Krista's Cancer Journey

on the way

2010-03-02T06:43:00.000-08:00

we are almost on the way to cambodia! please visit this blog over the next month to see what is up in our world!

http://cambodiaglobalx.blogspot.com/

my life

2010-02-24T17:21:00.001-08:00

so i am writing to apologize for the lack of posting. my life has been insane the past few months. we hired an amazing woman to be my new boss and we are knocking projects out of the park BUT we have been busy busy busy!

the next little bit of my life looks like this:

training for my outside volunteers this coming weekend
assimilating those volunteers and the ones who trained last weekend onto teams
my bug is turning 3 in a couple of weeks
planning for and going to cambodia march 18-29
planning for good friday, easter AND strategic service sunday (the biggest sunday of the year) BEFORE i go to cambodia bc i get back from cambodia on march 29
strategic service sunday happens while i am OUT OF TOWN! UGH!! i LOVE strategic service!!
good friday is april 2; i dont think i need to do the math for you but that is only about 96 hours from when i get back. not too mention that i will still be in a fog from the time change
easter is april 4!
emailing and following up with the 150+ new volunteers we will get from strategic service
the amazing Drive conference is may 3-5

while i have all of these things going on that have dates attached to them i also have a marriage, a 3 year old, a house to keep clean, 3 blogs to keep up with here, here and here, i volunteer my time with redeemed (a ministry that helps women come out of the bondage of human trafficking) and we just recently went through a merger with wellspring living and i am the one making the schedule for march housing. i also work for a church and sunday is always coming!

so if i have been a bad friend or a bad blogger or a bad twitterer or a bad facebooker, hang in there with me and ill surface in mid may after i contact all of the amazing new volunteers that will want to join our teams!

things are so crazy i have TWO episodes of Lost on DVR and ONE Grays that i have not even thought about watching.

still love me?

ps. check back in about a week or so and i will have posted the link to our cambodia blog!

rose and pit stop 1

2009-11-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

rose and the bra truck. i was never sure the purpose of this truck but it made for a good photo op :)

pit stop 1...finally!!

there are no words to describe this necklace

day 1 of the 3day 09

2009-10-30T04:37:00.000-07:00

the banner that bobbies mom made for my mom

the survivor circle on the morning of the walk

the LONG row of people as we started the walk

the 1st pit stop sign

2 awesome ladies from the buttercups

the buttercup team

day one eve and day one morning

2009-10-28T09:51:00.001-07:00

these first few pictures are of us at dinner. mom opening a scrap book that bobbie made for her from the past two 3 day walks that becky and bobbie did. the rest of the pics from dinner are of my, my mom, becky, bobbie, rose, my grandmother and my bug :)

the ones further down are of us at opening ceremonies friday morning. wow, what a powerful moment!

why i walk

2009-10-27T12:24:00.001-07:00

for my favorite girls :)

he holds her purse

2009-10-22T07:26:00.001-07:00

Dad, OB, David. Thanks for holding moms purse over the years. You are the best :) We love you!!

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Will he hold your purse?

"Everything I know about marriage I learned in my cancer clinic." I've been known to say this to my friends, maybe more than once, maybe even causing some of them to grind their teeth and grumble about Robin and Her Infernal Life Lessons.

I can't help myself. I've worked as a breast cancer doctor for 20 years, I've watched thousands of couples cope with every conceivable (and sometimes unimaginable) kind of crisis, and I've seen all kinds of marriages, including those that rise like a beacon out of the scorched-earth terror that is a cancer clinic.

It's a privilege to witness these couples, but the downside is I find myself muttering under my breath when my single female friends show me their ads for online dating. "Must like long walks on beach at sunset, cats," they write, or "French food, kayaking, travel." Or a perennial favorite: "Looking for fishing buddy; must be good with bait." These ads make me want to climb onto my cancer doctor soapbox and proclaim, "Finding friends with fine fishing poles may be great in the short term. But what you really want to look for is somebody who will hold your purse in the cancer clinic."

It's one of the biggest take-home lessons from my years as an oncologist: When you're a single woman picturing the guy of your dreams, what matters a heck of lot more than how he handles a kayak is how he handles things when you're sick. And one shining example of this is how a guy deals with your purse.

I became acquainted with what I've come to call great "purse partners" at a cancer clinic in Waltham. Every day these husbands drove their wives in for their radiation treatments, and every day these couples sat side by side in the waiting room, without much fuss and without much chitchat. Each wife, when her name was called, would stand, take a breath, and hand her purse over to her husband. Then she'd disappear into the recesses of the radiation room, leaving behind a stony-faced man holding what was typically a white vinyl pocketbook. On his lap. The guy -- usually retired from the trades, a grandfather a dozen times over, a Sox fan since date of conception -- sat there silently with that purse. He didn't read, he didn't talk, he just sat there with the knowledge that 20 feet away technologists were preparing to program an unimaginably complicated X-ray machine and aim it at the mother of his kids.

