we got to the car she asked if we could take her to Dr. Milne for an IV of fluids.

Kass and Dad, glad he was there to help her get down.

Smiles even after throwing up.

My tough girl!


And then we needed an IV of fluids.

That is one thing we miss having her broviach, I could just give her an IV bag at home.  Being on ANP which is very high on sodium, always made her very thirsty so now that she's not on treatment sometimes she forgets to drink water because for 2 and half years she has always felt thirst.  So she now is trying to always carry a water bottle.

So after this episode she had two more episodes of the same symptoms, so bad that she was throwing up straight bile.  The one Sunday is the one that scared us, where she just couldn't hold any liquids or food down and Ryan and I were all the way in Tempe Arizona and had to rush home.

We took Kass to the oncologist on Monday and he did a neuro test and blood test and ordered a stat MRI.  He too was concerned with tumor growth.

I know many of you say not to worry, but it is very hard not to.  Anytime Kass has any symptom our minds directly goes to tumor growth.  Unfortunately, when your life has been touched by cancer is hard not to think that way.

It's been a very hard couple of days for all of us, but most of all for Kassidy.  She has suffered quite the depression lately and we are very worried about her.  I don't want her to loose her sense of hope, but I understand her, it's been 2 and half years of this.  I get it!  She got a glimpse of what a little bit of "normal" was for a few months and to think that treatment is looming around the corner again is very upsetting for all of us.

We did speak to Dr. Marquis this morning and he told us that MRI results from yesterday are of a true  STABLE disease.  Thank you God for listening to our prayers.  Now why the symptoms??? That's the million dollar question.

Not two MRIs are sliced the same, so there could be a very minuscule change in tumor that is not showing in the different slices of the pictures of the MRI, but none measurable to 1mm or even to be alarmed for.  Also, blood test have been done and we are waiting on those results to see if they give us answers.  Very frustrating, but the worst case scenario has been ruled out which is a blessing.

Thank  you, thank you all for your support.  Sometimes these ups and downs can be a bit much and we have to tell you that we are emotionally spent.


1 comment:

MoLangley said...

Your story is an inspiring one for all those who suffer from some kind of disorders but refuses to give up from life.

South Orange County Cancer Recovery