Let me start out with the winners of the iPad 2 winners: drumrolllllllllllllllllllll
Daphne Dindal & Danielle Yaffe (applause) Congratulations ladies!
This is going to be a blog of mostly thank you's :)
Thank you Debra Mann for sending Christmas my way early this year and EVERYONE involved with the boutique. Every night, the last things that I look at are my cross and my baboon picture. It means the world to me that you would think of me and put SOOOOO much effort into such a beautiful event. Thank You!
Thank you Carla Hunt. I am not really sure how to continue with my thought when I type your name :)
Your strength radiates to me and your donation has made SO many things possible for my family and I. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Mr. Inemer-Thank you for all that you are doing to get the ball rolling at Valencia High School. You have been incredible for me to vent to even on my worst of days. Thank you!
Thank you Intero Realty for your amazing donation, Silpada Designs for your amazing donation, EVERYONE that has donated to the "Love for Kirsten" fund has been absolutely AMAZING. Thank you very much.
Next round of chemo looks like NO RADIATION!!!!!!!!! Wahooo!
The first cycle is an oral cycle where I take 2 different oral chemotherapy treatments. I have been promised that this will not make me sick.
WE SHALL SEEEEEEEEEE!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
It's been a while....
To be completely honest, it has been a non-eventful 3 1/2 week break from treatment. Usually, I would do something extravagant like buy a plane ticket to Chicago or take up tennis-I am SO relieved that there has been absolutely NOTHING to do! The first week and a half was weird as I could literally feel the poison leaving my body; my bones felt gummy like when you leave chicken bones out for too long.I've been noticing that the radiation seemed to have fried my "brain-mouth" filter. For the last 3 weeks, I've been noticing that I say WHATEVER is on my mind...to everyone-which is really embarrassing when you are talking to your grandma about the size,color,and frequency of your bowel movements. :)
Moving right along, I've had to take more medication than I initially wanted to because the neuropathy in my feet has been more painful than I could have ever imagined! I can't complain, because at least the radiation and worst of chemotherapy is finished! Wahooooooo! This past weekend, I went up to the lake house that sits on Lake Nacimiento and overlooks part of the lake. It was a really nice change of atmosphere for me! This was the first time that I had been healthy enough to travel, so that was especially cool for me.
I regret to inform you of a loss in my life this week. Ever since I lost my hair, my world just hasn't been the same...I felt like something was missing--because DUH! Then it happened-my first baby hair sprouted up and it was like I had a child! I was so happy! I showed my longest pride and joy off to everyone I met. Then one night after admiring her beauty, I took a shower, and she became a victim to the drain. RIP Godiva!
On a happier note, my blood counts are sllloooowwwwwly recovering and I have my first scans since treatment next Wednesday (nervous, yet trying to be confident). Will know the next course of action at that point! Of course, I will let you all know the details of all that comes!
Thank you all for all of your continued love and support!
Peace, Love, and as many calories as you want!
Kirsten
Moving right along, I've had to take more medication than I initially wanted to because the neuropathy in my feet has been more painful than I could have ever imagined! I can't complain, because at least the radiation and worst of chemotherapy is finished! Wahooooooo! This past weekend, I went up to the lake house that sits on Lake Nacimiento and overlooks part of the lake. It was a really nice change of atmosphere for me! This was the first time that I had been healthy enough to travel, so that was especially cool for me.
I regret to inform you of a loss in my life this week. Ever since I lost my hair, my world just hasn't been the same...I felt like something was missing--because DUH! Then it happened-my first baby hair sprouted up and it was like I had a child! I was so happy! I showed my longest pride and joy off to everyone I met. Then one night after admiring her beauty, I took a shower, and she became a victim to the drain. RIP Godiva!
On a happier note, my blood counts are sllloooowwwwwly recovering and I have my first scans since treatment next Wednesday (nervous, yet trying to be confident). Will know the next course of action at that point! Of course, I will let you all know the details of all that comes!
Thank you all for all of your continued love and support!
Peace, Love, and as many calories as you want!
Kirsten
Saturday, October 22, 2011
TGI the LAST DAY!!!!
Holy moly, what a ride! Need I mention a ride that I never EVER want a ticket for anytime in the near future...or ever for that matter. Tears ran down my face during my last radiation treatment; they asked why I was crying and I WANTED to say "because I never have to see you again", but I simply said "....because I did it." Radiation is BY FAR the hardest thing I've ever gone through; though breaking up with Aaron Grahmm in 5th grade was pretty rough! I have to see my friends at chemotherapy once a week, just to get my blood counts. Now I get a 4-6 week break in which I plan to eat my entire weight in Thanksgiving food! :)
I have a lot to be thankful for this year. I am pretty sure that I would not be alive if it weren't for my amazing support group-Mom, Jonathan, Dad, Grandma, my amazing boyfriend, Dawn, Brenda, Patti, Kristyn, Danielle, Lauren, Aunt Alisa and family, and EVERYONE THAT HAS DONATED to "Love for Kirsten". Your help is appreciated more than you know!