I'd walk by and catch him staring into space, holding hard onto the pocketbook, his big gnarled knuckles clamped around the clasp, and think, "What a prince."

I've worked at cancer clinics all around Boston since then, and I've seen purse partners from every walk of life, every age and stage. Of course, not every great guy accompanies his wife to her oncology appointment every day -- some husbands are home holding down the fort, or out earning a paycheck and paying the health insurance premiums -- but I continue to have a soft spot for the pocketbook guy. Men like him make me want to rewrite dating ads from scratch.

gma and her bug

2009-10-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

come cheer us on!

2009-10-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

if you want to cheer on a breast cancer 3 day walker (like me) this weekend, you can do so here!

Friday, October 23

8:45 am - 10:45 am
Downtown Buford
89 Main St.
Buford, GA 30518

12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Suwanee Station
Station Center Blvd.
Suwanee, GA 30024

Saturday, October 24

9:15 am - 12:00 pm
Oreck Vacuums Store & Plaza
5005 Peachtree Pkwy
Norcross, GA 30092

11:30 am - 6:00 pm
Duluth Monarch School
3057 Main St.
Duluth, GA 30096

Sunday, October 25

7:45 am - 9:30 am
Lowe's
4950 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Chamblee, GA 30341

10:45 am - 1:30 pm
Atlantic Station
171 17th St.
Atlanta, GA 30363

the reason

2009-10-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

she is the reason we walk.

our upcoming 3 day walk!

2009-10-17T05:07:00.000-07:00

so in a few days, october 23, 24 and 25, me {kristas daughter}, becky {kristas sister}, bobbie {kristas friend}, and rose {my best bud and a fighter for her own mom, who has the same EXACT cancer as my mom} will be walking 60 miles around our beautiful city of atlanta!

please pray for safety and good weather. the forcast calls for a little rain. a little rain when you are walking equals very wet shoes, which equal messed up feet. trust me. the 1st walk i ever did {the only other one i have ever done} it rained and rained and rained. my feet were toast. so just pray for that. i am not really worried about anything else :)

so here we go :)

its been a long time :)

2009-10-11T06:23:00.000-07:00

so wow it has been since july since i posted here. well things are good. krista is doing well. the last dr appointment she had showed NO CANCER IN HER ORGANS! and her bones are actually HEALING! how amazing is that!!

recently the sister of a friend of mine climbed mt kilimanjaro! christine carried flags up the mountain and on the corner of one of those flags is my moms name!! christine climbed with an organization called LOVE HOPE STRENGTH FOUNDATION.

you can read more about what they do below.

Mission

WHAT IS OUR MISSION?
LHSF is an international, music-centric cancer charity dedicated to providing support for cancer centers, and inspiration to those affected, throughout the world. The mission is to save lives, right now, with the advances that have already been made in cancer care. We do not fund cancer research, rather we use our funds to purchase medical equipment and supplies, raise awareness through special events, documentaries and media, build cancer centers and find bone marrow donors.

WHY IS THIS OUR MISSION?
By 2010 cancer will be the world’s #1 killer and will touch each and every one of us in our lifetime. It is a global issue in need of support from a worldwide network. In 2007, LHSF was co-founded by leukemia survivors Mike Peters of the Welsh rock band The Alarm and President of CSI Entertainment James Chippendale who believe that awareness, early detection and proper treatment should not be a luxury and wanted to find a way to ensure that all people have access to the same resources that saved their lives.

HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH THIS?
With headquarters in Denver, CO and chapters in Dallas, Peru, United Kingdom and Australia, the Love Hope Strength Foundation has performed concerts on 6 continents in just two year’s time. We led musical pilgrimages to remote venues such as the base camp of Everest, the top of The Empire State Building, the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, and the glacier of Kilimanjaro and reach out through the universal language of music. We have also teamed up with DKMS to expand our reach by conducting bone marrow drives at the largest music festivals in the United States so that people, like founder James Chippendale himself, can find the match that will save their lives. .Joining the Love Hope Strength Army in the battle against cancer are musicians from every corner of the globe. High school bands and Nepalese folk singers, to legends in rock n’ roll such as members of The Cult, The Stray Cats, Gin Blossoms, The Fixx, Tokyo Police Club, Squeeze, Candlebox, Seether, Smithereens, Dick Dale, Everclear and hundreds more have done their part to help spread the word through music. Each event is documented under the guidance of critically acclaimed producer, Alex Coletti, to build awareness through programs like Everest Rocks, now airing on MTV’s High Def channel, Palladia.

