Mom is in REMISSION!!!!!

WOW.  Is all I can say.  Our God is so faithful. His ways are not our ways.  He knows the end of every story- and we have to TRUST HIM.  We are so thankful and blessed to get this awesome news.  I am still in a daze.  Its like a dream.  I have dreamed of this day since we got the first news that the chemotherapy was working and Moms tumors were shrinking.

  I visualized the words...REMISSION.....how I would feel....how I would act...but I was not prepared for the "almost passing out" part! I was on the phone when the Dr. said those beautiful words.  Not only did he say she was in remission- he said her body was perfect!  God made her perfect!  I can only imagine how Mom felt! 

Please share this with everyone who needs encouragement.   cancer (it does not deserve a capitalization in my book) does not have to win.  Our God is much bigger than cancer.  Instead of thinking how big and scary cancer is- think of how BIG and AWESOME our God is.  I know Mom is going to use this experience to help so many people.  I can't wait to see what God does for her next. 

Thank you so much to all of the people who have done everything from prayed, to donating or helping in any way.  It is so awesome to sit back and think of the past 7 months and what has transpired.  This journey is not over.....this is just the beginning.  A new beginning.  Praise GOD!

<3 Kristy

December 15, 2011

I have been trying to get this posted- so I am a little behind....Time has gone by so quickly- and had a laptop crash- which delayed the posts.  I am so proud of my Mom.  She truly is a fighter and I believe God is going to use her in a very special way once she has kicked cancer to the CURB!!!  Update- Mom had her LAST chemo treatment on January 3rd!

Well I am in the homestretch now- only one more chemo treatment left in January!  I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your prayers, your support and following my story.  To those who have donated, helped spread the word about the benefit that was held in October- I just want yall to know how touched I was with the outpour of love, the giving and the support.

You never expect something like this to happen to you, but when it does you learn a lot about yourself.  I always knew I was stubborn, strong and that I never give up!  But when you are told that you have 6 months to 2 years to live- you have to make the decision that you will never give up.  Doctors are awesome and they can do their medical treatments....but our God will do His part. 

We never know when its our time to go home to be with the Lord but I honestly believe the day I had the seizure, this was God's way of waking me up and getting me to the emergency room to save my life.  I also believe that He knew that if I didn't get there when I did that it would have been too late for me.  So I thank God for that!

When you are told you have cancer-as hard as it may be- stay POSITIVE and don't let negative thoughts into your head.  Ignore the people that want to talk negative to you!  Even though there may be times that the chemo gets rough- it doesn't last long!  When you have no insurance and you are denied for all benefits and you get overwhelmed- just put it all aside- you can only do what you can pay!

But one thing or shall I say a few things I have learned- is our God is an awesome God and when people offer their help, don't feel guilty to take their help- or to ask for help.  I was always the type of person that always wanted to be the one to help others- I didn't want to have to ask for help.  But I do not have a problem asking now- and believe me you will find out just how many people are willing to step up and help....even people you may not even know!

I praise God for everyone who has been there for me- and I know that all the help, kindness and love my family and I have received- I can't WAIT to pay it FORWARD!

My journey is not over yet.  They haven't said I am in remission, but most of the tumors are gone- and what is left has shrunk considerably. 

My new phrase is:

NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER BE NEGATIVE, NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP.  NEVER FORGET THAT GOD IS WITH YOU ALWAYS.

(Mom has a Doctor's appt to get a chest x-ray on Tuesday.  I am believing God that the tumor on her lung is GONE in Jesus's name.)



Here are a few pics from the last few months :)

Mom- You are my Hero.  I can't tell you how proud of you I am.

I can't wait to see what God has in store for you.  Your story will inspire so many

and I love you so much!

Fundraiser!!!!

Wow.  That is all I can say.  We were so overwhelmed with everyones generosity.  I had such a wonderful time and Mom really enjoyed getting to see everyone.  Everything from the wonderful food to the auctions-  It was so amazing!!!!  A huge thank you to my Aunt Missy, Uncle Keith, and Amanda and Josh for all the hours upon hours of hard work to make the fundraiser a success...which it was!!!!!

I did not get to take too many pictures- so many people to thank-  Everyone that was involved in helping, volunteering, donating- thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

TWO very special people.  Sharon thank you for taking care of Mom for me- and Teri- thank you

for all of your help at the fundraiser!

The bake auction was intense- and fun!

Cutie Patootie!

LOVE them!

Facepainting!

Our young volunteers

Praise and Worship band from COTR entertained us :)

(my best friend is in the middle) :)

First Chemo Treatment - September 12, 2011



My appointment was at 8:30 Monday morning.  The nurse came in and drew blood from my PICC line, and within ten minutes she came back and said that the white blood cell count was GREAT, so she was going to get me started on my chemotherapy.  I asked her if she was going to get me a container so in case I got sick...she said oh no honey- we give you two bags of pre-meds that keep you from getting sick!  I had 5 bags total and it took about 4 and a half hours.

They told me that the side effects will usally kick in not long after you finish the chemotherapy, and that for the next couple of days you will have flu like symptoms.  But I am happy to report that I have not had ANY side effects at all!  To God be the Glory!

Once again I would like to thank everyone for your thoughts and continued prayers.  My next chemo treatment is October 3rd.

God Bless Everyone!

A Divine Appointment - Sept 9th.



