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Wow! It has been an interesting summer. Here is my story:
I had been traveling back and forth from Oak Grove, MN to Rochester/Byron for several weeks to help my family with getting my dad (John Tuseth) to all of his appointments as he had been diagnosed with brain cancer in May. During those travels I felt wore down and after my last visit Pat (my husband) looked at me and said you look like you have shrunk. I told him that I was having a really hard time eating and swallowing and just felt fatigued. I also shared this with my friend Jayne and she mentioned she has had that before and needed to get her esophagus stretched. I was able to get an appointment for an endoscopy to see what was going on, but I never made it to that appointment as I had gotten to sick. This is where my story really starts.
6/5: After a busy day of getting things done around the house, including raking the beach, I needed to get ready to head to my parents to help with radiation appointments later in the week for my dad. I headed upstair but I could barely walk up the stairs and I started vomiting blood. Pat called 911 and I was taken to the hospital by ambulance. 10:00 pm in the ER a CT Scan is ordered. Results come back and the Doctor said I would be admitted to the hospital as they found a mass in my esophagus and it was cancer. The "C" word!!! What? How did they know from a CT Scan? Pat and I were in disbelief. Pat cried, I stared at the ceiling. The only thing racing through my mind was, 'how am I going to help take care of my dad and support my mom if I have cancer? How am I going to tell my parents, they already have enough to deal with? My boys? How are we going to tell them I have cancer?' My head is telling me to pull it together, everything will be fine, I just need to get out of there by Wednesday night so I can get my dad to his radiation appointment Thursday as planned. I wanted to scream, I wanted to vent, I needed someone to talk to. Pat told me my sister Sheryl had just replied to one of this text messages. I texted Sheryl to let her know. I hated to dump one more thing on her but I just needed it off my chest. Sheryl is one heck of a sister and just a rock. 6/6: No hospital rooms were available so slept in the ER and Pat went home. I got in for an Endoscopy and biopsy mid-morning. When I came out of the goofy stuff they give you, it sounds like I was pretty funny. I asked to be cleaned up as I was dirty and I had a party to go to and started singing Prince's song "Party like its 1999". I was moved to my hospital room! Biopsy confirmed cancer, but it had started in my stomach and the tumor spread into my esophagus. 6/7: We told the boys and Naila. That was tough. Now, it is time to tell mom and dad. This was the worst thing I have had to do in my life. I still hear my mom's scream of Nooo in my head. How could this be happening? I kept calm and reassured them that I was going to be ok. We talked about telling my other siblings (John aka Skip, Jennifer, and Katherine). I asked if we could wait as it was more important to me that everyone's love and energy be focused on my dad. Both Jennifer and Katherine live out of state and were coming to visit dad and mom at the end of June.
6/18: Father's Day 2023 - everyone came to our place for Father's Day and the plan was for me to tell everyone at some point. We had a great picnic lunch with dad's favorite KFC. After lunch everyone gathered as there were a few gifts for dad to open. Now it was my turn. Most of the family didn't know what was going to happen, but I had a speech to give (short one) about how great of a father we have and his has always been our pillar, given us what we need when we needed it. He also paves the way and trains us and I shared that he is continuing to do that as we see him battle his fight with cancer. I thanked him for paving the way and said now that the way has been paved it is time for me to follow that path as I have stomach cancer and I will be going on a journey too. I need my dad to hold my hand as I fight and as he fights. I also need my mom's. I didn't have much information to share about me with my family but, again, assured everyone, I was going to be ok. Then Sheryl presented all of us with gifts - T-shirts saying Together We Fight. We took photos. Thank you Sheryl.
6/20: Pat and I met with my Oncologist to see what the game plan was going to be to treat my stomach cancer. Chemo - Surgery - Chemo. The chemo was going to be 4 rounds of some strong drugs (if you are interested in knowing, let me know) once every two weeks. After that I will be undergoing a very complicated surgery needing two surgeons to perform. I may be sent to the Mayo for this. Followed by another 4 rounds of Chemo. This is going to be a long and hard journey.
7/7: Pat, Sheryl, and I met with one of the surgeon's and found out that my tumor was the size of a tennis ball and it spread into the esophagus and it was causing blockage for me to eat or swallow even water. This is when it was decided I needed a J-Tube (feeding tube that goes directly into the small intestines). That started my first hospital stay in July. I was able to go through round 1 of chemo while in the hospital. Things were really rough, however, all the support and love from so many helped me through.
7/16: Discharged from the hospital 7/16 thru 7/21: At home for first time in 10 days. It was great to be home but I needed help. Pat was a saint along with Jayne Walker (most awesome friend) did the heavy lifting. Both Ryan and Joey can to help when Pat needed to go to the office. By the end of the week I was not tolerating the feeding tube feedings. 7/21: Back in the hospital 7/21 thru 7/27: Stay has been good. Needed to feed me via IV call TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition). I also picked up an infection and am on some antibiotics. Fast forward to today: We determined that I am not able to use the feeding tube and when released, I will be sent home with the TPN set up and get my feedings overnight so I can be machine free during the day. Sounds like a great plan to me, but when am I going to be released??? Just found out that today is the day!
Anyway, that is my story. I have stomach cancer and the tumor is the size of a tennis ball preventing me from being able to eat food through my mouth. I am confident that we have the right treatment plan. I share my story as I need your prayers for my family and for me. We have a lot going on dealing with my dad and his Glioblastoma and now me with Stomach Cancer. Cancer sucks.
Thank you for taking the time to read the above (of course there is a lot more) and thank you for keeping all of us in your thoughts and prayers.
It has been a while since I last updated everyone on my status due to many circumstances. I am so pleased to let you all know that I have completed my five weeks of Proton Radiation and Chemotherapy. Last Monday I was surrounded by family and friends while I rang the bell for completion. It was such a great day yet a sad day at the same time. My partner in crime (my dad) was not able to physically be there to see me ring the bell as he was too sick battling his own fight with cancer. I have my last speed bump coming up on January 9th when I have surgery to remove the majority of my stomach and part of my esophagus. I pray that they find all the cancer to be dead at that point and that I am finally able to eat food again. I do realize the way I will be eating will be dramatically different, and I am fine with that as long I can have more than soup and scrambled eggs. All in all, I am doing really well and tolerated the radiation very well.
Part of the reason I have done so well is I had a great leader by my side every step of the way while he was fighting his own battle of cancer. That pilar/leader was my dad. Unfortunately, he lost his battle this past Saturday, Dec. 16th. My dad gave me so much strength during my journey and was determined to be there when I rang the bell, just as he had done a few months earlier. I was very fortunate to have spent the last 6 1/2 weeks living with my parents and sister. I was so well cared and loved for, I never had a doubt I would make it through treatment with flying colors. Of course, my husband and kids were always there to help for all of our care.
Cancer sucks no matter how you say it.
Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers, especially my mom.
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