My glass isn't half full. My cup runneth over!

Hello dear family & friends!

We had the best weekend celebrating Sydney's baptism. It was so special to have a full house of family gathered together. I want to soak in the memories!

Getting ready for the ceremony was "fun" (think: spit-up a go-go, multiple wardrobe changes -- both Sydney and I, running late, speeding to the church, all the family's there waiting, no A/C at the church on 95 degree day, etc.), but Sydney couldn't have been more of an angel once at the ceremony and all through the reception.

Thanks to our dear sweet families and Jamie for making the weekend so incredible. I will cherish that day always. Here's a slideshow that Jamie Stephens, my best friend and owner of Sixth Day Images, created:

http://video214.com/play/Vw0sHW8J1KmD6papj7qvmw/s/dark


There was a prayer Tad and I read at the ceremony that choked me up (think: breathless sobbing) and I now say it everyday. It pretty much captures it all. I included it at the end of this post.

In other news, we're going back to Baltimore on August 9th to meet with Dr. Stuart Grossman (neuro-oncologist) and Dr. Lawrence Kleinberg (radio-oncologist) at Hopkins to discuss follow-up treatment. UCSF's team of neuropathologists agreed with Hopkins' diagnosis and pathology. So we're off to meet with the experts on how to keep this cancer from coming back.

UCSF said they'd recommend chemotherapy (Temodar, a pill) and radiation (standard fractionalized), but that Dr. Grossman would have more to say about it. Dr. Grossman has a reputation for recommending treatment based on the individual case, not standards in therapy. So that's good. Wish that wasn't a special thing for a doctor to be known for.

I'm feeling great both physically and emotionally. Very loved. Very hopeful. For those of you praying for me to experience peace and joy, it's working. I feel blessed beyond measure. I was thinking about the "glass half full" saying and it's very true. It's all about perspective ... and prayer. I didn't realize how blessed I was/am until this stupid cancer came along.

Thank you all for your love, prayers and support. It's the air I'm breathing.

God bless you,
Kim


Parent's Prayer

With all my heart, with all my soul, with all my might
I pray for the health of this child.
I pray for her to be perfect in mind and body,
To grow steadily and sturdily
In a home filled with joy at her presence,
To be nurtured into a person who greets the world.

With all my heart, with all my soul, with all my might,
I pray for the health of this world.
I beg its leaders to temper their insanity with reason,
So that my child may live in a world that seeks longevity, not annihilation.
Let the world join in the thrill of creation,
And turn its back on the lust for destruction.
Let my child never know the pain and absurdity of warfare
Let her take part in the dances of peace.

With all my heart, with all my soul, with all my might,
I pray to God to watch  over me and my family,
I pray for the capacity to return my husband's/wife's great love for me,
I pray for the ability to love and nurture this child,
I pray to feel God's presence now and always.

Second Opinions

Hi Family & Friends!

Sorry for the long time between posts. We've been waiting for responses from doctors and we got one on Sunday.

Dr. Burger (neuropathologist at Johns Hopkins) confirmed the grade 3 diagnosis because of the presence of cells that were dividing. The official name of my tumor is a grade 3 anaplastic oligoastrocytoma.

I only know that because I got the pathology report in the mail today. There is a lot of gobbly-goop medical terminology in it that I don't understand. Who sends a medical report this critical without walking the person through it? I mean, I'm in advertising and we walk some of our clients through conference reports (notes of meetings that they were in)!

While Dr. Weingart supports our decision to get multiple opinions, he wants us meet with their nuero-oncologist and radio-oncologist to discuss possible treatments based on the grade 3 diagnosis. This was hard news to get. I don't know why, really. I trust God has me. And I'm fine now, but I was really hoping that Dr. Burger would hand us our next miracle.

That said, my cousin who works in neuropathology at UCSF (a renowned tumor center) is already working her magic to get a second opinion on my diagnosis and recommended treatment. We don't even have a first opinion on treatment from Hopkins yet. In this case, the second opinion may come before the first. (I'm so thankful for you, Gretchen!)

We don't expect the diagnosis to be different (though there's always a chance); but we're anxious to hear what the treatment recommendations will be.

In other, more beautiful news, Sydney will baptised on Saturday! We have family coming in from five states to celebrate our miracle of life. We are SO blessed!

God has been speaking to me, showing me that he has me. Here's a passage I read today from my Hopeful Heart book:

"On occasion, you will confront circumstances that trouble you to the very core of your soul. When you are afraid, trust in God. When you are worried, turn your concerns over to Him. When you are anxious, be still and listen for the quiet assurance of God's promises. And then, place your life in His hands. Trust the Shepard."

Love to you all,
Kim

Where we are

I haven't posted in a while because we've been busy enjoying life. Really enjoying it. But I kinda sorta have an update to share.

I finally got a call from Dr. Weingart on July 3rd. He hadn't called sooner because basically there is no new news. But in my 18 minute conversation with him, he did clarify a few things that made me feel better:

• He's been waiting for the chance to consult with Dr. Peter Burger on my case. Dr. Burger is Director of Neuropathology at Johns Hopkins and one of the world's best in interpreting brain tumors. The way I understand it, my slides were read by someone in Dr. Burger's department, but not him. Dr. Weingart wasn't satisfied with the reading and sent it back with questions for Dr. Burger. There was a miscommunication and the same information was sent back from the same person. So now I'm trying to track down Dr. Burger and find out where we are in the process of getting a final report.
• It's possible Dr. Burger will read the same slides differently, Dr. Weingart tells me. Pathology is a spectrum, and there is overlap between each of the grades.
• He reminded me that for now, I'm tumor-free. Sometimes I forget this honestly. If we need to take precautions so that it doesn't come back, well, I'm good with that.
• Our next scheduled touchbase with Dr. Weingart is when he receives the scans from my August 15th MRI. We hope to connect with Dr. Burger before that (I mean, come on. It's more than a month away.), but that's our next scheduled huddle session.

Thanks for your interest in my story. If I can inspire hope in the heart of just one person with my journey, this is worthwhile. I mean it. I'm a different person from this experience and I love what God is doing with me.

Thanks for your continued prayers, support, cards, and kind words. We really are so touched and lifted by them.

And now, for the best part... two recent pics of our SGB. She is delicious!