WHAT HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR?
Funds from recent events have:

Purchased the very first mammography machine for the country of Nepal.
Purchased the first Nucletron brachytherapy afterloader (internal radiation) machine for the country of Nepal.
Funded a mobile cancer unit in Peru which will educate, screen and treat up to 30,000 patients per year in remote regions of Peru.
Funded a new wing for a cancer care center in Wales.
Supported the Valerie Fund in New Jersey, USA, a center for children with cancer and blood disorders.
Added over 2,000 people to the national marrow database.
Brought supplies to cancer centers in need around the world.
Sent cd’s and dvd’s to cancer centers around the world to brighten the day of patients through music.
Created an army of LHS volunteers who perform amazing acts of kindness and generosity in their communities.
Released the “Everest Rocks” documentary on MTV’s HD channel Palladia

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
Go to “Get Involved to check out all of the many things you can do bring love, hope and strength to the world.
Join the Army to be the first to know about our upcoming concerts and events.

my 2 favorite people

2009-07-17T19:30:00.001-07:00

best buddies :)

2009-05-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

from Erin:
my 2 favorite girls!

Turning Point!

2009-04-01T17:36:00.000-07:00

Told by Krista:

Went to see my Oncologist today for checkup and treatment (chemo). He came in the room all smiles and said he thinks I have turned a corner!! My blood work was all in the normal range, all of my counts are good.

After seeing the pain management doctor, I seem to have gotten the back pain under control and they concur that it is side effects from the radiation and not the cancer causing the pain.

I don't think I can go into remission, BUT, I can maintain where I am. The treatment seems to be working. Like my Dr, says He can't put a finger on any one specific medication, drug, etc., but the combination of all things seem to be working in my favor.

I will take that ~ any day of the week.

{So will her family!!}

Pure Joy

2009-03-27T16:09:00.001-07:00

GOOD NEWS!!!

2009-03-25T06:50:00.000-07:00

Told by Krista:

I had an MRI done on my T-spine {that is the middle part of the spine} done a couple of weeks ago to find out why I was having so much pain in that location. We were hoping for the best but anticipating bad news. When we got the results back, and the results are that the lesions in that area look good. Some have shrunk, some are the same and some show actual healing!! {emphasis by her daughter} NONE HAD GROWN!!!

The pain is coming from nerve damage and muscle inflammation. My oncologist has referred me to a pain management Doctor. This new Doctor has changed some of my medication. Today I had a Facet injection ~ he gave me a pain medicine with steroids in my spine right in the location of the major pain. Okay, so that wasn't all that great {actually, it really hurt } but it is working.

We are all so excited that it is just pain that can be managed and treated! The cancer although it is still there, is not getting any worse. Yipee!!!

Oh yeah! and my hair {on my head} is coming back. I have actually had it trimmed a couple of times just so it is growing out with some type of style?

Once again it is great news in my world.

Krista

Here are 2 people that love her alot: her daughter and her granddaughter.

need a haircut?

2009-03-23T19:02:00.001-07:00

how is it possible that my mom who gets chemo every week needs a haircut? well she did. this is my cousin brooke giving her a trim. we swear by her hyperbaric chamber treatments :) an update from krista coming soon. more info on hyperbaric below:

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy uses greater than atmospheric pressure oxygen as a drug to treat basic disease processes/states, and their diseases. This therapy increases the oxygen concentration in the body up to 20 times normal at the cellular level, which promotes healing. When there is a restriction in blood flow due to surgery, illness, or injury, the red blood cells block the blood vessel and are unable to transfer oxygen to the cells on the other side of the restriction. This causes swelling and starves the area of oxygen, causing hypoxia (a lack of oxygen), when this occurs the tissue begins to break down.

Breathing 100% oxygen under pressure (up to 3ATA, 29.4psi, a depth of 66 ft.) causes the oxygen to diffuse into the blood plasma. This oxygen-rich plasma is able to travel past the restriction, diffusing up to 3 times further into the tissue. The pressurized environment helps to reduce swelling and pain, while providing the body with up to 20 times its normal supply of oxygen to help repair tissue damage.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy forces more oxygen into the tissue, encouraging the formation of new blood vessels. As these new blood vessels develop, the red blood cells start to flow, delivering even more oxygen to the affected area. This creates the optimal environment for the body’s natural healing processes to repair damaged tissue.

All is well

2009-02-12T06:04:00.000-08:00

Sorry it has been such a long time since I have written, but like most people the holidays and everything else crept up and now it is almost Valentine's Day.

So- Where was I ?

I have been receiving Chemo treatments once a week 3 times a month since late September. I get Abraxane every week and Avastin with it every other week . 3 weeks on, 1 week off. Fortunately, I don't have any major side effects from the treatment with the exception of being really tired by the time we get home. Part of the reason I am so tired is the treatment. The other reason is my wonderful friend Jody, who ALWAYS comes to the appointment with me, along with my husband (who, by the way has never missed a Dr's appointment in 12 years). After treatment we go and do a little shopping and out to lunch. It makes it seem more like something to look forward to rather than being sick and getting treated.

