2017 update

I can't tell you how many times I have read melanoma blogs that just stopped one day and  how I always thought the worst. I would bust out in tears thinking they have died.. or how many I have read where one day someone eles posts they have passed. Well this update is an update on a continuing positive fight on cancer. Chris is still in remission and doing well. Thank you for taking your time to read  our story. 

Much needed update 2014 and prayer request

sometimes I forget our readers are not just friends and family that keep updated with us on Facebook .. I know some just stumble upon this page wanting to know more about melanoma or have melanoma themselves and just want a little hope that there are stage 4 survivors out there... I am sorry I haven't updated you all. I am happy to announce Chris has been doing good and for the past few months has regained so much strength and has become  a close version of himself before this whole cancer journey. It took a few months for him to get most of his energy back after the radiation but he everyday he becomes better and better. He honestly looks amazing!  His last scans were in March and they came back clear. Thank God ! So now his next scans should be soon... He has a doctors appointment early July. So now comes the prayers part... I am trying not to overthink or freak out about this but Chris has had a nonstop headache this past week and night sweats which makes me very nervous.. I asked him the call the doctor but he hasn't yet and I am just feeling afraid. So please say a prayer that it's not a tumor or some other horrifying disease that has invaded. It's hard not to be on constant edge  and  paranoid at any health symptom after everything we have been through !So as always thanks for reading , thanks for your prayers and thank you for your love and friendship. Xo-k

Radiation update

Well I kinda thought chris was going to start keeping the blog updated but I guessed wrong lol well since the last post chris went through 15 rounds of high dosage radiation. We are actually headed to to the feist weiller cancer center for an appointment with dr. Nair right now. Chris hasn't had a pet scan or MRI since the radiation and I am assuming this appointment is to get those scheduled. Physically chris is suffering from severe fatigue. I don't know how long this is suppose to last for but will talk to the dr about it today. Mentally neither one of us are doing that great. Depression and anxiety have plagued our home and it's a hard thing to cope with. I really don't know how to hold it together sometimes. I just pray that God will bring both of us peace. I know we are blessed but I don't always know how to feel blessed. If there are any spouse/caretakers out there reading this I am sure you can understand. I don't really want to talk anymore about this as I could go on and on but just keep us in your prayers because if there is one thing I do know and that is prayer works. I will let everyone know when chris has his next pet scan. I just want to hear the words all clear! Now that would be an awesome Christmas present. Love you all xo kendra

Aug. 25th

The latest PET scan is clear!

I spent the day in Shreveport yesterday to get scanned and meet with the radiation specialist. He said that he (as well as the other 3 that work at Willis-Knighton) recommends treating the area with radiation. I asked how effective it is against Melanoma and he said there has been success with using it in higher doses for Melanoma patients, however if Melanoma metastasizes in that spot again it won't be able to be used there effectively. I agree with him though, it is in such a sensitive spot that anything to keep it from forming there at all has to be done.

He said the most common side effects are burns/rash to the area and also fatigue. Probably a total of 15-20 rounds will be needed. I'll have to take two treatments a day for a week or so. First I have to get another brain and spinal MRI so they can look at that area in better detail than what the PET reveals. I'm not sure if I am going to try and stay in Shreveport that week or if I will have to drive back and forth.

I'm still healing up from the back surgery and it feels like its taking forever. I'm still having night sweats too and I hate waking up in the middle of the night peeling the sheets off me. Regardless though, I feel like I'm in good hands and I know deep down that everything will turn out just fine in the long run. Thank you everyone for the continued prayers and support and I'll let you know more when I do. I feel so blessed that I have so many people that care about me. In that sense I'm very lucky. Take care everyone and God bless.

Aug 16th Update.

   So now that I'm actually feeling well enough to sit behind a keyboard and type a little I thought a blog update would be appropriate.

   The last 2-3 days I've been feeling well enough to spend more time out of bed than in it. Post surgery healing was alot of pain because my body just does'nt heal like it used to. Yesterday was the last day (hopefully) that I have to take any painkillers for it. I do still take pain medicine occasionally because the nerve damage from the first round of IL left me with some neuropathy in my feet, but I still only try to use it when I absolutely have to.

