Welcome to our CaringBridge website. This is Amanda Lee, Kris' oldest daughter. We are using this site to keep family and friends updated about Mom's journey with cancer. Thank you so much for loving us, praying for us and for the other ways you are supporting us during this time.
About 3 weeks ago, the first of January 2019, my Mom noticed that one of her lymph nodes in the right side of her neck was swollen. At first she thought it was due to cold symptoms but after a week of it not going away, she went to urgent care in Salina. The doctor there but her on an antibiotic thinking it could be an infection. She took that for 7 days and saw no change, in fact, it continued to swell bigger. She saw her family doctor on January 20th (3 weeks to the day that she was seen for her yearly check-up) and he ordered blood tests, a chest x-ray and CT scan. The blood tests came back that she did not have an infection. The chest x-ray and CT scan showed significant involvement in the lymph nodes in her neck and some spots on her upper chest, near her clavicle. He scheduled a biopsy with the same surgeon who repaired Miriam's hernias in December 2017. Her biopsy was done on Monday, January 28th and the doctor said that he got 4 samples from lymph nodes in her neck through a needle procedure. He did say on that day that the tissue he got and the way her neck felt made him pretty sure it was cancer. On January 30th, we got the official results from the biopsy. She has been diagnosed with Large B Cell Lymphoma. A few things we know now is that she will have a PET scan done to see if the cancer has spread, a lymph node in her neck will be completely taken out and she will get a port for chemotherapy. My Mom, Clint and I will meet with her oncologist on Friday, February 1st to learn more and find out her care plan. I will send updates via the Journal on this site moving forward.
My Mom fought breast cancer, 25 years ago. She had chemotherapy and radiation at that time. She fought hard and has been in remission all these years, Praise God! Medicine has advanced a lot since then and she has 5 grandchildren now to motivate her to fight even harder than before.
5 months ago, in August 2018, my Mom had 2 stints placed in the largest arteries of her heart. That journey happened very fast and we are so thankful that God saved her from the complications of her heart. On December 31st, she had her 6 month follow up appointment from that procedure and nothing was wrong. So this cancer is very aggressive. She is currently on a blood thinner to prevent her body rejecting her stents so as we move forward we will need to pay close attention to her platelet levels because if they get too low, she would need to go off the blood thinner. This is cause for concern and needs constant prayer as we go through this journey.
Through all of the trials we have been and are facing, our faith is strong in God! He is our strength and because of the salvation we have in Jesus, we have HOPE! We know that He has a plan and a purpose for these things and we are clinging to Him! My Mom's favorite verses are below and we claim them as Truth for this journey! We love you all so much and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for praying for Mom, for our family and the road ahead.
Lamentations 3:25-26 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord will all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Mom had her 2 year check up at KU Med on Wednesday (Valentine's Day)! She wrote an email to our family and with her permission, it is below! We love you all and thank God for His healing! The two pictures are from Mom and Clint's anniversary trip this past summer and their recent hike at Kanopolis Lake on January 1st!
Hi Family - Clint and I went to KU yesterday for my 2 years post CAR-T transplant. The PETscan showed no active lymphoma. Which means in the 5 years since I was first diagnosed with Aggressive Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, I was able to make my 2 year milestone:😃! I still have low blood counts, and have anemia. This causes me to have low energy, fatigue, and still be susceptible to infections. I will still need to wear a mask in public, But we are so thankful that God has answered prayer and can live life to the fullest. I can't say I'm cancer free or even in remission, but at least I can say "there is no active lymphoma". We are SO BLESSED. This is why I want to share with my family the importance of prayer...
When we pray, we actively trust God with our needs and future, rather than depending on anything in and of ourselves.
Make no mistake, prayer is God’s will for us. It’s what releases His peace in our lives. And it’s what will bring change, both in our lives and in the world around us! So,
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, NKJV).
Patients and caregivers love hearing from you; add a comment to show your support.
Help Kris Stay Connected to Family and Friends
A $25 donation to CaringBridge powers a site like Kris's for two weeks. Will you make a gift to help ensure that this site stays online for them and for you?
