The Great Getaway



So, what a great weekend we had! We were invited by the Hansens to go with them to their cabin in Tahoe. Now, we were only able to get away for just 24 hours but it seemed like a week of vacation to us. It is difficult for us to really go anywhere as we need to keep close contact with the doctors, labs, and hospitals in case of emergencies....which seems to be looming around the corner constantly. Now, this is no ordinary cabin! It is a beautiful home that sits on the shore of Lake Tahoe. Think picturesque views, peaceful, comfortable, and serene! The Hansens were great hosts and we felt like we were worlds away from our troubles. Kristin was able to lounge in comfort. I found her awake Saturday morning looking out of the picture windows that overlooked the lake. She, Darren, and I had a memorable conversation that morning that was priceless. Cody and Wyatt had a good time mastering the ancient game of ping pong along with Jake and J.R. We got a taste of Kerri's competitive side playing speed scrabble and other games, and Gerry cooks a great breakfast and is a master of making you feel welcome. Thank you Hansen family.


Back to reality now... I am anxiously waiting for tomorrow morning to get the labs in. We had an order for a stat cbc for Sunday morning because Kristin's platelets were dropping and we were anticipating a transfusion today. So, I got it ready and there were no Lab Corps open in this town. Oakland said to wait till Monday. Well, fine....but we are having little bloody noses and this makes me nervous! I will be getting them in at the earliest time possible. Hopefully we will still be able to make St. Baldricks. We do not want to miss it for anything.


We love you all.

Comments

Anson Gessel Pho+ography said…
Hi, my name is Amy. I heard about you, Kristin, through friends in Reno. My family the "phillips" are great friends with the Hansens, and I am so glad you got to have a relaxing visit at their Lake house.
I read your whole blog, I must say you are a strong girl and I felt very touched by you. What a beautiful girl you are. I just wanted you to know that you will be in our prayers. Your life is full of people who love and adore you. I don't know you, and this might seem weird, but I just wanted you to know that we will be fasting and praying for you. Thank you for your example and having such a strong spirit. Amy
March 16, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Anonymous said…
hey! it's me Britsy. Remember me from church? Good to hear that she's okay. I'm writing a journalism story about Kristin for the school newspaper. It's about the shirts and just anything i general about Kristin. I miss her and I'm glad she's doing good!
March 18, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Anonymous said…
Kristen,
I have bookmarked your blog so I can't lose it again. Twice I have tried to find it to send you a message from Brett, but have been in a time crunch and was frustrated when I couldn't find it easily. Considered yourself marked - and that's a good thing. 3 weeks ago Brett sent us a short letter separate from his emails. In general he is concerned that his friends will think that he doesn't think about them and doesn't care about them because he does not write to them. He swears that nothing could be further from the truth. His free time and personal time are so limited he just cannot get everyone written to. He was especially concerned that you know that he is thinking of you and praying for you - that is one thing he does have time for! I wrote to him about some of your family's experiences that have been uplifting and such good examples of the power of faith. He is excited by your efforts to be positive and move ahead as best you can. He really appreciates your example of faith and the difference it can make. Brett arrived in Hungary this week and emailed to say he made it, but his luggage didn't! Oh well, at least he made it safely. It was cool to read about St. Baldrick's. I didn't know what that was - but it's always been worth a dollar to me. Knowing now I will be sure to support it very well every year. And I am looking forward to a great picture of my grown-up Sunbeam, Wyatt! You remain as always in my prayers. With warm thoughts and wishes, LaRae
March 20, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Beginning

Image
Hello to all from Children's Hospital Oakland, California To it still difficult to grasp that we are actually here...hearing this news...living in this new world. Kristin's official diagnosis is ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA precursor b. This is very treatable form of cancer. She is enrolled in a cutting edge program for treating A.L.L.. All of us here are very optimistic. She is under the care of amazing Doctors and the recipient of the miracles of modern medicine. It will be a very rough 2 years or so, but she will survive. Thus far, we have been on the fast track. This is an amazing institution and we are very, very fortunate to be here. Nothing short of kindness and compassion have been shown to us from the very beginning. Upon our arrival on Monday, she has undergone a bone marrow biopsy, 2 lunbar punctures, echo cardiogram, chest x-ray, broviac cath . placement, and numerous pokes and prods. She received her first chemo treatment; injected into the spinal fluid, Wednes...
Read more

GO GO SPECIAL K!

Our last bone marrow biopsy went great! It showed no leukemia cells. This shows that she is having a positive early response to the chemo which is a very, very good thing! All of her labs are coming back "smashing!" We are dealing with secondary complications such as situational diabetes. This is only tempoary and should resolve once we are off the strong steroids. Consequently she has to have blood sugars checked often, insulin injections, and follow a carb controlled diet. not fun! In trying to be supportive, I am counting carbs along with her. It is hard when someone has a birthday up here every other day and wants to share their cake. Keep the dang cake to yourselves! Kristin is getting very tired more often and is noticing that she can pull out clumps of hair....I am sad. Although I knew this was coming, I was taken back by the situation and caught off guard. Baldness goes hand in hand with leukemia and every parent up here would rather have a beautifully healthy, shini...
Read more

UPDATE

Kristin is currenly in room 5330 getting two units of PRBC's. Her counts are on the way down and I am hoping that this is all the drama we will see. It has been a long, difficult...two months.....seems like forever.... especially as we approach the one year mark. Our daily excursions to Berkley have been uneventful. (I decided that if I had another life, I would like it to be in Berkley. I love this area!) We are going to Alta Bates Hospital. I am taken by the compassion, charity, and warmth that the patients are treated with here. It is the same spirit you feel when you walk onto the 5th floor here at CHO. Wonderful people who truly and compassionately love what they do. Back to her radiation.....Her radiation takes all of two minutes. I call it a "lick." Thankfully she is getting a very low dose so the side effects are pretty much nil. Kristin really looks forward to returning to school on a more regular basis. I cannot begin to tell you of the hardships Kristin has ...
Read more