Angels everywhere

“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is rest and let your angels wrap you in their loving wings. They've got you covered.” - Anna Taylor

I have so many wonderful stories to share with you before my update. I do not ever want to forget some of these so I document them to always be reminded of the angels that surround me. 

Saturday night was perfection. Lori’s family is so beautiful and were incredibly welcoming- it was as close to feeling at home as it could be when home is over 1000 miles away. She has four children, one in college, twin 12 year old girls and a 14 year old girl. The girls spent the entire evening socializing with us, bringing me puppies to hold and providing lots of laughs. They made us the famous Minnesota “hot dish” for dinner and brownies for dessert. We stayed until about 9:30 then Lori drove Eric and I back to the hotel. For 4.5 hours we were normal again and that evening was the best night sleep we have had all week. Lori and her family are true angels on earth. 🙏🏻😇

Sunday was freezing! Super cold, wind chill was -34. Since we “moved” a little outside of downtown we had close to a mile walk to get to church. We bundled up in all the layers we had and headed out. When I tell you it was cold- You should know my eyelashes froze. We arrived at church early and were greeted by a sweet young couple. As so many of you know- I talk to strangers- All the time! So naturally I started chatting with the greeters while I waited for Eric to finish in the bathroom. A couple minutes after settling in our pew in the church the young woman approached us offering us a ride back to the hotel after mass with her husband.It was a no brainer, we accepted! At the conclusion of mass we met up with the young man and hopped in his car for a warm ride back “home.” Again, I started chatting with the young man and it turns out he is a fellow in medical oncology and works with Dr Dimou!!! I quickly explained my diagnosis and asked him to pray for me. He enthusiastically accepted to pray for both Eric and I. As we approached the hotel he told us his name….. Michael, the same name Dylan chose as his Saint name for confirmation this year. Michael is a true angel on earth. 🙏🏻😇

Monday, as I was walking around 99 giggles getting my dose of humor therapy, I got a text. In the message was a picture of a group of boys. When I opened it to get a better look my heart exploded! I could not believe what I was looking at. It was a group of 13 young men. Thirteen 16&17 year old boys with Dylan in the middle. It was the group of boys that made me a baseball mom! It was the Wolfpack baseball team, the very first travel team that all those 13 boys were on. That team was short lived but the love we shared with all those families through good and bad is something so very special. Those teenage boys from near and far took time from their day to come together and show love and support for Dylan, my family and myself. Those boys, their families and the friends that organized that are true angels on earth. 🙏🏻😇

First thing this morning I received a message through my patient portal from my oncologist at home, he was just checking to see how the injection was going and how I Was doing. A couple hours later I got a text message from Dr. Olivier. He too wanted to check on me and see how everything was going. He said He is like an old uncle and he worries, he also reminded me, “I’m here for you and Eric” and reassures me that Dr Dimou cares a lot too and is a great oncologist. Not even 15 minutes later I get another text from a pediatrician I used to work with 20 years ago. He had just received my Christmas card and was shocked to hear I had been sick and thrilled I Was better. Obviously I brought him up to date and now he Offers us in prayer. Finally, this afternoon I got a text message from a pediatrician I Worked with 10 years ago who has been following my blog since last year. She went on FB today to let everyone know she was signing off for Lent which starts tomorrow and learned about what was going on. She told me I will be her special intention for the next 40days! What are the odds that I Would hear from all these doctors on the same day??? These doctors and all the doctors caring for me are true angels on earth. 🙏🏻😇

It's amazing, truly amazing,  that Everyday I receive messages on facebook, instagram, texts, and messages on this blog from both strangers and people I know/ friends- as far back as elementary school. Not only my friends but friends of friends of friends. People I have never met, that know me only through my words in this blog or through stories from others. And of course my inner circle of prayer warriors. The people I have grown so close to that I was so thankful to have as friends have become my army and a righteous one at that!  And it needs to be mentioned,  It will never be forgotten the trending hashtag of the week that Brooke and MaryJo started when they ran the 14k race I Was registered for #8forkate. Are you KIDDING ME??? Wow!!!! Even my brother in law who, God bless him, is not athletic got on board by drinking 8 beers for me. 🏃🏻‍♀️⛷🚴🏼🏊🏻‍♀️🧘🏻‍♀️and 🍻!! It's so funny how these things just take off without being planned out. The prayer group, meal train, and outpouring of love in so many ways has been incredible. All of you, each and everyone one, and all the people you turned to and asked for prayers- you are all true angels on earth! I feel the prayers and my anxiety lessens everyday. 🙏🏻😇

I share all this, not to be “boastful” (is that the right word?)  but because I am just so incredibly grateful for all these blessings, prayers, and angels that surround me. I wanted/ I needed to share to show you all the power of prayer and to continue begging for more!!! 

Ok Now for the update. And after being soooooo long winded already I will try and keep it short. 😬 We saw Dr Natt (and you can all already guess, she is an angel on earth 🙏🏻😇) Monday late afternoon and she is fully on board the Kates weird cancer train. She will be running the sodium part of the train! She was less than thrilled to see me sitting across from her again but had been brought up to speed from Dr Dimou. She also admits that she has never uses this medication let alone has ever heard of using it  for my specific condition but is continuously educating herself so she can be as helpful as possible. There is a small new "problem" with my LFTs (liver functions) they are not cooperating on the Samsca. My sodium is 144 but ALT(liver function) was in 50s- (which is outside the normal range and 4 times higher than my average.)  You would think that means i should not be having a glass of wine at night but Screw that! A half glass never killed anyone! 🍷

So now we have to monitor LFTs as well as sodium and will recheck both on Friday. In the meantime she will be consulting with a Liver specialist to discuss long term effects from Samsca.  I can only be on Samsca for 30 days and we can't "test" the injection efficacy until 2 weeks after treatment was started....... unless the samaca keeps elevating my liver then we have to "speed" it all up- if that makes sense. She did say that this is not something we can “plan” so we don't know exactly how long we will be here. 

So we sit and we wait. And I don't even have a puzzle, 😉but I have a coloring book. As much as I hate being away from home again this is just where I need to be and if they can help me, prolong my life, then its worth it.