I have a lot to be thankful for this year. I am pretty sure that I would not be alive if it weren't for my amazing support group-Mom, Jonathan, Dad, Grandma, my amazing boyfriend, Dawn, Brenda, Patti, Kristyn, Danielle, Lauren, Aunt Alisa and family, and EVERYONE THAT HAS DONATED to "Love for Kirsten". Your help is appreciated more than you know!
Monday, October 10, 2011
7 more treatments!
You read the title right!!! 7 weekdays left!!! I am so stinking excited...I would be more excited if I were able to keep anything at all in my stomach! Woohoo!You all missed the party at my house this weekend! It was BYOElectrolytes and you had to supply your own puke bucket. Really good time :)
Sometimes it honestly feels like my body has declared war on my soul...it's a constant struggle. Maybe that's what cancer really is...The location (brain,breast,pancreas,etc.) of the cancer declaring a sort of battle on the heart and soul. Truth is that one's heart and soul always ALWAYS win this battle...it's just a matter of when and where. Heaven is a place too, ya know!
Out frame!
I am not dying! The brilliant neurological-Oncology genius At UCLA has given me no inclination that I will be leaving this planet anytime soon! YAY! 7 more weekdays of this chemotherapy-radiation malarkey, then 4-6 weeks off for good behavior :), then the ever popular MRI!!
Thank you so much for reading!
Peace,Love, and Raffle Tickets for an iPad 2--contact me for more info :)
Kirsten
Sometimes it honestly feels like my body has declared war on my soul...it's a constant struggle. Maybe that's what cancer really is...The location (brain,breast,pancreas,etc.) of the cancer declaring a sort of battle on the heart and soul. Truth is that one's heart and soul always ALWAYS win this battle...it's just a matter of when and where. Heaven is a place too, ya know!
Out frame!
I am not dying! The brilliant neurological-Oncology genius At UCLA has given me no inclination that I will be leaving this planet anytime soon! YAY! 7 more weekdays of this chemotherapy-radiation malarkey, then 4-6 weeks off for good behavior :), then the ever popular MRI!!
Thank you so much for reading!
Peace,Love, and Raffle Tickets for an iPad 2--contact me for more info :)
Kirsten
Monday, October 3, 2011
Thank you, Pedialyte!!!
Hi Friends!
Great News! I am FINALLY done with cranio-spinal radiation. I am beyond enthused because the x-ray beams go through my spine and hit my stomach making it IMPOSSIBLE to hold anything down. Also, it burnt my throat making it impossible to swallow anything (even my own saliva!) But that is over, done.......ON TO THE NEXT!
I shaved my head because my hair was coming out in chunks, and I figured that I'm a tough chick :-/ FALSE!!! The first few nights, I wept like a small child. But the great news is that I still have my eyebrows, eye lashes, leg hair (...yay...) I made it ALL the way through cranio-spinal radiation and even told my radiation therapist that it looked like I made it out with all my hair!!! Jinx...started falling out that night. Ughh....sometimes it feels like I just cannot win.
I have had three neupogen shots. For you cancer newbies, a neupogen shot is a shot to kick my bone marrow into high gear to start producing more white blood cells. Last week, my counts got extremely low and there was even talks of a blood transfusion. I think that scared my body....my counts the next day were pretty high.
Just over halfway through! Some mornings, I just want to skip the day all together because Nausea isn't my name and puking my brains out is NOT my game!!! Then I have mornings that I thank God that I'm alive. I need to start having more of those mornings....
Peace, Love, and Lots of Fluids!
XO
Kirsten
PS- If you want to help me with my medical expenses, you can make donations at http://goo.gl/E8VHQ
Checks can be made out to "Love for Kirsten". Call or email for address. <3
Great News! I am FINALLY done with cranio-spinal radiation. I am beyond enthused because the x-ray beams go through my spine and hit my stomach making it IMPOSSIBLE to hold anything down. Also, it burnt my throat making it impossible to swallow anything (even my own saliva!) But that is over, done.......ON TO THE NEXT!
I shaved my head because my hair was coming out in chunks, and I figured that I'm a tough chick :-/ FALSE!!! The first few nights, I wept like a small child. But the great news is that I still have my eyebrows, eye lashes, leg hair (...yay...) I made it ALL the way through cranio-spinal radiation and even told my radiation therapist that it looked like I made it out with all my hair!!! Jinx...started falling out that night. Ughh....sometimes it feels like I just cannot win.
I have had three neupogen shots. For you cancer newbies, a neupogen shot is a shot to kick my bone marrow into high gear to start producing more white blood cells. Last week, my counts got extremely low and there was even talks of a blood transfusion. I think that scared my body....my counts the next day were pretty high.
Just over halfway through! Some mornings, I just want to skip the day all together because Nausea isn't my name and puking my brains out is NOT my game!!! Then I have mornings that I thank God that I'm alive. I need to start having more of those mornings....
Peace, Love, and Lots of Fluids!
XO
Kirsten
PS- If you want to help me with my medical expenses, you can make donations at http://goo.gl/E8VHQ
Checks can be made out to "Love for Kirsten". Call or email for address. <3
Monday, September 19, 2011
Dearest Friends...