So on August 14, I had a dear friend come over and and bring me food, and a little gift bag.  She knew that I couldn't wear any jewelry during my radiation treatments, so she got me a little trinket that I could carry with me always and keep it in my pocket.  It is a see through rock and it has a cross in the middle and it says "Let Go, Let God". I carried that with me for every radiation treatment and would put it in my hand and pray before each treatment I could feel the warmth of God's love there with me.  It made me feel so awesome.  I asked her where she got it, because I wanted to get my husband one so he could carry one with him all the time too, and feel the power of Gods Love.  I also picked up 5 extra just in case I felt the need or God telling me that someone else needed to feel His love, strength, glory, grace, healing, and everything else our God is willing and wanting for us.

Well it happened Praise God!  I went to get my PICC line put in on Friday September 9th.  Everything went great- had to get 3 shots in my neck, and 2 in my collar bone.  Before they started the procedure I took my "let go and let God" trinket out of my pocket and prayed.  I felt once again the warmth of God flow through my body and never felt a THING!  Didn't feel the 5 shots and never had any pain as they hooked the PICC line into a large blood vessel in my chest.  It only took them about 15 minutes, they were done and we were headed home!

So as we were leaving around 10:30- I was of course hungry (lol- steroids) I wanted to stop at a store to get me something to eat and drink.  I hadn't had anything since the night before at midnight (doctors orders) plus I needed to take my medicine- normally I take them from 7-8 so I knew it was important to take them.  As we were leaving my husband (who is awesome) kept saying...this store?  and I would say no....I know the store I want to go to. He said do you know why- and I said no.  For some reason I needed to be at that store at that time.  He offered to go in for me- but I said I will go in.  I wanted to see all the goodies and decide what I wanted :) ...So I get my food, drink, and my husbands coffee and as I get to the counter there is a young lady waiting on me.  She could clearly see my PICC line, since I had to wear a loose fitting shirt. 

She started to tear up, and then she asked me...do you have cancer?  I said "yes- I have lung cancer that has also spread to the brain."  She told me she had just found out about 2 weeks ago that she had breast cancer in her left breast and it was spreading- fast and aggressively.  I told her that the doctors can do their part, but their is a Higher Power than them and his name is God.  I told her not to allow anything but positive thoughts into her head- no negativity allowed!  I paid for my stuff and I told her I would be right back- that I had something I wanted to give her.  So I went to the passenger seat and told my husband that there was something that I needed to do.  I got the extra trinket out of my purse, and went back into the store.  I put it in the lady's hand and said look at it.  She said - oh that is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!  and I said Let go and Let God.  She said Bless you!

That was a Divine Intervention from God! I know He put me in that store because he knew I was needed then to give someone one of His Blessings.  God is Awesome!

PRAISE REPORT!!!!

The power of prayer is awesome, and for everyone who has continued praying for me, I want to thank you and let you know how awesome our GOD is.

I had an appointment with my cancer doctor, 9-6-11.   Below is our conversation pretty much word for word :) 

When he first comes in the door, his comment was "and who sent you to see me?"  I said "You did, I saw you when I was in the hospital on August 8th". He started reading his notes that he had taken from the hospital,  as he was reading his report he looked up and said "Wow you are just blowing me away." I smiled and told him that I only allow positive thoughts in my head, no negativity allowed.  Then he gets the results of my blood work, white blood count (PERFECT) once again he said "Wow you are just blowing me away"  I said  "I just give the glory to GOD that he is healing me." He examined me completely over my body felt no lumps, tumors or anything!!!!. ......so I when I left the office joking with him, earlier he made the comment that he used to be a doctor but now he is a clicker, cause he is always on the computer typing all the info. So as I was walking out with him,  I said Well I found out two things today"... and he said "what is that", and I said "your a pretty good doctor and pretty good clicker!", he chuckled and said thanks.

So I go friday 9-9-11 to get my pic line in, then I should start my chemo next week.  I go once a every three  weeks and only have to do six rounds of Chemo!

(SO YESTERDAY WAS A BLESSING FROM GOD. AMEN!!!)

From the Beginning

Hi Everyone,

I would like to begin by saying how much it means to me to have so much love and support from my family and friends.  I am overwhelmed at the every one's generosity and the kindness of strangers!  I have started this blog so I can let everyone know how I am doing, and so one day I can share my testimony.

My story begins on July 18th when I went for a dental consultation to get oral surgery.  I was really nervous, and while at the dentist office my right arm started twitching and shaking, and I could not make it stop.  It only lasted for a minute- so I thought maybe it was an anxiety attack.  Within the next two weeks it happened about four more times.  I went to the Dr. and was told it was anxiety.  On August the 8th, I had an oral surgery appointment and had decided I was going to get a second opinion after my appt.  At 10:10 a.m I had a seizure- and it was worse than any of the previous times.  My husband came home and took me to the E.R.  I no sooner got there- and I had another seizure!  I had no idea what was going on.  After many tests I was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer...and it has spread to my brain.  They immediately set me up to start radiation- which I started on August 11th at the Texas Oncology Office in Longview.  My Radiologist doctor was Dr. Taylor- and he and his entire staff are some amazing and awesome people....very uplifting and positive. 

I had to do 13 treatments, and I never got sick or had any problems!  I was so thankful for that!  I finished my treatments on Aug. 29th.  I got to ring the bell and was given a shirt that says FIGHT CANcer - pictures to come soon.

I go to my Chemo Doctor on Tuesday and I should find out when I start my Chemotherapy.  I will keep everyone posted on the my status but one thing is for certain.  I am in GREAT SPIRITS, and I know my GOD can do ALL Things.  God Bless all of you and....stay tuned!