The home stretch
My dear people!
I have been totally off the map for the majority of the last few months and I am sorry for not popping in more often to bring you all up to speed. There have been a few bumps in the road but the light at the end of the tunnel is peeking through:)
After a rather hellish 5 months I finally finished up my chemo at the end of May (here's a little video of my graduation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzS4JelQG4o) and the morning after my final treatment a doctor from Infectious Diseases walked into my hospital room to tell me that my blood work showed that i had contracted a blood infection and I'm not gonna lie...I cried. My normal 3 night stay turned into 10 nights, 2 1/2 weeks of antibiotics via IV twice a day, removal of the port (that's where the infection started), and placement of a PICC line in my arm so they can maintain direct access for an IV. Needless to say, we have been having a rollicking good time over here! I'm all partied out. It feels like Penn State all over again. KIDDING.
Anyway, I met with my surgeon last Thursday and he has scheduled my surgery for next Tuesday, 5/19. Unfortunately, he needs to take out more than originally thought so now he will remove 3 more teeth and all of the bone above it. This will leave me with only 5 of my original top teeth (4 on the left and 1 on the right) and about 1/4 of the roof of my mouth. It's flat out INSANE. I still can't believe that it is actually happening. Every time I walk into the bathroom and look in the mirror and see this person staring back at me with no hair and a messed up smile I literally say out loud "is this REAL?" because it just can't be real. But it is. I am so aware that it could be much, much worse but right now, in this moment, I am SO over this entire shenanigan.
I'm tired. I want my energy back. I want to feel my fingers and feet again. I want the constant, blaring ringing in my ears to stop. I want my hair back (and the eyelashes of my right eye). My patience is wearing thin. And now I will stop complaining because the fact is, I'M ALIVE. They can cut it out and I can move on. Not everyone is able to do that but I can and I am deeply grateful. Grateful to the core.
So that's the scoop, friends. We are almost there. Just this last surgery and a likely long recovery, but I am hoping to be back to my life in NYC sometime in July. Some plastic surgery will likely be needed in a year or two to even out my upper lip but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Thank you for your continued support and love and kindness. I looked around my room today and counted over 125 of your beautiful, colorful get-well cards hanging on the walls and seeing them everyday truly gives me strength. I know you are right by my side.
Send me good juju on Tuesday. I'll probably have my sister post a little update here after surgery like I did the first time around.
xoxo
k
Comments (10)
Love you to the moon and back Kaytie! You are my hero!!! I hope to come and visit in July when I am back east and you are on the mend! You are in my thoughts each and every day. You got this girl! Kick this thing to the curb! Love you with infinite Xs and Os. ~Kir
Oh sweet Kaytie.... love and thoughts and prayers and hope and still more love for you and your family and everyone there with you through this frustrating ordeal. Holding you in my heart now and always. Good juju, love, light and healing vibes coming at you! XOXOXO
My dear, sweet, precious, brave, hilarious, clever, beautiful Kaytie. Your words, your experience, your humor and courage touch me to,the core. It IS insane. The four of us in this household love with with all,our hearts. You inspire and teach us what gratitude is in the face of adversity. Hang I there kiddo, there is light at the end of this tunnel and we will all be there to celebrate with you. God bless.
Of course you are tired. And had ENOUGH. I cannot imagine. I hope you give yourself permission to scream, cry, shout, throw cottonballs :), whatever. You have endured more than I'm sure most of cannot even fathom. I hope you also give yourself permission to be as brave as you want to be and also as vulnerable as you want to be. Sending you so much love and hugs through this virtual space. Warmly, Regina
I've been thinking of you all the time Kaytie! Thanks so much for the update! That is a lot to deal with, but you continue to move forward with grace. I hope you know how much love is surrounding you, and how many of us would drop everything to help in any way we can. I'll be sending good juju your way on Tuesday. Love you!!!
You are a warrior, Kaytie. Love you to pieces and sending you positive energy and strength every day. You have so much love and light surrounding you. I hope you feel it and it helps to see you through this. All my love, cari
I have been thinking about you a great deal and continue to send you lots of prayers and positive thoughts. You are amazing!
Keep focusing on that faint light at the end of that seemingly endless tunnel it will eventually brighten for you and this will all be part of your past. You have taken every twist and turn with grace and dignity, smiles and laughter (sometimes tears, but that's OK too). Just remember that you are beautiful inside and out and you have a huge group of friends and family that love you and are praying for you. Love You!! Aunt Karen
dear sweet kaytie.... you have had an unbelievable journey so far... can't imagine how you manage to have the strength and fortitude to endure all that you have been through... I admire you so... praying and God takes all this pain and suffering away from you after the surgery and that you get to enjoy the rest of your life in good help and with much happiness.. you truly deserve that and more... I will continue to pray for you daily... of course I will be especially be thinking about you on Tuesday... love, hugs and kisses go with you... XOXO
Oh Kaytie-I have been thinking of you everyday! You are such a strong, amazing, beautiful person. I know you will continue to weather this storm. Sending prayers your way!! Love, Jules