Kristin "Kourageous" Katich

So, you immediately thought "fever" correct? Good for you! In cancer world fever is an "f" word,one that tends to put parents on edge. The elusive and slippery fever Kristin had been sporting for the last few days took a jump last night into the "spicey" range, as Kristin called it. Earlier in the day she had mentioned she had trouble catching her breath and it hurt to breathe in and when she coughed. From my observations she had no worrisome cough, no runny nose, good color and seemed to have plenty of energy. I tucked the conversation away. She went to study and did not mention it again. Later in the afternoon our family went up to Tahoe for some family pictures with Nigel. We had great light, but the wind was bitterly cold to say the least. As we were wrapping up and walking back to the car, she had some serious trouble catching her breath. Darren rushed her to the car to warm her up and she seemed fine. Later, a similar scenario, occurred in the car wi...

Saturday night Kristin called and I could tell by the sound of her voice she was not doing so well. She had been studying and when she got up the nagging headache, which has plaqued her for the last nine days, went straight to a 9 on a scale of 1-10. I told her to call Salt Lake. Long story short she had a procedure for an epidural blood patch mid morning Sunday. Aside from being groggy from whatever it was they gave her and some discomfort, her headache is gone. It was difficult for us to not be there to say the least. I knew she would be scared and she was. Many thank yous to the Sumbot family for a blessing,comforting her, and evidently, a fabulous dinner. An epidural blood patch is an injection of your own blood into the epidural space. The epidural space is not an injection into the spinal cord itself. The spinal cord and spinal nerves are in a “sack” containing clear fluid (cerebrospinal fluid). The area outside this “sack” is called the epidural space. An injection of the fresh...

Since Kristin's return to "P-Town" she has been plagued with a whooping headache and vacillating blood sugars. The headache got the best of her yesterday as she called me in tears frustrated that she cannot get any relief. She did end up taking some powerful pain meds, but not before suffering for the past three days. It has been very difficult to concentrate on school and even go to classes, finish assignments and take tests that have already been delayed. She keeps trying her best though. The 5 day pulse of prednisone is done with so this should squash the blood sugar issue. I am praying that today, and the ones to follow, will see some welcome improvement. As always, we count each and every blessing. Always giving thanks to our Father in Heaven that Kristin continues positively, ever closer, to her stop chemo day in April.

Kristin came into town on Wednesday night, Nov. 11, to prepare for a LP with intrathecal methotrexate. Personally, I was thrilled to have her home and could not wait to spend time with her, hold her, take in her sweetness, watch movies, you get the idea. Thursday morning came and I wanted to make her favorite homemade mac n'cheese, Bobby Flay style, so it would be ready when we got home that afternoon. She wanted to go to Galena to say hi to some teachers. Around noon we went to Renown. Kristin was greeted with hugs and then more hugs. They are always so good to her! The LP went smoothly. during the procedure, CNS fluid (centeral nervous system fluid) specimens are always drawn for evaluation and then methotrexate is given directly into the spinal fluid. I have not heard anything regarding the labs on the CNS fluid, so in this case no news is good news. The most recent labs were "glowing." So much so that her meds have now been raised to 100%. Remember, that since...

visiting Kristin, it was great! It has been a while since I have "picked up the pen and paper." Kristin is doing well. The family went to Utah as part of Eric's Bday and to visit Kristin. It was great! Darren commented,"Well Kristin, you look like you are pretty happy and that you have arrived at a good place." Her reply, "Oh man, I am in such a good place!" I had the chance to visit her classes, met friends and roomates and take notes in chemistry....Every where we went she was saying hello to someone and introducing me to friends. Of course there are a few "Hiccups" with her health, but that is to be expected. We all know things could be worse. Our visit with the rheumatologist was un-enlightening.....really. Nerve damage to say the least. And is it permanent?....we just do not know..... Yes, I think un-enlightening would be the correct verb here. Although is it a verb, and adjective or adverb and did I even spell it correctly? All that a...