   I have a few weeks before I have to take another PET scan to see how effective the surgery was. The Dr. not being able to get 100 percent of the spinal cord tumor is what worries me. That's such a rare place for Melanoma to metastasize (38 people worldwide have been known to have Melanoma on their spinal cord like that) that I know they can't have much experience with it. So I'm going to have to do as much research as I can and really discuss with the doctor what he wants to do.

   One thing I've noticed since this whole ordeal began, is that death seems to be a really taboo subject in our day and age. Funny thing that I never really noticed how much I was guilty of it too, until I got sick with this damned disease. I think our society and culture tries its best to keep the thought of death at bay, that's one big reason youth is glorified and revered and nursing home residents are often shunned. Ancient people knew that death is just ultimately a part of life and that nothing ever truly dies. Today it seems too many people look at it as the end of life, but it's only the end of this earthly one. I believe that my true life is with my Creator. The "Great Architect" that put that divine spark in all of us humans when he created us. That divine spark is in us all and around us all. If you ever get a chance to go out in the woods and just get your body and mind still and quiet, you can see it all around you. I guess that's one reason sitting in a deer stand is so enjoyable to me, even when I don't kill anything. I guess rednecks practice meditation all the time and not even realize they're doing it!

   I'm still determined to not give up. It gives it power over you when you fear something, and I refuse to give Melanoma that kind of power over me. God wants us strong. God created us to be powerful beings, to be FEARLESS.  Jesus, Buddha, Ghandi, etc. All of the great teachers and wise men in history have one thing in common, they always tell their followers to not be afraid, that fear is the ultimate killer of the soul. I must say I agree with them. Courage actually IS being afraid. If you talk to a war veteran who has ever won a medal for a heroic battlefield deed of some sort, they will tell you that they were scared as hell the whole time. Courage is not feeling fear, it is feeling it and doing that which you are afraid of.

  Well, I know I went on a bit of a rant there, but I will definitely update here when i have more news.

   Take care everyone, God bless and thank you for reading.

 

 

   

How the surgery went......

Every entry in here has been written by my wife. I think its time to take that burden off of her for a while and write a few myself!

OK, so last you heard we were waiting on an MRI appointment. Well they moved it up to Aug. 25th. We went for a follow up that next week with the neurosurgeon and he wanted me admitted to the hospital A.S.A.P. The tumors had grown some (he did not say how much) and it would be 2-3 weeks for him to schedule the surgery again. So I told him that was fine with me, because I know exactly how fast this stuff grows and the sooner its gone, the better. I was admitted and the next day went under.

What was supposed to be an hour long surgery ended up taking over seven hours.

The Dr. said that the tumors were inside the spinal fluid sack. When they opened me up they could'nt find them. So they had to do x-rays on my chest. The x-rays showed that they were actually in the spinal fluid sack that surrounds your spinal cord. The tumor that was by my T4 vertebrae was 100 percent removed. But the tumor that had grown by my T9 vertebrae might still have some there because the tumor was growing into the spinal cord and the bone there. The Surgeon said he had never seen anything like it in his 13 years of  practicing Neurosurgery. 

The right side of my abdomen is numb, which is weird feeling. After the surgery they weren't sure if paralysis of anything would be an issue or not. I don't use the right side of my belly that much, and not being paralyzed and being able to walk and performs my main daily activities is a major blessing.

Its still pretty painful to move. However, I can tell today that the soreness is not as bad as it has been since the surgery. 

I have to go get my sutures out in a few weeks, and after that its time for another PET scan. Then my Oncologist will decide if he wants me to do radiation or not. Its a possibility since the Neurosurgeon said he is not sure if he got all of the spinal cord tumor. I sure hope so, that's not a good place for melanoma to start growing.

But that's about it! I started taking liposomal Vitamin C and turmeric supplements. They do make me feel better and have a little more energy than usual. They are supposed to help gt rid of abnormal cells in your body like cancer. I'm just taking it as easy as I can for the time being.