{here's the hubby that has never missed a treatment :)}

The good news is my hair is starting to come back, which is strange since I am still being treated with chemo. My weight has stabilized, also a good thing since it stabilized at approx 50 pounds lighter than when I started , (Trust me, this is a really good thing). My blood counts are good I don't have a lot of pain although I continue to take the medication to keep ahead of it.
I am going to continue to see the naturopath also for the Vitamin C and Amino acid IVs and the hyperbaric chamber. I just feel really good.

My cancer tumor marker is down from 25 to 17. My white blood count went from: 1.9 to 3.6 ~ 4 is normal.

Erin has told me that she and her good friend Rose will be walking this year in the 3 day with Becky and Bobbi and Crystal, so it should be a good time for all and I am so proud of all of them for doing this for me and all of the other women with this disease.

Our little granddaughter will be turning 2 next month and she is the light on all of our lives, so for right now all is well in Krista's world. I am 2 years into this diagnosis, going strong,
and looking forward to the future.

I feel truly blessed.

Stats update for Krista

2008-12-04T05:50:00.000-08:00

From Krista:

My White Blood Count is 4.1 and the Neutrophil count is 3.3 the last time my white count was that high was in July !!! My Tumor Marker ~ which is a protein that they use to measure some types of cancer ~ before I started Chemo was 20.something and it is down to 8.something. I don't remember the exact numbers, but regardless it is very wonderful news all the way around. So except that I am getting a cold - all is well in Krista's world.

YIPEE!!! ~ From Erin :-)

Beauty

2008-12-01T06:09:00.001-08:00

This is Krista:

You can see more pictures over at BSM.

moms protocol

2008-11-19T07:55:00.000-08:00

All of the following is information about what Krista is doing:

She will receive 50 grams of Vitamin C with Lipoic Acid & Glutathione, 1 hr Hyperbaric oxygen, 30 minutes lymphstar, 30 minutes of Magnatherm and 40 minute detox foot bath. She does this 2 times per week for 6 weeks.

High Dose Vitamin C IV Therapy is well tolerated and very effective for a wide range of health problems. It can resolve both acute and chronic bacterial and viral infections, neutralize a wide variety of toxic substances and is a very safe and effective detoxifier of heavy metals. Recently, High Dose Vitamin C IV Therapy has been proven to improve outcomes for cancer patients.

Lipoic acid, also known as alpha-lipoic acid, is a sulfur-containing fatty acid. It is found inside every cell of the body, where it helps generate the energy that keeps us alive and functioning. Lipoic acid is a key part of the metabolic machinery that turns glucose (blood sugar) into energy for the body's needs.

Lipoic acid is an antioxidant, which means that it neutralizes naturally occurring but harmful chemicals known as free radicals. Unlike other antioxidants, which work only in water or fatty tissues, lipoic acid is unusual in that it functions in both water and fat. By comparison, vitamin E works only in fat and vitamin C works only in water. This gives lipoic acid an unusually broad spectrum of antioxidant action.

Antioxidants are a bit like kamikaze pilots, sacrificing themselves to knock out free radicals. One of the more interesting findings about lipoic acid is that it may help regenerate other antioxidants that have been used up. In addition, lipoic acid may be able to do the work of other antioxidants when the body is deficient in them.3,4

It is thought that certain nerve diseases are at least partially caused by free radical damage. Thanks to its combined fat and water solubility, lipoic acid can get into all the parts of a nerve cell and potentially protect it against such damage. This is the rationale for studies on the potential benefits of lipoic acid for diabetic neuropathy.

Glutathione is a small molecule made up of three amino acids, which exists in almost every cell of the body. However, glutathione, must be generated within the cell from its precursors before it can work effectively in the body.

The presence of glutathione is required to maintain the normal function of the immune system. It is known to play a critical role in the multiplication of lymphocytes (the cells that mediate specific immunity) which occurs in the development of an effective immune response.

Furthermore, the cells of the immune system produce many oxiradicals as a result of their normal functioning, resulting in a need for higher concentrations of antioxidants than most cells. Glutathione plays a crucial role in fulfilling this requirement.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy uses greater than atmospheric pressure oxygen as a drug to treat basic disease processes/states, and their diseases. This therapy increases the oxygen concentration in the body up to 20 times normal at the cellular level, which promotes healing. When there is a restriction in blood flow due to surgery, illness, or injury, the red blood cells block the blood vessel and are unable to transfer oxygen to the cells on the other side of the restriction. This causes swelling and starves the area of oxygen, causing hypoxia (a lack of oxygen), when this occurs the tissue begins to break down.

Breathing 100% oxygen under pressure (up to 3ATA, 29.4psi, a depth of 66 ft.) causes the oxygen to diffuse into the blood plasma. This oxygen-rich plasma is able to travel past the restriction, diffusing up to 3 times further into the tissue. The pressurized environment helps to reduce swelling and pain, while providing the body with up to 20 times its normal supply of oxygen to help repair tissue damage.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy forces more oxygen into the tissue, encouraging the formation of new blood vessels. As these new blood vessels develop, the red blood cells start to flow, delivering even more oxygen to the affected area. This creates the optimal environment for the body’s natural healing processes to repair damaged tissue.

