Kristi Hargrave Kristi Hargrave

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your prayers and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
On Saturday, August 10, after a summer of excruciating hip pain, Mom went to the ER at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was admitted for tests and pain management that afternoon. On Sunday morning, August 11, we were told that she needed to be transported to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis because of a large mass filling her pelvis. Because of the difficult location, the physicians at Southeast wanted her to be in the hands of experts. The teams at Barnes determined that the tumor is an endometrial stromal sarcoma (a type of Uterine/Endometrial Cancer) and although contained, is fixed to some structures in her body. This mass is putting pressure on nerves and muscles that severely cause pain to the left hip and leg. The oncologists and pain team worked hard to find a way to manage her pain during her 1.5 week stay so that she could come home before beginning treatment. Unfortunately, they cannot completely alleviate the pain, but they do have her on scheduled medications to allow her to be more comfortable. Dr. David Mutch, the lead doctor on her case, is optimistic. They need for this tumor to shrink by 30% before they schedule surgery to remove it. They placed a port in her so she can begin chemotherapy once the final pathology shows her teams how to best go after the cancer.  Mom’s first outpatient appointment with Dr. Mutch is on September 11th at his Washington University Practice.  
We are so humbled by your prayers and in all of the ways that love has been shown to mom and our family. We are scared, but we know God is faithful and praise Him for the healing that He will provide.  In addition to praying for Mom, we ask that you also lift up the doctors and medical staff that will be treating mom during this journey.  One of her favorite scripture comes to mind, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:22-23
Thank you again for loving my family so well and for the outpouring for our sweet Mom. Abby, Annie and I (and hopefully mom!) will do our best to keep you updated as you lift her up during this time. 
May God bless you as you bless us.
In Him, 
Amy