Thank you everyone for the words of love and encouragement. Please continue to keep myself and others who live with this disease in your prayers. I can only hope that one day they find a cure for this damned devil they call Melanoma.

Thank you for reading, God bless.

Where the tumors were Located in Spine

A

Where we are now

So Chris finally met with a neurosurgeon named Dr. Sin from Willis Knighton last week. I still don't know we were referred  out of LSU to Willis Knighton..? Regardless..  Dr. Sin discussed with us that he wanted to remove both spots since they were so small and then send them off for biopsy. So that sounds good , I mean get that cancer OUT, right?!?!  So all week we have been waiting on ANOTHER appointment for a MRI for Chris because they want a better picture before operating... no one ever calls.. so I call them today  and finally get a hold of someone who tells me that his appointment for an MRI is in September... seriously? That's almost 2 months. Needless to say Chris called Dr. Nair his oncologist at LSU  but unfortunately he wasn't around today. . We know how fast and aggressive melanoma is and its nerve wracking when it seems no one cares to speed things up. Chris is till having drenching night sweats and today broke out in hives! I miss MD Anderson tremendously...

please pray

xo
.

Melanoma you suck.

Ok so I didn't even want to write this blog (I am about a week late in doing so)   because I don't want to think about it more than I have to and I don't feel like crying and all those other emotions... but I am afraid Melanoma has reared its ugly head right back into our lives. Chris ended up taking his Scans early instead of the end of this month and they discovered 2 spots near his spine mid back. So.... he took an MRI for another look and of course it wasn't an infection or injury like I hoped it to be but something real and solid something that has a very likely chance of being Melanoma. I was afraid of this happening as Chris has had a couple of night sweats the past month, a clear indication your body is fighting something and often an indicator in cancer. So now we wait for an appointment with the Neurosurgeon who will take a biopsy or possibly remove the spots if possible. Did I mention the good news that the spots are small?  Less than 1 centimeter a piece. So thats all I know. Its depressing honestly... I hoped it would have stayed at bay a little bit longer but I guess we don't always get what we want. So before  I get into too much of a panic I will wait for the biopsy. I am just afraid really and I don't want Chris to have to go through this again nor do I want to go through this again. I ask you to pray for God to heal Chris. For all you survivors keep on surviving and remember those who have gone to a better place. I hope they find a cure for this awful disease soon.

xo
k

 In my last post I asked you to pray for a man named Richard. I want to thank you for those prayers but sadly I must say he lost his battle with cancer. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Richard Dale Porter 
(July 16, 1944 - May 29, 2013) 

Scans coming soon

Well  June 24 Chris will have his quarterly scans. He is doing really good. He has put on weight and I believe this might be the most he has ever weighed. Lets see news wise  We adopted a new kitten and she has brought a lot of happiness to this house. We adore her!




How could you not fall in love with that sweetheart? Teeee heeee

We also just got  back from camping in Arkansas... not to worry we over applied sunblock and Chris stayed in the shade most of the time! We took our nephew Phillip, he had never been camping before and he really enjoyed himself  as we enjoyed having him come along.


Prayer Requests!!

In sad news my cousins husband died a couple of nights ago and we attended the wake tonight. It was so sad. He was only 36 and they have 3 girls. Life truly is a precious gift..  We never know when it will be taken from us. I just feel so sad about it. Please pray for them

I ask everyone to pray for our friend Jutta's companion Richard he has cancer and is about to undergo new  treatments.

Also please continue to pray for our Friends Stacy (1 year cancer freeeeee!!!) and her sister Robin both Melanoma stage 4. And as always please keep Chris in your prayers.  Prayer works! We know first hand!!



I know I don't blog as much but its just because when there isn't any  immediate cancer stuff  going on in the near future I don't like thinking about the cancer. I don't ignore it and I tell every person I can about Melanoma and the dangers of the sun BUT if I let it overun my thoughts and emotions I am letting the Cancer and Fear win and can't do that.... I have felt enough fear about this Cancer to last me a lifetime. So I don't know what God has in store for Chris and I but I can't wait to find out. I love all of you who keep up and for those who just have come across this blog I hope you can find some inspiration and hope from this diary.

xo
k

PET Scan Round Three CLEAR!!!

