Chemotherapy begins

Kara has begun her first three day stay at Methodist Hospital. This morning she had a whole brain radiation treatment. This afternoon, she will begin her chemotherapy. As I understand it, she will get six chemotherapy treatments over the next 18 weeks. She will also get 15 radiation treatments over the next 3 weeks. Kara is in good spirits and ready to move forward with her treatment. But this will be a trying time for her. She will likely lose all of her hair, and she is concerned about how the children might react. Please keep her family in your prayers.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
- That the chemotherapy and whole brain radiation is successful in treating any remaining cancer Kara may have
- That Kara is as comfortable as possible during the treatment.
- That Kara is able to keep her spirits up and remain hopeful during this trying time.

From Kara

Dear family, friends, church family, and brothers and sisters in Christ,

Words cannot express my deep appreciation for your prayers and words of encouragement during this time. I feel Blessed by God to have you in my life. I am finding peace and comfort in knowing that God is sovereign and his plan is at work in my life. God has been so good to me and I am thankful to be his child.


Prayers of thanksgiving:
Thank you God for making your presence known to me, and for giving me strength, comfort, peace and hope.

Thank you God for your son, Jesus Christ, who died for us so that we may have eternal life with you.

Thank you God for our families who dropped everything to come to Houston to help us.

Thank you God for my church family who has provided overwhelming support, encouragement and generosity.

Thank you God for those I don’t even know who are praying for me, I have been deeply touched by this.

Thank you God for the kind and knowledgeable doctors and nursing staff that you delivered to me.

Thank you God for the scheduling and business administrators, and ER admissions clerk, who helped to make the Novalis treatment happen quickly.


These verses have comforted me;
You Lord give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you (Isaiah 26:3)

My Grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

For God has said I will never leave you; I will never abandon you. (Hebrews 13:5)

Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying “this is the way, walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21)

Draw close to God and God will draw close to you. (James 4:8)

I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power and everything is for his glory. (Romans 11:36)


Please Pray for:
Comfort for Emma and Luke during my hospitalizations for chemotherapy.

The chemotherapy and radiation will go smoothly and I will recover quickly.

Chemotherapy and radiation to completely eradicate the cancer, permanently.

To continue to trust that God’s plan is at work in my life.

Whole Brain Radiation Rescheduled Again

The headgear is off and Kara is doing well. The screws that were used to fasten it to her head have left some sore spots. That is normal and they should heal soon. After consultation with Kara's oncologist, it was decided not to begin her whole brain radiation therapy until Monday, when her chemotherapy begins. She is in the hospital tonight. We watched the movie "Footloose" together. Thursday morning she will be fitted for a mask that will be used for the whole brain radiation and she will then be discharged. She hopes to be home by mid-day.

Next week will be a trying time for Kara. Please keep her in your prayers.

Novalis, not Gamma Knife

Matt has informed me that Kara underwent a new procedure called "Novalis Shaped Beam Surgery" today. It is newer and better than the "Gamma Knife" procedure that I had previously mentioned. You can read more about by clicking on the title of this post.

MRI images prior to initial surgery

For those who are interested, a couple images from the MRI that was used to discover Kara's tumor have been posted. Click on the title above. Those who are sensitive to medical imagery may want to use discretion. This tumor was removed by Kara's intial surgery and she has had almost instant relief from her symptoms following the surgery.

Focused Radiation Therapy Update

I visited Kara today from about 11:00am to 12:30pm. The headgear used today's procedure was fitted on her head. The scans needed for the procedure were complete and the medical team was doing the image mapping needed to perform the procedure this afternoon. The headgear is a little awkward, but Kara was in good spirits. She and Matt were watching "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" on TV. The headgear will be removed after this afternoon's procedure. She is likely undergoing the gamma knife procedure as I type this.

The decision was made for her to stay the night at the hopsital tonight so she can receive whole brain radiation therapy tomorrow. She was scheduled to have the whole brain radiation following her first round of chemotherapy. Her prescribed course of treatment has not changed and it always included whole brain radiation therapy. We're planning on taking the kids up to see her this evening at dinnertime.

ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:
-- That the whole brain radiation therapy tommorrow is sucessful in treating any residual cancer in the brain.

Focused Radiation Therapy

Tomorrow (Wednesday), Kara will undergo focused radiation therapy to treat the three smaller brain tumors that were not removed by her prior sugery. This procedure is called the "gamma knife". It is a non-invasive procedure and she should be home the same evening. You can read more about the procedure by clicking on "Focused Radiation Therapy" above. The doctors are planning for her to begin chemotherapy on Monday. She will be in the hospital for three days receiving the initial chemotherapy treatment.

We are all appreciative of the kindness you have shown with your comments posted to this web log. Kara takes comfort in knowing that she is in the thoughts and prayers of so many caring people. Thank you all.

PRAYER REQUESTS AT THIS POINT:
-- That the gamma knife procedure is successful in treating the three remaining brain tumors.
-- That the chemotherapy will be succesful in treating any remaining cancer.
-- To give Kara the hope and strength that she needs during this process. Her youth and good health are advantages she has working in her favor, as well as the outpouring of love and sympathy that she has received from so many.

Initial Posting

Thank you all for your continued concern, support, and prayers for Kara. It is an extraordinary thing, what prayer can accomplish, and it provides immeasurable reassurance and comfort to Kara and her family to know so many have made the effort to include her in their thoughts and prayers.

For those of you who have been referred here by friends or family, Kara is a thirty-one year-old mother of two – Emma (three years old) and Luke (one year old). Kara is an active member of the Bellaire United Methodist Church in Bellaire, Texas, along with her husband, Matt. She is also a 6-year member of Bible Study Fellowship.

Those who know Kara love her for her kind and generous spirit. These same people have spread the word for the need of prayer to help Kara though this difficult time.

Kara has been diagnosed with a rare form of metastatic brain cancer – large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. The next eighteen weeks will be taxing as Kara will undergo radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

We will have specific prayer requests during these weeks to reflect on Kara’s most immediate needs. We will share her progress with you. So please continue to check here for updates. Also, if you will share this with others so that they may add her to their own prayer lists, we will be most grateful. We have heard about people praying for her throughout this wonderful country. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 19, 2005:
- Pray for Kara to keep hope alive in her heart.
- Pray for her physical stamina as she undergoes treatment.
- Pray for the wisdom and skill of her health care providers.
- Pray the Lord comforts her and gives her peace.

WHERE WE ARE NOW:
- Kara has successfully undergone neurosurgery to remove the largest tumor and has regained the use of her right hand and arm.
- Next week she will undergo pinpoint radiotherapy to destroy the remaining two smaller brain tumors.
- More to follow next week.