~*Kristin's Website*~

my family at my graduation!!

Hey everyone! Thanks for stopping by! I am a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, majoring Animal Science. When I was almost finished with my freshman year in March 2004, I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a childhood bone cancer, that had metastasized, or spread to my lungs. I went through 18 rounds of chemotherapy, which brought on 4 fevers and infections that also landed me in the hospital. I had surgery in June of 2004 to remove the main tumor on my right distal femur. The surgeons removed inches of my femur along with part of my knee and replaced it with a chrome rod and a partial knee replacement. Then, in July 2004, I underwent a double thoracotomy to remove the spots on my lungs. I finished up my chemo in November of 2004. In all, I was hospitalized a 24 times, usually for about a week at a time. I had scans in December 2004, and as of then, I AM IN REMISSION! :O)(O:

In October 2005, another spot was found on my lungs. We watched it for a month and it didn't grow. We decided to give it the "3-month test" and check it again in January. By January, it had grown a bit, so I had a thoracotomy on January 26, 2006. The entire spot was removed. It tested positive for osteogenic sarcoma. It was decided that no further chemo would be needed at this point. Thank GOD!

In January, 2007, it was decided that the spot we had been watching since October 2006 needed to be removed because it had grown. On February 8th, 2007, I had another thoracotomy to remove the spot. I'm so glad Dr. Moir is such a great surgeon. He removed the spot and it was sent to pathology. It was positive for OGS again. But, because it was the only nodule he found and it was again encapsulated, no further treatment is needed at this time. Again, PRAISE THE LORD! I can continue on with my senior year care-free!

This was on the front of a card that I got from the CFC FFA:
"What Cancer Cannot Do"
Cancer is so limited..
It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot corrode faith,
It cannot destroy peace,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot suppress memories,
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot steal eternal life,
It cannot conquer the spirit.

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' 32) For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. 34) Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.

Gospel of Matthew

adopt your own virtual pet!

"I believe in mind over matter.
I believe in the human spirit to prevail.
I believe in miracles and blessings, both big and small.
I believe in possibilities.
I believe that hurdles in life are to be jumped over, not as something to stop us."

"We cannot all do GREAT THINGS, but we can do SMALL THINGS with GREAT LOVE."~~Mother Teresa




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"Pain is temporary. Quitting is forever." ~Lance Armstrong

"I take nothing for granted. I now only have good days or great days." ~Lance Armstrong

Journal

Sunday, March 21, 2010 11:55 AM CDT

quick update here..not sure if anyone still even looks at this page, but what the heck...

i'm just finishing up spring break, classes resume tomorrow. this page says i'm a freshman, but i'm in the second semester of my junior year. it's tough work, but i love school. i've got about a year and a half left. i'm still majoring in animal science, and i am minoring in ag business. i'd eventually like to be a livestock nutritionist, so we'll see what happens.

everything still looks good, health-wise. i had apointments at mayo in january and everything checked out fine with the oncologists and my orthopedic surgeon. i've had a stupid cold for about a month now. my mom took me to the ER about a week ago for it. it's so annoying, and i'm sick of coughing crap up.

on a brighter note, it was 6 years ago this month that i was diagnosed. long time, huh? seems like just yesterday that i heard those awful words: "you have cancer." :)

i turned 21 last november, so i'm growing up! haha. i really love being in river falls and being independent up here, but i still rely on my mom and dad for a lot. i'm trying to find a job, but that's easier said than done.

brennen and i aren't together anymore, but it's all good. he had the surgery to remove his cancer last august, and he's been cancer free since. never needed any further treatment, so that was really great.

so yea, thats about all i've got. the family is doing well. mitch loves college at winona state, and finally picked a major/minor. jarod's a sophomore and really seems to enjoy school too. they both mean so much to me, and i really miss them when i'm at school. mom and dad are good too, both just working and being there for us, no matter what!

please keep anyone and everyone with cancer in your prayers, especially pam and megan!

kristin

Hospital Information:

Patient Room: Through the kitchen, down the hall, second door on the right

HoMe SwEeT hOmE
S2120 St. Rd. 35
Alma, WI 54610
(608) 248-3176

Links:

E-mail Author: kristinschamaun@hotmail.com

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