The lymphatic system - Lymphstar is an hi-tech electronic instrument which has been proven to enhance the flow of lymph - is most important in the elimination of toxins from the body. Lymph vessels can become clogged with protein deposits, similar to those in the vascular system. When this occurs, the blockages cause a backup in the flow of lymphatic fluid, resulting in swelling or edema. Consequently, toxic waste matter cannot effectively be released from the body, nor can the immune system function at optimum performance. The lymphatic system and the immune system interact in each moment of human life. It is the “information highway for the immune system.”

Heating** is an important technique in the practice of physical medicine. Therapeutic heat treatment of deeper pathologic conditions and chronic disease processes can be achieved very easily with Magnatherm.

Heating of deep seated musculature results in many beneficial physiological effects:

* Increase in blood flow due to vasodilation
* Increase in capillary pressure and cell membrane permeability
* Increase in transfer of metabolites across cell membranes
* Increase in concentration of white blood cells and antibodies
* Increase in transfer of toxins, engulfed bacteria, and debris away from the treated area
* Improved oxygenation
* Decreased inflammation
* Relaxation of muscles and relief of muscle spasms
* Decrease in tension of collagenous tissue and increase of range of motion of collagenious tissue such as tendons and joint capsules
* Relief of pain and edema

Magnatherm is useful in the management of arthritis, bursitis, low back pain and muscle spasm, tendonitis, neuritis, and other similar conditions that benefit from mild, moderate, or vigorous deep heat therapy.

Magnatherm not only relieves pain but can often help resolve the underlying conditions.

**The Magnatherm has two independent induction treatment heads which allow for the treatment of two parts of the body simultaneously, the treatment of one area of the body from two directions, or the synergistic treatment of one area both directly and remotely at the same time.

From Becky

2008-11-18T05:42:00.000-08:00

Told by Becky:

It has been a few weeks since Bobbi and I walked the 3 day, my feet and body have healed Krista's has not. That is why it was so important to me to walk the walk again this year. I have not written on the blog because I guess I felt if I didn't write it down Krista's cancer was not so real. Krista is not my sister-in-law, she is my sister.

I think the first time Krista had cancer I just knew she was going to be fine. We were younger and things like that did not happen to people our age. When her cancer came back 10 years later it hit me, we may actually loose our Krista sooner than we would ever imagine. She is a daughter to my parents and a God send to my brother. While I hurt for Krista, I hurt almost as much for David. If there has ever been a man that loved his wife it is David. Her illness has made him see that.I am soooo proud of him for taking care of her the way that he has, she would have done the same thing for him.I will continue to walk in the 3day as long as there is a chance in hell it will help Krista.

Krista of all people should not have to go through this, she doesn't deserve it, she has a grand baby that she worships and I think she is a huge reason for her strength. A daughter who knows how lucky she is to have such a wonderful mother. I know Erin gets her strength from her strong faith and her strong mom. I have two daughters, four granddaughters and a one in a million mother. I walk so with the grace of God none of the women or girls in my life will have to go through the hell Krista has had to go through.

My family will continue to pray and try to support Krista, David and Erin. I do believe in miracles and prayer, and I know as long as there are doctors trying to find a cure there is a chance for "OUR KRISTA". I am also very lucky to have a friend like Bobbi who has taken this journey as if it were her personal challenge to help Krista. She is the one who gets all of 3day in order for us to do. If it were not for her I would not have had the guts to walk 50 miles this year. For this I will always be grateful. It is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. With the help of everyone I will walk again next year, My dream is one day Krista can do some of the walk with us, she is our reason for KRISTAS TATA SISTERHOOD and we love her.

the 3 day walk closing ceremonies

2008-10-27T18:08:00.001-07:00

this is where we met for the closing ceremonies. not the best bc you could not see anything, but we were not able to meet at piedmont park this yr bc of the drought this summer. maybe we can meet there next yr!

this is a funny guy i saw :) hilarious! they have some of the best team names. this one and bippity boppity boobs!

the team mascot, flamingo. or as mags says MINGO!!

three ladies in pink while we waited for our walkers!

krista and her new "hair", i told her she should wear it every day!

our walkers becky and bobbie. you should also note that david is smiling in this picture. this is maybe 1 of 10 pictures we have of him smiling!

krista and her tata sisterhood!

kristas tatas!! click to enlarge so you can see the flamingos :)

you drink your champagne girls, you deserve it!

the family:: mom, david, mema, becky, papa nick, pepa!! ~david smiling again~

bobbie and her husband rick!

mags celebrating with a drink of her own

the guys!

Yep it's back.

