Lately

Well I've gotten behind on my updates, so sorry...

Anyway...I saw the doctor on Thursday and had to get more platelets from my dad. The good news is that my white count is up enough that I can finally enter civilization again! Although very carefully. Because my platelets are still low and I'm still weak chemo has been postponed again until Thursday March 4. I secretly glad because that means more time at home hehe.

Otherwise I'm still trying to eat more, which is a struggle ugh. But I take it one day and one meal at a time. I'm feeling pretty good except for a tight back from stress. All in all though, I'd say I'm doing well.

With my newfound freedom this weekend I plan to go see a movie with Karl(a real date yay!:) ). I also got to get a massage for my pesky back at Healthy Reflections in Uptown(if you ever need one, go there!). I'm happy to get out a little, it's great!

Things to Pray For:

• Counts continue to go up, especially the platelets.
• Appetite to increase
• The hurting back
• Chemo to go well next week
• Good recovery after chemo

Well thanks for checking in, sorry my posts are getting behind, I still getting the hang of blogging:)

Thanks as always for your continued love, support, and prayers!

Love,

Karina

Update

Greetings All,

Well it's been a week since my last post, I figured I should put out a little update.

So the wig came Friday, yay! I like the way it looks and when it's on you can't even tell it's a wig, success! It was so nice to have my hair back, I missed it.

I went to the doctor today and my blood counts are coming up, which is fantastic:). Even my platelets finally are coming around. I already had two transfusions over the weekend for them and it was great to hear I didn't need any today! The doctor also decided that we're going to postpone my next chemo a week to give my counts more time to recover and give me more time to gain strength and weight. So I'm going back in March 1st for my last chemo.

Things to Pray For:

• Gain weight and strength-This is a really big one right now, I've lost over 10 lbs. and I'm pretty weak. I need to get stronger to go through more chemo.
• Counts continue to going up.
• A good next round of chemo.

All in all I'm doing pretty well. Eating is getting better and I'm working on eating more. It's great to home and with my family and not in the hospital. I haven't had one fever which I so thank God for. A fever would have landed me right back in TG, ugh. The Olympics have been keeping me entertained and I'm looking forward to catching Project Runway tonight.

Thank you again for your continued prayers and support, I'll keep you updated on what's going on!

Love,

Karina

Birthdays and Balding

Hello.

Today is Annika's birthday, Happy Birthday! Without this day I would be in a whole lot of trouble. So thank you Annika for being born and saving my life before and now again. I so owe you, if you need a kidney or blood or whatever I'm there. I love my sister so much, she is my very best friend. One mind, one marrow...and lymphocyte!

In other news...my head got shaved yesterday. It's really weird because I look fourteen again, very surreal to look in the mirror. But I'm excited because the wig they are making from my hair comes tomorrow, I can't wait to try it on!

We also heard some more from the Fred Hutch about the Donor Lymphocyte Infusion(I had the name wrong before, oops.) It sounds way less intense than a transplant would be i.e. no chemo or isolation(hallelujah!). The process takes about a week and I'd soon be able to return to a normal life and go back to SPU in the fall!...falcons how I miss you, especially my birdies on 2E, love you ladies!

Here are a few things you can be praying for:

• Blood counts to go up-as of today they are creeping up slowly, but my platelets are having a hard time-I had a platelet transfusion today and another scheduled for Saturday with my dad's platelets.
• Appetite-nothing ever sounds good:/ and I need to gain some weight back before going into chemo again.
• That dang tumor keeps shrinking.

That's all I've got for now, but I'll keep you posted!

Love,

Karina

• Hello!

First of all thank you all for coming Thursday night to the prayer service, it is so appreciated.

I'm doing pretty well. Yesterday I went to the clinic and we got some great news from good old Doctor Thomas. There is a possibility that I won't have to have another stem cell transplant! There is another type of transplant called a Lymphocytic Transplant that I could be doing instead. Annika would donate her lymphocytes to induce Graft vs. Host Disease in me, which would fight off cancer. woo! This would not be as intense as a stem cell transplant and I could get back to normal life sooner. There is a 35-40% chance of it working, which are really good odds. (remember none of this is for sure, for sure yet, pray that the doctors have wisdom on choosing the right course, which i really hope is the lymphocytic transplant).

Let's see, what else am I up to...I'm getting my hair cut off on Wednesday to make a new wig. Which is exciting, I've been growing my hair out for three years and I'm not letting it go to waste! I'm mostly just taking it easy at home, trying to eat, and watching movies:)

Things You Can Be Praying For:

• Blood Counts would come up
• Appetite-this is a big thing for me right now, my appetite is bad and I need to eat to stay strong! And also it hurts to swallow so that doesn't help either. grr.
• Wisdom for doctors

Thank you all so much for your prayers, love, and support. I'll keep you updated on what happens next!

Love,

Karina

A Good Day

Well this morning I visited the clinic for a check up. I received a platelet transfusion because well I barely had any. And I'll probably need a blood transfusion on Friday when I go back again, but that's to be expected right now after chemo. And GREAT news! That dang tumor has shrunk! I don't know exactly by how much, but smaller is good.

Anyway I'm just trying to eat(which has been hard because I'm still a little nauseated). I have found that right now I enjoy macaroni and cheese with Fruit Punch Gatorade. mmmmm...a tasty combination.

Many of you have been asking about getting tested and here's how you do it: Go to the Puget Sound Regional Blood Bank www.psbc.org. You can get into the national registry and while you may not be matched with me, you could still be someone else's donor and save another life.

Another note is that a prayer service is being held for me Thursday February 4th at 7pm. Located at the Best Western, 6575 Kimball Drive, WA. All your love and prayers are so appreciated.

Wow...this has gotten long...but I'll wrap things up for today...I'm doing alright, I know God is with me and I can do anything through Him, that's what gets me through. Phil. 4:13

Well 19 kids and counting is on, and then lost, so as you can I've got a busy evening haha.

Take Care everyone,

Love,

Karina