Well Chris took his PET scan last week and after a couple of stressful days of waiting they called to let us know all clear. I can't even describe to you the feeling of relief. Chris is now almost 1 year clear! This past 2 years have just flown by so fast I wish we could just pause life sometimes. I think I would pause those sweet little moments in life. Slow dancing in the kitchen.. Laughing so hard my ribs hurt..you know... those kind of moments. I try to savor every moment I have been granted with Chris. We are so blessed. Next week he goes back to the hospital for an MRI. The MRI gives a clearer picture of his brain than the PET scan. I am going to try and not to worry about that one and just turn it over to god. Also I would like to ask everyone to pray for My friend Jutta's Boyfriend Richard. He was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer . Please get him on those prayer lists! Thank you to those who visit this blog. I hope you can find comfort and encouragement in it.

xoxo

k

Scans Round Two: No evidence of disease :D

Well if you didn't already see the title, I am ecstatic to inform you all that Chris's scans came back clear of cancer this go around :D  I knew it would come back fine but we couldn't help but be a bit nervous. Dr.Nair called with the good news a couple of days ago. What a wonderful Christmas present for me ! :D

Feist-Weiller Cancer Center

So this past Thursday Chris finally went in for his appointment at the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center
an extension at LSU. We met with Dr.Nair where Chris and him just went over his history. MD Anderson didn't really send too much info. So maybe the VA wasn't just jerking our chains about having trouble with MD Anderson sending over his records. Chris was eligible for free  care and I can't tell you how much of a relief that was. He also already has his appointments set up for his scans!



The next day Chris had an appointment with the VA. He will continue to go there to see Dr. Wolfe  as his primary doctor but for all things Cancer we will now only deal with LSU. The results to his Brain MRI came back with no new lesions. The tumor that was zapped with the gamma ray is still there but shrinking. I just can't tell you the relief I feel about getting everything back on track. Thank you all for your continued prayers and thoughts.

All my love

xoxo
k

Dear VA stop pisssing me off :/

So this past Thursday we went in  for what we thought were Chris's full body scans but turns out he only had orders for a brain MRI. Apparently they are having difficulties getting records from MD Anderson. I honestly don't believe it. I think they are just slow and don't care. It's impossible to get anyone of any importance on the phone (not the front desk clerk isn't important, but you know what I mean) He hasn't spoken or even had an appointment with an oncologist. Its all very disheartening to me. It just makes me mad because he is almost a month behind of when he is suppose to be having this done and I know how fast this stuff spreads when it comes back. We will be trying to get into LSU soon. We are suppose to  find out the results of his MRI tomorrow , I guess we should start calling in the morning when they open up maybe that way we might find out by Friday whats going on. hmph. Pessimistic? yes. Hopeful? Always.

nighty
xo

k

Scans coming soon... I hope?!?

So its been a while huh? Well things are about as normal as they probably will ever be. I have learned as much as you try and not think about it once Cancer strikes it feels like a little black cloud that is always looming overhead. You never know when its going to strike and you just have to keep praying for it to stay at bay for as long as possible. Well as you may know Chris's no longer is covered by Insurance so no more trips to MD Anderson. Thank Goodness Chris is a veteran  so now he is covered under the VA. I am concerned though because he has been in the system for a while now and still has not been appointed an official oncologist. So.... since they have not given him one yet they have not scheduled any scans for him which are DUE this MONTH. It's all I can do not to go loco on them. I will have Chris call AGAIN Monday and see if any progress has been made. I am so used to the wonderful care and treatment at MD Anderson and with the VA it just seems like we keep getting the run around. Lost forms, calls not returned.. and so on. Blah. Hopefully everything gets straightened out soon. Chris is still unable to work, he looks great on the outside but is still so weak. It makes me sad. I have been working at a Salon downtown in Natchitoches trying to make some extra income but its slow starting so please say a little prayer for me to get some more business.Click here for my business Website Its really been quite an adjustment financially BUT we are making it and we have each other and all of you so that's really whats important!  This spring I decided I am going to go back to college for Business Administration. I am learning that its now my turn to become the bread winner in the family so I figured  a degree couldn't hurt. I became so dependent on Chris financially throughout our marriage that anything I made from my previous jobs was more like "spending money" then bill money. Anyway ok no more talk of money and blah blah. In other news our dog tootie had pups a few months ago and we kept one his name is GUS and and he is the sweetest thing ever and blind as a bat. He makes us uber happy. :D Isn't he so cute?