2008-10-25T06:50:00.000-07:00

For those of you who may not have guessed, my cancer came back. I was re~diagnosed in Jan of 2007 with Metatastic Breast Cancer it has moved to my bones. My Sister-in-Law (Becky) and some of her coworkers decided last year to do the Susan B Komen 3 Day 60 mile walk in my name so they raised the money and walked.

I was so proud, but I never thought, in my wildest dreams that they would do it again this year, but they are and it is pouring down rain and its windy and cold but Becky and Bobbie have walked 20 miles today with wet cold feet, ate soggy turkey sandwiches for lunch and kept walking, but they are getting to sleep in a warehouse tonight so they are dry.

Tomorrow they will walk 20 more miles and the next day 20 more to raise money and awareness of this terrible disease that touches everyone in some way and I'm sure that on Sunday afternoon after closing ceremonies they will be signing up along with a few thousand of their friends to do it again next year.

Krista

3 day walk ~ walkers!

2008-10-24T16:14:00.000-07:00

this is becky (krista's sis in law), krista and bobbie (good family friend). we all met for dinner at the cheescake factory the night before the 3 day walk!

here is one of the awesome people who serve all weekend to keep the walkers encouraged!

happy WET walkers!

can you see how far the line of people goes! 4700 people signed up for this walk. they wach have to raise approx $2,200. do the math:: that is OVER 10 MILLION dollars!

love the pink rain gear!!

Wanna help support and encourage those fighting to cure cancer?

2008-09-29T10:27:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

It's almost here. 1 month from today Becky & I will start our 3 -Day journey to help find a cure for Breast Cancer or any kind of Cancer. Below you will find an address that you can send us a card or letter to give us the support we will need as we do this walk. If you can pass this on to your friends that would be great because even getting a letter from someone you don't even know after walking 20 miles in one day will give us the ENCOURAGEMENT we need to get up the next morning and walk that next 20 miles! Krista is our HEART & SOUL SISTER FOR LIFE she gave us the inspiration we needed to start our TA-TA Sisterhood Team and she will be with us as we walk that last mile on this 60 mile journey, but we need your support for the other 59 miles.

Thanks to everyone that has helped us. Love, Bobbie & Becky

You’ve Got Mail

There’s nothing like a letter from a loved one to inspire you to keep going. Your friends, family and supporters can write a letter to you, which we’ll deliver to you on the event at the Breast Cancer 3-Day Camp Post Office inside the 3-Day Cafe.
Send letters to:

Breast Cancer 3-Day Camp Post Office
ATTN: Bobbie Smith or Becky Carron
PMB 353
1750 Powder Springs Road Suite 190
Marietta, GA 30064-4861

Envelopes only, please. No boxes or large packages. Mail must be postmarked no later than October 14th in order to ensure delivery at the Breast Cancer 3-Day Camp Post Office. Any mail that is not retrieved by the walker by November will be destroyed.

chemo

2008-09-24T12:35:00.000-07:00

Krista started chemo again yesterday. :( She has to do it once a week indefinitely.

Krista's TaTa Sisterhood

2008-09-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

The Growing Process That Became KRISTA'S TA-TA SISTERHOOD 2007!

Told by Bobbie:

Towards the end of 2006 Becky (Krista’s sister in law) told our office in the morning meeting that Krista's cancer was back! After 10 years of being cancer free Krista & David got the news no one wants to hear. The cancer was back not in her breast this time but in her rib, spine, hip & pelvis. In our office we all think of each other as family, so Becky kept us all up to date on Krista's condition because now Krista, David and her family would now be a part of our family.

In January the TV ads for Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk had everyone thinking that this could be any one of our family or us. A few of us said, “you know I've always wanted to do that walk but I just don't want to do it by myself”. As January rolled into February, the mass mail for The 3-Day walk came to several of our mail boxes. Lynda brought her copy to work, then Crystal sent off for info. We were all still thinking, “yea right, can't you see us walking 60-miles”!

At the end of February, Dr. C, our boss, announced in the morning staff meeting that our office would be closed the week of October 15th. We all looked shocked because we knew the walk was October 12th to the 14th and our office would be closed that next week for us to recuperate. Crystal said this is a sign we have to walk.

So on Thursday March 1, 2007 Crystal Condon ~ Team Captain, Becky Carron, Teresa Jones and Bobbie Smith signed up for the 3-Day walk and became Krista's Ta-Ta Sisterhood Team. Dr. C let us put posters up in the office and our friend Lynda gave us our 1st donation (I think she felt sorry for us) toward our goal of raising $2200.00 each so we could walk IN HONOR OF KRISTA GIBBS our heart and soul sister for LIFE. Lynda, Shannon and Lisa cheered us on as we got donations and moved our stars closer to our goal.

