Rina Hopkins

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In October of 2019 Rina was diagnosed with stage 4 Ovarian Cancer.  She did the 18 rounds of chemo, hysterectomy and omentum removal surgery.  Her CA125 (cancer marker) was over 400 at the end it was 21.  Success, the cancer was dead.


Off to Wyoming.  A 2,000 mile trek.  The trip was titled 2 Sisters and a Cat.  It was a great adventure. We hit Wyoming soil on the 24th of April.


Rina settled into Wyoming life well.  Enjoyed the quiet and the visitation of Wyoming wildlife.  Antelope, cows, horses, dear, sheep and the neighbor dog that visits every day.


Well 3 months passed and it was time to so a recheck.  So off to Billings for the dreaded CA 125 test.


So to the doctor we went to get the results.  Well it wasn't what we wanted.  The cancer is back and it is aggressive.  It was back within the 3 month window.  So not all the cancer was killed the first time.  We knew that ovarian was sneaky and a hard one to treat but we were hoping it would be at bay a little more.  So more chemo.


Ok we can kinda deal with that.....well nothing is really easy.  In the beginning of August Rina started feeling a lot of pressure in her abdomen and started burping like crazy.  We weren't not surprised because the last time she got the same symptoms.  But it was very uncomfortable and she actually woke me up to bring her at the ER.  


They took blood, did a CT scan and found nothing.  Chalked it up to the cancer seeing it was the same symptoms as the last time .


Jump to a week later, happened again, severe bloating , shortness of breath, having the burps.  Called the doctor.  She suggested that maybe she was constipated and that we should try some laxities.  So off to the drug store instead of the ER (was headed there first but the doctor called back).  We get to the drug store and she start shaking uncontrollably.  Well that's not normal. We went to the ER.  


More blood, more scans.  This time her blood showed elevated white cells.  Indicator of an infection but where.  In the scan her gallbladder was enlarged and there was fluid in it.  Usually the fluid drains and liquid that easily drains. It showed up as sludge.  Thick not normal.  Bingo. The source of the infection, unfortunately the blood cultures they took showed infection in the blood, not good.


The hospital  in Gillette WY is not equipped to handle an infected gallbladder of a patient who has an aggressive cancer.  Off to Billings.


Long story short.  She is being treated for the infection with massive doses of antibiotics.  They decided to put a drain in her gallbladder and not to remove it due to her cancer.


They drained her lung that had
  1 1/2 liters of fluid.
 


Tomorrow the August 9th she will have the drain put into her gallbladder.


We ask for healing prayers and strength.


I am going to update this site everyday  on how things are going..  Thank you all for your prayers and concern.


Loves 
Lorraine (the little sister)