Kim's journey

Kim was diagnosed last Thursday, September 16, 2010 with ovarian cancer. As Kim's Family, Friends, Neighbors and Fans - we have started this blog to help share information, updates, support, and love with each other during her next few months of surgery, treatment and healing. We will try to update it whenever we receive information. Please feel free to leave a comment expressing your support, love, and encouragement anytime - as that is how we will all grow and strengthen each other - especially Kim and her family. We love you Kim, and our faith, prayers, and total support and dedication are with you as you embark on this "Journey"!







Thursday, October 7, 2010

First Follow-Up

I realize that I haven't been in communication much, and am so grateful to Patti and Heidi for updating this blog. This past week has been a tough one--physically and emotionally I am just spent and it takes every bit of energy to breath, eat, sleep and shower once a day. I'll even admit that I haven't flossed every day--just a few times! I have been reading the messages and cards that have been sent, and feel so overwhelmed by the love and support our family is receiving. The flowers, gifts, meals, rides for kids, housekeeping help and errands run have meant so much to us--I wish I could send a thank you note and hug personally to everyone. Please know of my love and gratitude for all you have done and are doing--you are truly serving as the Lord's hands in our lives. I am also so grateful to Vern who willingly goes to work each day and carries such a heavy load; and all my extended family--especially my angel mother. She says that she's doing what any mother would do for a child, but my sister and I know better.
I went to see Dr. Webb today to have the staples removed and things are progressing along slowly, but steadily. My body is still bloated with loads of fluids, which makes it difficult to move much and breath, but we are working on getting those drained off. The pathology reports appear to show that it is ovarian cancer in both the abdomen and the breast. The cells appear very similar in both places, and although they can't completely rule it out, Dr. Webb said it would be just "weird" if it was two separate cancers. I told him there were quite a few people who would probably agree that I was slighly "weird", but he assured me that everyone thinks they're different from everyone else! Anyway, the good news is that ovarian cancer typically responds better to chemotherapy than breast cancer does, so we are hopeful that they can find a "chemo cocktail" that is going to be just perfect at eradicating this! I get to be one of the topics of the day again next Monday among the cancer specialists in SLC and then we'll hopefully get a game plan going. Because of the extent of the surgery, we've been led to believe it will still be a few weeks before I'll be ready for that.
I am really missing all my friends and family, and I don't mean to "shoo" people away from calling or visiting, but I am still so weak and it's difficult for me to talk and visit much. I have a long road ahead of me, and will certainly need the calls and visits in the future. Thank you for your prayers--I still need them so much and they have been what has sustained me these past couple of weeks. Love always, Kim

15 comments:

  1. Dear Kim, I just found your blog, i hope it is ok i'm peeking. News of your trial made it all the way to Africa and back(my mom is the one who told me and she is in Ghana! You are so loved) Please know we are praying for you too. We are living in SLC right now and so if there is anything we can do to help when you are down here for treatments we would be so glad to help. Much Love, Emily (Froerer) Baker

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  2. Dear Kim, I am so glad you are strong enough to write a little on your blog. You have an amazing spirit and I could feel it as I read your note. We will continue to pray for you and please know we are willing and able to help at any moment. Let me know when you are ready for some Twinkies.
    Love, Linda

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  3. Kim, I just wanted you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers through out each day. Julie says you have always been an "over achiever" Well you can't stop being one now and I know you won't. Hang tough sweetie! We are all here cheering you on.. you are not alone.

    "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

    Joshua 1:9

    Much love, Jill Washburn

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  4. Kim, you are strong. There is nothing I can tell you that you don't already know....because you are strong.

    Two of my favorite scriptures are D&C 6:36, look unto me in every thought, doubt not fear not.

    and

    Psalms 46:10
    Be still and know that I am God.

    You are strong in Him.

    My heart is with you Kim.

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  5. You are still certainly in our thoughts and prayers. We were glad to hear that the type of cancer that you have responds the best to chemotherapy. Rest, relax, concentrate on getting better; and, above all else, keep exercising faith... remember, "with God all things are possible" (Matt 19:26).

    We love you!
    Your Cousin Lisa & Family :)

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  6. I've been thinking of you and thought of something that has helped me in my years in bed. Take a trip to the temple in your mind, maybe even once a day. Go over one small part and ponder it. It always brings peace to my heart and calms my mind as I remember Him and His plan.

    much love,
    Sandra Jenkins

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  7. Kim,
    I am thinking and praying for you often. You are such a strong woman and loved by so many. Keep on fighting. There are many of us routing for you.
    Love
    Krisha

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  8. Dearest Lady Iverson,
    recently I had the esteemed privilege of meeting with some of those fine women who make up the sordid community of P&P followers who annually meet at Huntsville House (specifically those who travel far from the South). As you are one, you know that we have come together due to our love of 'All things Austen' and specifically, CF. I told our little circle of your health troubles. ALL of them send their love and concern, Shauna specifically noted that she hopes to see Vern in his costume with you healthy by his side (will you be wearing yours?) at the next annual meeting in April.

    Because I feel there is so little I can truly do to help you, I'm watching the tv show 'Hoarding: buried alive' on TLC in your honor - Analyze that?

    Much love from,
    Lady C

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  9. Thinking about you and your family this beautiful Sunday. Hope that you are feeling strongerand especially FLOSSING YOUR TEETH !!!! We Jensen's in St.George are thinking of you. Love, Rick and Melanie

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  10. All good thoughts and wishes are coming your way, Kim! We heard of your "blessings" from Rick and Melanie's son and have been so grateful to have this blog we can read to know of your progress. You are an amazing woman on so many levels and I have nothing but great memories of the Iverson clan. You can be grateful that I live too far away to bring you or your family dinner, but know that you are in our fasting and in our prayers. We have watched miracles this week in the form of the two boys who were struck by lightning at our high school and I look forward to keeping up on your miracles. I'm sorry that this gets to be one of your challenges, but you are handling it with the strength and grace only Kim Cloward Iverson can. You have the very best medical and spiritual help through the community that you are blessed to live in and a family that could not possibly be any better. Hang tough and know that there is an army of family and friends walking beside you. And I promise to floss more...

    Much love,
    Julie Fielding

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  11. Hey Kim, I just have to say that you are so cute! I love that you are worried that you haven't flossed everyday, with all you are going through! You are amazing!
    Love you, and thinking of you often!
    Karen

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  12. Oh Kim...I love your sense of humor. Thanks for your great example.
    Smiles & Hugs, Michelle

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  13. Just wanted to share a great quote from my missionary nephew in Australia:
    "I love this gospel and love the complete lasting happiness it brings. Yes, at times we struggle and things get depressing, but nothing else can go permanently wrong if we have what is eternal going right in our lives." Your life is filled with eternal right things. Keep going.
    Love,
    Sandra

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  14. Kim, I was amazed that you were able give us such a great update--thanks!! You're a part of our family now, with daily prayers on your behalf and for your family, too. We love you and just wish we had a magic wand to make this go away. I'm sure, with your nobility of character, you will find miracles along the way to reward your endurance--Love, B. :)

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  15. Kim, As you and I both know, the flossing issue is a serious one! I can be up to your house in just 25 minutes and I will help you with that. :) I am really good at it. Love you and want you to know you are in my every prayer.~Love, Kelly Hewlett

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