We all worked hard to get our donations in different ways. Crystal had a yard sale and baked a 1000 brownies and cookies for her husband to sale at his school. Teresa hit all the businesses around Jefferson and in the end Dr. C and Mike Carron from Mike's Grill split the small difference she needed to reach her goal. Becky had help from her husband Nick, he sent out emails to everyone at his office and her other donations came from the love of her family and friends who all know Krista. As for me (Bobbie) if I sent you a Christmas card the year before, you got a letter from me asking for your help. My husband Rick sent emails to all the reps for his company and I went to Gibson Dental Lab in Gainesville and received alot of help from Darryl, Alvin, Don, Wayne, Shelia, April and many others. By July all 4 team members had reached the goal that is needed to give you clearance to walk the 3-Day.

I walked on the treadmill and at The Outlet Mall in Commerce, Crystal walked all over her neighborhood, but found out she was pregnant and her doctor's would only let her walk 5 miles each day on the 3-day walk which I know was very disappointing to her. Beck & Nick walked every night and Teresa walked with her husband Brian.

The closer the walk got the fear of the unknown was very hard to deal with. We didn't know what to pack or how much to pack because the weather was cold one week and hot the next week.

So Thursday afternoon before the walk Me ma & Pepa put Becky, Teresa and myself and about 300 pounds of gear (that's what it looked like) in the car and took us to our
Hotel at Northpoint Mall. Kevin brought Crystal so he could go out to dinner with us that night and it's a good thing because I don't think the car could hold any more luggage! We had a great dinner that night with Krista, David, Me ma, Pepa, Kevin, Crystal, Teresa, Becky and myself. That was a gift from Me ma & Pepa in thanks for us walking for Krista.

We awoke the next morning around 5:00 a.m. and all we wanted was coffee!!! We got ready and waited for the shuttle bus to take us to Northpoint Mall for the Opening Ceremony and yes it was cold. Thank God we had put pink feather boas around our necks because that kept us warm, but by lunch we were molting. We each walked to our comfort level and then some went back to camp or would walk a few miles catch the sweep van and we would meet up at the next pit stop. At the end of the day I was so glad to see Becky, Teresa and Crystal had our tents up, but then that meant it was shower time and the fear of the great unknown set in. We had no ideal what to expect but after using Port-a pottys all day how bad could this be. They had tractor trailer's set up with 8 stalls and small shower curtains, but by then you were so tired and felt dirty that you just did not care. We ate dinner and went back to our tents in hopes of a good nights sleep. WRONG! Becky had to get up around 2 or 3 a.m. to use the port-a potty and fell out of the tent. I think we woke everyone up laughing. Then it took us 20 minutes to figure out how to zip the tent up. Crystal being pregnant was up and down all night with her own trips to the port-a potty. We awoke the next morning to FROST on our tents and suitcases that we left outside and Teresa kept telling Becky to turn the heat up, but by lunch we were molting again.

Teresa, Becky & I got so cold Friday night that Kevin picked both of them and Crystal up and went to Target to buy us warm pj's. When I walked into camp that night Becky, Teresa & Crystal had pulled sleeping bags out of the tents (it was hot in them by then) pulled them up on a hill in the shade and took a nap. We had our showers, ate dinner and stayed at the dinner tent for about 30 minutes and then we went back to our tents and talked about the ups & downs of the walk, but mostly we laughed together for hours and then it's lights out at 9:00. We bundled up in all our clothes to stay warm. Becky & I stuffed the clothes we would wear the next day in the bottom of our sleeping bags so they would be warm the next morning. Again WRONG it's hard to change when you can't stand up or don't want to get our from under the covers. We packed up all our luggage for the final day and it didn't matter what went in which suitcase the object was to just stuff it in and get your tent down (of course we didn't listen to the instructions on how to do that). For some reason the tent in that little pink bag didn't look like it did when we pulled it out.

They put us on buses and took us to our final day of walking. We would be walking down Peachtree Ind. Blvd to Buckhead and then to Peachtree Street and then into Piedmont Park for closing ceremonies. Crystal & I walked in together at the end. We all got our victory shirts and started to line up for the victory walk. That's when the tears begin and they don't stop no matter who you are. When you see older , middle age and young girls & men in pink survivor shirts your heart lets you know why you just walked 60 miles!

Becky, Teresa, Crystal & I had a sign painted by my mom that said KRISTA'S TA-TA SISTERHOOD MOTEL NO VACANCY TO CANCER! We carried this into closing ceremonies. I did fine until I looked up and on the hill standing on a cooler was our heart and soul sister Krista that's when you can't stop the tears if you wanted to. To see how proud she was of the 4 of us for walking for her will be in my heart and mind forever. After we walked in the cancer survivors that walked came in and we all held up 1 tennis shoe to show our support and dedication we had for them. Then the crew walked in behind them and we just passed tissue's all around the group because there were no dry eyes where we stood.

