Back from Houston

Much has happened in the past 3 weeks, & I'll do my best to update...but it's late Saturday night, & I'm exhausted so I'll just write the highlights:

• My insurance company did officially deny my coverage out-of-network, & according to the Utah State Insurance Dept., they have no obligation to pay for anything out-of-network.  We signed a contract with them 12 years ago, little imagining that we would ever need to go out-of-network, so the contract stands.
• I was finally able to get an appointment with MD Anderson scheduled for August 13th.  In the meantime, Dr. Prystas learned that they were starting a study of a new ovarian cancer drug at Huntsman, & she was able to get me an appointment with Dr. Theresa Werner on Friday, August 2nd.
• The day before my appointment at Huntsman, MD Anderson called & asked if I could come sooner--on August 6th.  I said "yes", & went about making plans to get out there.  Vern had been planning for months on going with the YM in our ward (Hunter's group) for their High Adventure activity during this week.  I didn't want him to miss it, especially since I thought I might not be in Houston for that long, so Kali made arrangements to go with me.  I owe a huge debt of gratitude to friends of my parents, the Wells', for so generously getting us the airline tickets with their Frequent Flyer Miles--it would have cost a small fortune to get tickets on that short of notice!
• Vern, Mom & I met with Dr. Werner & her team on the Friday before we left for Houston & were super impressed with them.  It is a huge clinic, but it also felt very personal & the level of compassion & caring we felt from them made us all feel comfortable.  Dr. Werner had a couple of other chemo options to offer us, but she feels that my best option is to participate in a phase 1 study of a new drug called Veliparib.  It is a parp inhibitor, & works against fighting cancer cells in a way that is different from traditional chemotherapy.  If you want to know more about it, you can look it up online--I won't even attempt to give you the layman's version.  She encouraged me to keep the appointment at MD Anderson, to see if they had anything that might be better for me.  She felt confident that they would be able to help me determine what would be the best treatment option.
• Kali & I flew out just this past Monday, & met with a Dr. Westin there on Tuesday morning.  MD Anderson is HUUUUGE!  Besides that, there are about a dozen different enormous hospitals in the same approximately 10 block area where MD Anderson is.  If you think that IMC in Murray is big, you have no concept of what a big hospital even looks like. My actual appointment with Dr. Westin was pretty short.  She had reviewed all my records, & asked what I was looking for.  When I gave her the history of the past week, & what Huntsman was able to do for me, she basically said that was my best option.  They are also doing studies on different parp inhibitors from various drug companies in Houston, but considering the amount of traveling back & forth that I would need to do, & the fact that I would be paying "out-of-pocket" for some of my care, she felt that the studies being done at MD Anderson weren't going to be better enough to justify all the extra time & expense to participate.  I had received a Priesthood blessing on Sunday before we left, where I was promised that revelation would come, & the Dr.'s & I would know what was necessary to do.  The decision couldn't have been any easier to make--I was incredibly grateful for that!  Now, I just have to wait to see how much of my $16,800 deposit will be returned....hmmm.
• So, with all that being done, I went back to the hotel room & called Huntsman to get scheduled for the Veliparib clinical trial.  Then, Kali & I spent the next 2 days slumming around Houston in the heat (97 degrees!) and humidity (We have no idea what it was, but it felt like at least 100!).  I'm very glad that we went, & so grateful to have Kali's sweet company.  She is an emotional rock, an excellent navigator, & just darned fun to be around!

What I've written is just the "facts, and nothing but the facts".  There have been so many "tender mercies" that have occurred during this time....so many kind & generous acts of service & help have been given to us.  I would love to write names, & the wonderful things that have been done for us, but I know the hearts of these dear individuals wouldn't want others to know.  Just know that our Heavenly Father, who knows ALL things, is thankful for your discipleship in being His hands in my life when I have so very much needed them.  My heart is full to overflowing of my love & gratitude to you for your faith, prayers & support.  I pray for you also!  Love always, Kim