Oh I wanted to ask my readers who had cancer if you have tried Turmeric? A lady at the Salon told me about it and all of its wonderful Cancer preventing qualities. Has anyone tried it?. I was going to pick up a bottle next time I was in town, I read alot of good things about it including a study from MD Anderson .So its worth a try! Also I wanted to ask you caretakers if you have suffered any kind of post traumatic experiences from going through the same situation as we have?  I have had lots of bad dreams lately involving cancer and also  you know how soldiers  have flashbacks of war, sometimes I flashes of being in the hospital with Chris watching him be sick and it brings up lots of really strong negative feelings, like I am reliving in my head over and over again. It's weird. I dunno I am sure its just normal at least I hope it is, I would just like to someone to tell me it is! Anyways just please keep us in your prayers and pray the scans are good I am worried because Chris says he has a weird feeling in his lung hopefully its nothing. i love you all so much. Its past my bedtime so night night!
xo
k

Update and 3 month scans

Its funny how in just a few months time how things started to feel normal again, that is until we hit Houston traffic and that old anxiety started brewing once again. It was time for 3 months scans. Chris started early Monday morning and had a Brain MRI and a PET scan. We wouldn't find out all the results until Wednesday.,, ugh.. waiting.. waiting.. waiting... I am so tired of waiting.. Well needless to say Wednesday couldn't come soon enough and that's when we received the happy news that Chris had no more new lesions in the brain and the tumor they treated with gamma knife is fading fast. Then we received the good to questionable news about his PET scan. Dr. Patel told us everything was good except for a few spots in the Lung. She couldn't say what they were because they were too small. She asked if Chris had a lung infection recently because that could be the reason... he hasn't. hmph so I don't know its something I am trying not to freak out too much about. On his report it said, "could possibly be new metastases ".. but then Dr. Patel told us they HAD to put that in the report because Chris is a cancer patient. So besides the obvious I think Chris had a pretty good report and I am just happy he's here and he is as healthy as he is. I would like to thank my  funny and generous cousin Laurette for putting up with us for the past 3 days and also would like to thank the Cancer League out of Monroe for helping us with transportation costs, you guys rock! I also want to thank Chris's ex employer MPH inc. for helping with the insurance as long as they did, we would have never been able to receive such Awesome care without them. And thank you for all the continued prayers we appreciate them from the bottoms of our hearts. Please continue them and please include our friends Robin and Stacey who are sisters and both going through this horrible Cancer. Well as always thanks for keeping up and I hope to bring you wonderful news throughout the year. Don't forget to wear your sunblock!

xo

k

No evidence of Disease!!!!!!!!!!!

Well..................... yeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hallelujah

Chris is cancer free. All his scans came back perfect :D   Thank you God!  Thank you Thank you THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot express the happiness in my heart, I just feel like God just keeps answering all my prayers and its such an Amazing feeling.

We go back next month again for brain scans and then in 3 months he will go back again for Full scans.
I am so excited to be able to move on to a new chapter in our lives. One where Chris continues to grow strong and one where he stays cancer free.