After the ceremony was over David had packed us a cooler of very refreshing drinks that we had requested if we walked. Thank you Nick for driving us girls home, stopping when we needed a real restroom and helping Kevin with our luggage. Thanks to Mema & Pepa for the snacks, chairs and hugs & kisses we all needed. Thanks to Kevin for cheering us on and helping to get our 300 pounds of luggage. But forever in my memory will be the LOVE David shows to Krista as they fight this battle together. To my sisterhood Becky, Teresa and Crystal we could not have done this without each other. To Krista my heart and soul sister I will sign up and walk the 2008 3-Day walk again in your HONOR because you put everyone first and never think of yourself or show your pain. You give everyone the inspiration to go on and live life to the fullest. I pledge to you I will walk if you will fight! My Love to you and your family, Bobbie

Chapter 2

2008-09-17T18:35:00.000-07:00

Told by Krista:

That night after we got home we had to make the calls to the parents, I let David (My Husband) do it. I wasn't capable. I can remember calling my Mom in Savannah and the only word I could get out of my mouth was ~ Mom, after that I cried and David talked to everyone.

The next morning we went to the Surgeon's office and met one of my favorite Drs. His name is Victor Pavamani and his nurse is Nancy. They were so wonderful to us, (and still are) explained everything, all of the options for surgical procedures. I had what apeared to be mirror image lumps in both breasts and we decided on lumpectomies and node removal for testing. After alot of discussion with the Dr we decided to schedule the operation for January 3rd, it was 2 weeks away and would not make that much difference in my health, but cancer surgery right at Christmas was more than we wanted us or the rest of the family to handle.

Shortly after all of this we left for Savannah for Christmas, gosh it was hard to face my Mom, but she is so strong. My parents were born and raised in the midwest and have that very "we can handle/face anything" attitude. I can remember her saying that it would be okay and my Dad saying not to worry he had already spoken to God and it would all be fine so there was nothing to worry about. My daughter Erin, was strong (like always) and David's family was wonderful.

It's really funny, I don't remember that much about how the holidays went after that. My brain just skips to right after Christmas, telling the office about the next steps in my care and the surgery on January 3. I had the lumpectomys the left side was positive for cancer along with 3 out of 12 nodes. The right side was negative. My Dr was so sure that the right side was positive that I later had a needle locator biopsy on that same side and he sent the tissue off to a different lab just to be sure, but Thank God it was only positive on the left side.

Once I was healed from the surgery it was off to meet my Medical Oncologist, Dr Freedman, there was a question of radiation first then Chemo or the opposite, since I had to have both, but we decided on Chemo first. I can remember 2 things very specifically that he told me, 1. Except for the Cancer you are very healthy,that works in your favor, and 2. We are going to make you very sick in order to make you better. He then asked me when did I want to start? I said how about right now ~ so that was my first treatment. So pretty much in one month I went from not even knowing I had cancer to being diagnoised, having surgery, beginning chemo and oh yeah ~~ 10 days later my hair fell out.

fun times with bug

2008-09-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

here are some fun recent pictures of the bug and a~mommy.
this is the neck brace that mom has to wear for 8 WEEKS. ugh! she has fractures in her neck bc the cancer makes her bones weak. but she is never to sick to play with her grandbaby!

bug loves to drink out of a straw, here she is giving some to a~mommy.

Chapter 1

2008-09-09T16:29:00.000-07:00

Told by Krista:

It was December 17, 1996, a couple of girls I worked with ~ Carole and Jeanelle talked me into going with them to get Mammograms. I had had them in the past but like most women had canceled a couple of appointments. We scheduled them at the Women's Wellness at DeKalb General which is about 15 minutes from the County Courthouse where I worked. Well, we all had the tests and they asked if I would wait a couple of minutes, I did, then they asked me to come back in for additional films. I didn't think anything of it at the time and they gave me no clue that there was anything wrong.

We left and drove back to the office, like I said, a 10 ~ 15 minute drive and there was a message already on my desk to call my Doctor. I called and they asked me to come in right away, the Doctor needed to see me and it would probably be a good idea to bring my husband ~ fear is beginning to creep in.

We saw the Doctor about 5:30 that evening, he told me I had breast cancer and that he had made an appointment for me to see a surgeon the following morning. I remember being devastated, wondering how bad it was and of course ~ was I going to die? That couldn't happen to me, I had a daughter I wanted to see grow up, get married, have children, a husband I wanted to grow old with, 2 stepsons still in high school, parents, in - laws, other family and friends ~ a host of things I wanted to do with my life.

I remember walking out of the Doctor's office, bursting into tears and telling my husband, "Its not supposed to happen to me, its supposed to be you". I didn't say it to be mean, I said it because he has cancer on both sides of his family and we have always kind of joked that with his family it isn't if they will get it but what kind they will get and when they will get it. Then we went home and continued with the worst night of my life ~~ telling the family.

the past 12 years update coming soon

2008-09-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

krista is currently writing a synopsis of the past 12 years of her journey to today. stay tuned for more :)

her story

2008-09-06T17:36:00.000-07:00

this blog is about krista. her life. her family. her story. her cancer. please visit and comment often to encourage her along the way.