My name is Kirsten Trimble and I am 23 years old. In my 23 years of life, I guess it is fair to say that I have had beyond my fair share of "tests". I am a believer that everything happens for a reason....whether we see it at the current time or not.
When I was 17, I was living the dream "Valencia High School" life. I had my own car, was on the dance team, got to leave at lunch to go back to sleep...the list goes on. One night while I was spending time with my dad, I started stuttering on one specific word. My brain was literally "stuck" on one thought. Once rushed to Henry Mayo, they discovered a mass in my brain. The next 8 hours were sort of a blur, but I will never forget when the doctor at Northridge Hospital looked at me and said "Honey, you have a tumor that needs to be removed as soon as possible." I was immediately transferred to UCLA Medical Center where they removed a tumor the size of a small orange from my brain. I underwent 18 months of oral chemotherapy and seemed to be in the clear.
During this time I was enrolled full-time in college classes. In October of 2008, out of nowhere, I had a grand-mal seizure and woke up in a hospital bed. This was 3 years after my previous stint with the big "C" word, but I knew it was related. Because it wasn't of such urgency, I had time to research surgeons and I chose Dr. Mitchel S. Berger (cue birds chirping) Dr. Mitchel Berger (MSB for short) was my own personal Dr. McDreamy. Of course that is NOT why I picked him! He is one of the most world renown neurosurgeons with COUNTLESS different awards. He is the Professor and Chairman of the Neurosurgery Department at UC San Francisco. We scheduled surgery with him, had that silly tumor popped out, and everything was good and fine.
I went on to attend Boise State University (Go Broncos!), but something did not feel right. I was having panic attacks left and right and could not get a grip on my life (which consisted of eating popcorn and watching the Broncos clobber another team). I decided that after one year, I needed to be closer to my parents and the people that loved me. Upon my return to LA, my brain MRI shocked everyone. There was a DEFINITE mass that, again, needed to be taken out immediately. So within 2 weeks, I was on my way, once again, to see my angel in the bay area. Again, the tumor was out with no complications....except for one. Dr. MSB told my parents that it looked as if it were a more aggressive type of tumor and that he would let us know when the pathology came back. No more than 3 days passed and we got the phone call.....Stage 4 Glioblastoma with PNET features.
Now....most brain tumors are combinations of one thing and another. Rarely do they see the combo that I have: The average age for someone with a Stage 4 Glioblastoma is a 47 year old man and the average age for someone with a PNET is a 5 year old girl-neither of which I am.
The doctors rarely see this mix of tumor, so are treating me as if I have a Stage 4 Glioblastoma and a straight PNET.
I started chemo and radiation exactly a week ago and it has been the beginning of an up hill battle!
When I was 17, I was living the dream "Valencia High School" life. I had my own car, was on the dance team, got to leave at lunch to go back to sleep...the list goes on. One night while I was spending time with my dad, I started stuttering on one specific word. My brain was literally "stuck" on one thought. Once rushed to Henry Mayo, they discovered a mass in my brain. The next 8 hours were sort of a blur, but I will never forget when the doctor at Northridge Hospital looked at me and said "Honey, you have a tumor that needs to be removed as soon as possible." I was immediately transferred to UCLA Medical Center where they removed a tumor the size of a small orange from my brain. I underwent 18 months of oral chemotherapy and seemed to be in the clear.
During this time I was enrolled full-time in college classes. In October of 2008, out of nowhere, I had a grand-mal seizure and woke up in a hospital bed. This was 3 years after my previous stint with the big "C" word, but I knew it was related. Because it wasn't of such urgency, I had time to research surgeons and I chose Dr. Mitchel S. Berger (cue birds chirping) Dr. Mitchel Berger (MSB for short) was my own personal Dr. McDreamy. Of course that is NOT why I picked him! He is one of the most world renown neurosurgeons with COUNTLESS different awards. He is the Professor and Chairman of the Neurosurgery Department at UC San Francisco. We scheduled surgery with him, had that silly tumor popped out, and everything was good and fine.
I went on to attend Boise State University (Go Broncos!), but something did not feel right. I was having panic attacks left and right and could not get a grip on my life (which consisted of eating popcorn and watching the Broncos clobber another team). I decided that after one year, I needed to be closer to my parents and the people that loved me. Upon my return to LA, my brain MRI shocked everyone. There was a DEFINITE mass that, again, needed to be taken out immediately. So within 2 weeks, I was on my way, once again, to see my angel in the bay area. Again, the tumor was out with no complications....except for one. Dr. MSB told my parents that it looked as if it were a more aggressive type of tumor and that he would let us know when the pathology came back. No more than 3 days passed and we got the phone call.....Stage 4 Glioblastoma with PNET features.
Now....most brain tumors are combinations of one thing and another. Rarely do they see the combo that I have: The average age for someone with a Stage 4 Glioblastoma is a 47 year old man and the average age for someone with a PNET is a 5 year old girl-neither of which I am.
The doctors rarely see this mix of tumor, so are treating me as if I have a Stage 4 Glioblastoma and a straight PNET.
I started chemo and radiation exactly a week ago and it has been the beginning of an up hill battle!
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