A much needed update on Kris.
I haven’t had a chance to write about Kris’ progress in over a month (last entry was March 10th when she came home from the hospital).
I saw Kris at home the day after she left the hospital. She was very happy to be home but looked tired. She had lost most of her hair again and the blisters on her hands and feet from treatment were really hurting her. I didn’t stay long because of the flood of phone calls and visitors stopping by. I hugged her goodbye, and told her I’d see her next week.
Kris came to visit me at my work about five days after coming home. She came in and I almost didn’t recognize her. She lost her eyelashes, eyebrows and color in her skin. Her hands were peeling so badly I couldn’t believe she could even hold anything. I was a little shocked. But as soon as she started talking, I was at ease. She’s still her old self. Funny, energetic, sarcastic. It was great to see her out and about. She just has to avoid being around crowds or anyone with the sniffles so she doesn’t get sick. Her immune system is really low so she could get anything and not be able to fight it off. We talked about regular stuff. The kids, vacations, husbands working too hard. It felt so wierd to me that she’s been through so much yet it feels like nothing has changed. Well, except for all the side affects from her treatment. And even that we talked about like it was this thing separate from anyone we know. It’s like the stuff that’s happening to her body is so separate from who she is that it’s almost like watching it on The Learning Channel.
I left last Thursday for a long weekend of birthday celebrations for some out of town friends. On my way home Monday, I was checking messages. I had one from Kris that she left that Sunday. She said she knew I was still gone, but just wanted to let me know she was back in the hospital and had been there since Thursday. I was worried sick so I immediately called her. She said she had gotten a staph infection in her Hickman catheter (a catheter that is surgically implanted into the chest that goes into the heart to receive chemo and other medications). She had a fever of 102.5. If she had waited any longer, it would have been fatal. She was trying to make light of the whole thing, saying she didn’t think I’d want to come home to a dead friend. I was wiping tears off my face when she said that. It’s really scary how something so simple to us could be so life threatening for her. But she was being taken care of and feeling better. She came home six days after being admitted.
We’re still working hard training for the marathon. Kris wanted to be part of the fundraising, so I made her flyers a couple of weeks ago to send to her family and friends. She’s already raised $1,000. I can’t believe she did that while still going back and forth to the hospital every week for tests and medication. But then again, I can believe it. She’s a very strong person. She asked me to thank everyone for donating and all the positive mojo. It has really helped keep her going.
Kris just passed her 50th day of treatment. She’s half way there. She has to go back to City of Hope for a few days in May to give her something that will help boost her immune system. Then she’ll wear a pump at home for an additional 10 days to continue to deliver this medication into her. This will help her body fight off any illness as well as any leukemia that might still be in her. She is also having a biopsy on April 28th to see if her transplant is preventing the leukemia from coming back. Keep your fingers crossed!
We have had several requests to set up a Paypal account to receive more donations. Of course, I have no idea how to do that (I’m sure it’s something very simple and I’m just being a lame girl). Wil kept assuring me he would set it up as soon as he finished his book. He’s FINALLY done so now we’re all set. Of course this option does not allow for the tax deduction but if you aren’t concerned with that, then this is for you! We’re more than half way there but could really use your help reaching our $25,000 goal. We only have a couple of weeks left to get our donations in. Skip that Starbucks today and send a few bucks toward a wonderful cause. No matter what you donate, you can be part of helping Kris and so many others.
A note from Wil: I can’t take any credit for the awesome PayPal donation page, because all I did was e-mail my friend Russ and beg him for his help. Thank you, Russ. I owe you one.