Love you all
xo
Kendra

Appointments Rescheduled

In case you were looking for an update we rescheduled Chris's appointments due to all the bad weather. Its flooding galore everywhere it seems. So looks like we will be there Friday morning! In other news I heard from the Cosmetology Board today and I am finally going to be able to test and get my license transferred over from Texas. I just keep getting all my prayers answered and I just am so grateful. I can't wait to start working and being able to give my husband the peace of mind that he doesn't have to work until he is completely healed up. We are so blessed. Well just wanted to give that quick little update. I will let you know the results when we get them. Until then, all my love.
xo
k

Cancer Restaging starts Tomorrow

Well we leave early tomorrow for another fun filled trip to MD Anderson. ha! Chris has appointments starting at 12:45 for a full body PET scan. They will be scanning everything to make sure nothing new is growing. So say a big prayer for him tomorrow!!! Then Wednesday we will meet with his main Doctor, Dr. Patel for all the results. I am nervous but I know God has been healing Chris and he's not going to stop now! I still just can't believe the magnitude of this past year, how utterly life changing it has been. Just when you think you  know where your going in life, think again!  Things can change so suddenly and rapidly it will make your head spin! I will keep you all updated on the results.
All my love
xoxo
k

Just a quick update

I know, I know, I know... I haven't been updating the blog like I should. Well last week  we went back to MD Anderson for a checkup on Chris brain tumor. It was all smiles and happy tears for us. Its shrinking! :D Normally shrinkage doesn't start until the second month after gamma ray but it showed up after only one month. I just can't explain the happiness I feel. When I read past posts I get so emotional sometimes because I can almost feel the dread and anxiety I was feeling in those moments while typing those posts. Its been one big roller coaster. Chris is doing so good but still tires quickly, he wants to go back to work so bad and I know its so frustrating for him. He was our bread winner. I have applied for some jobs also but haven't heard back and as far as my Esthetician license , it just a big mess. The state of Louisiana wants me to go back for another 250 hours since I am coming in with a TX license. Texas tests on another system then Louisiana. It's just not fair really. Every other state except for Texas, Florida, and New York can just easily transfer there license over. The closest school would be in Shreveport with a price tag of 4000 bucks. Its just not feasible. I have the correct amount of hours for Louisiana already. I wrote a letter to the board and hopefully they will address it at their next meeting. So I have been praying about that situation. Maybe I am meant for another path. Anyways I just wanted to update everyone on us. I hope your all doing great.
Alllllll my love
xoxo
k

Bye Bye Sinus Tumor, you will not be missed.

First and foremost let me apologize for taking a week to update our blog! And I am proud to say its the happiest blog yet. Well Chris's sinus surgery was a complete success!  He went in early that day and the surgery was only suppose to be an 1 hour long but after almost 3 hours, I began to worry a bit after not hearing anything, but sure enough his nurse called down to the waiting area and told me he just got out of surgery and was doing well. A few minutes later Dr. Hana came down and talked with me he said he extensively cleaned the sinus and nothing came out but complete black tumor crud. He said although they will be sending in for testing he did not see any active melanoma. Needless to say I was COMPLETELY ectastic!  The filthy tumor that had been invading my darlings head  is gone! GONE!!!  8 months ago, so big they told us it was inoperable!  GONE! God has  truely answered our prayers. I never told Chris or showed  him but on the MD Anderson Website this is what it says about Mucosal Melanoma

Outlook is POOR!?!! And this is  coming from the Greatest Cancer hospital in the World! Well in Chris case outlook is Freakin AWESOME! Chris has come so far and although he still has lots to go, I know by the time March rolls around and he goes for his scans he will disease free. :D

In the meantime.... Chris has been in alot of pain he couldn't blow his nose for a week and although he can now, its extremely painful. He is having really bad head pains and most of time you can find him with an icepack on his face in the bed. There is packing in the sinus cavity but its of the dissolving sorts so I am not sure if it is still there or not.   Now that they cleaned it out there is lots of exposed bone and scar tissue, plus all the extensive cleaning  making it tender and swollen, so this all leads up to alot of pain but I say its a good pain! ha   Anyways we will be headed back on the 10th for a followup on his surgery and hopefully everything is looking great. Also they will probably let us know then the results of the "black tumor crud" they removed. I feel happy for the first time in a long time and I hope I don't lose that feeling anytime soon.
xo
k
"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted."
Job 5:9 NIV

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