Summer Update

A few people have reminded me that I haven't updated since my last visit with the oncologist--I'm sorry--I've been busy enjoying my summer & I keep forgetting to sit down & write! Things are going really well right now. I'm feeling well physically & almost have the same level of energy I did a year ago. Most of the time I feel normal physically, then I'll have a day where I get super tired, & I can't figure out why, until I remember, "Duh, you've had two major surgeries & 8 rounds of chemo--you should be tired!" About a week before I went to see Dr. Prystas I began to have stomachaches & weird pains all over in my abdomen. I'm realizing that when you've been diagnosed with cancer, you're entire mindset experiences a big shift. Instead of logically thinking, "Oh, my stomach hurts--I shouldn't have eaten those 3 pieces of Costco chocolate cake today!" (I know--so bad!), you begin to think that the cancer is back & then the worries all kick in. I ran into a friend, who's also done chemo, a few days into this crazy thinking & she told me that the same thing would happen to her every time she had to go into see the oncologist. Then, when she'd get the report that everything was fine, the symptoms would disappear until her next appointment. Listening to her helped ease my mind for those few days until I could get the results back from my tests--what a tender mercy it was to run into her!
Anyway, my CA-125 levels came back and were 67--yeaaa! That is the lowest it's gone down since I was diagnosed. Dr. Prystas did another very thorough exam & said that so far things are looking good. My stomachaches have pretty much disappeared, but I still have to be somewhat careful about what I eat. I know that 3 pieces of chocolate cake in a day isn't the best diet (& really--it's not normally that bad! It had been a stressful week & I was eating for comfort). The sad news I have to report is that my sweet dog, Maggie, passed away while we were at a family reunion in Bear Lake. The vet thinks it was an auto-immune disorder that hit her pretty quickly & she was only sick for less than 48 hours--she doesn't think Maggie suffered much. I have felt so badly about her death. She was kind of a handful for everyone else in the family, but she absolutely loved me & I loved her in return. She spent most of this winter on her pillow, keeping me company while I was going through chemo. She was one of my angels, & I am really missing her--it's hard to go walking & work outside without her right next to me.
I get two more months "off" from the Dr.'s (unless something else crops up) & will go to see Dr. Dodson, the gynecological surgeon, in mid-September. Unfortunately, I've had to visit the hospital the last couple of days because my younger brother, Matt, was in a mountain biking accident in Cedar City on Saturday. He's going to be okay, but had surgery this morning to repair a broken hip & also has a torn ligament in his shoulder & a fracture in his wrist. He's going to be hurting for a while. :-( With four members of my immediate family having spent some time in the new IMC in Murray since it opened, I'm thinking of asking them to give us a family discount or at least name a wing of the hospital for us! Seriously, though, I am once again grateful for the blessings of good medical care, wonderful family & friends, & the knowledge that Heavenly Father & our Savior are always mindful of our needs & are right there to bless & comfort us. Thank you for your continued prayers & kind thoughts. Love always, Kim