My sister, Kimberly

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A Little Rosebud ~Reminisce Member~ Posts: 35 (1/18/03 7:03 pm) Reply	My sister, Kimberly Dear friends, Some of you may know about my sister, Kimberly (16). She has advanced liver cancer. After a very successful surgery last July, she recovered well, was back to school, and doctors didn't see any cancer in the periodic scans. Kimberly's last day of chemotherapy was Christmas day. Our family was visiting family in Georgia at the time, and Kimberly was very grateful for the chance to rest. In the intervening weeks since then, back at home, we noticed that Kimberly was more fatigued, and her low-grade fevers, one of the side-effects of her chemo and also a symptom she had experienced with her advanced cancer, were continuing. In view of these symptoms, my mother wondered whether the area in her right lung base which the doctors had been following was cancer after all, rather than scar tissue from surgery. She had been pale, and Mama thought her anemia was also contributing to her fatigue. We were scheduled to return to a hospital that Kimberly goes for treatment this past Wednesday for a follow-up CT scan, the plan being that even if this lesion in the right lung remained unchanged, Kimberly would have her Hickman catheter removed and then have follow-up scans at six month intervals. Thus far, the cancer had shown itself to be very slow-growing. Kimberly had had many previous CT scans and MRIs, and none of her scans had ever shown the cancer to be growing. Her doctors had hope that she might live several more years. So, with hope that Kimberly might be able to have her Hickman removed for a time, we went to the hospital that Kimberly receives treatment at on Wednesday, thinking it would be an especially happy day. Kimberly, my father (by phone conference call), and my mother listened as the medical team shared with us the results of the CT scan. They told us that Kimberly has multiple new tumors in her abdomen and chest, and that the rate of growth appears to be very rapid. Looking back at the November CT scan, the radiologists could now ascertain the beginning of growth of the largest of these tumors, but most of the growth had been in the last three months. An MRI scan yesterday showed even more cancer growth than was visible on the CT scan. Kimberly's largest tumor is approximately 10 cm by 5.6 by 5 cm, and lays along the aorta in the retroperitoneum (the part of the abdomen nearest the back). She has two tumors in her liver, the largest of which might be 4-5 cm by 2 cm. Another tumor (approximately 4 cm by 2 cm) is right next to the inferior vena cava where it enters the heart. The lung mass which was seen previously was unchanged, but the doctors now feel it is cancer as well, because it appeared the same as the other cancers on the MRI scan. The surgeon who operated on Kimberly in July said that he would not recommend surgery because of the danger of operating so close to so many large vessels. The oncologists plan to convene another tumor board conference on January 28 to discuss Kimberly's cancer, and are in contact with key experts in pediatric liver cancer. There were two types of liver cancer in the large liver tumor removed last summer. One was the slower-growing fibrolamellar type of hepatocellular carcinoma, and the other was the more aggressive conventional hepatocellular carcinoma. Her doctors think that it is the more aggressive type of liver cancer that is now growing in Kimberly's body. They would like to rescan Kimberly in four to six weeks in order to get another benchmark for the rate of the cancer's growth. Because her hematocrit is so low, Kimberly will probably get a transfusion this next week, to help her feel a little less fatigued. While we don't have all the information from the liver cancer experts available right now, Kimberly's doctors at the hospital she receives treatment at feel that there might not be any treatment available that they could recommend for her. With Kimberly's first chemo, she experienced profound bone marrow suppression from what was thought to be a very mild chemo. Her doctors are reluctant to try a chemo with strong side effects that has very little promise of helping her. They want her to have the best quality of life during the time she has left to live. Gratefully, Kimberly has no pain. The Lord is faithful and loving to all He has made. We know He will continue to provide all that we need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus in the days ahead. In our Savior, Emily Elizabeth P.S.- My mother wrote most of that on an update that she sent out this evening (she sends updates about once every six weeks to many people who are praying for our family)
Mrs Lyn Administrator Posts: 82 (1/18/03 9:10 pm) Reply	Re: My sister, Kimberly Emily Elizabeth, Thank you so much for sharing with us, about your sweet sister. Kimberly has been on my mind much lately and I am so sadden to hear of her last report. Yet!! We know that Jesus is the GREAT PHYSICIAN and ALL things are possible with HIM!! I do know it must be very hard right now. Keep looking unto Jesus!! Do know that we will be praying for your sister and your family. Please keep us informed, we so appreciate your reports. Give Kimberly a hug for us and tell her....we are all praying for her and hold tight to Jesus! HE is hearing all of our prayers and He is soooo faithful !! With much love and prayers, Mrs Lyn Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7
AbbasLilLady ~Reminisce Member~ Posts: 10 (1/18/03 11:11 pm) Reply	Re: My sister, Kimberly Dear Emily, I am lifting you up in prayer tonight as well as your dear sister, Kimberly! I will tell my family to pray and anyone else I can! My Grandpa has cancer. 12 months ago they have im 6 months and he is having the time of his life in FL right now. : Jesus can do the impossible!! I am praying, Sweetie! It must be so hard! Love & Prayers, Kristin
Emilee Elizabeth Editress of Genteel Girlhood Posts: 219 (1/18/03 11:27 pm) Reply	I'm praying!! :) Hi Emily Elizabeth! Thank you so much for your post! You all have been on my mind a lot too!! Mom and I have wondered how you all were doing. It's so good to hear from you again! I'm so sorry to hear of Kimberly's last doctor's report. Please know Kimberly and your family are in my prayers!!!! ..... Dear Lord Jesus... I pray that you'd please be with Kimberly and her family right now. Father you know that they've just received some discouraging news. But Lord we know that you are in control and You know all about this. You know Father what is best for Kimberly, and we place her and her family in your hands. Dear Lord, please be close to them and give them Your abundant grace, as they face the days ahead. Father, please surround them with your sweet presence. Let them feel you so very near to them right now. Dear Jesus, we would ask that you would please heal Kimberly completely, and let her be a witness of Your healing power and Your glory! Lord we pray that Your Will would be done. Thank you for bringing Emily Elizabeth and her family into our lives, so that we can pray for them. Lord, we thank you for this honor to come before you and lay these requests at your feet. Father, we know you hear our prayers and we thank you for sending Your only Son Jesus, so we can come before your throne, on behalf of Kimberly and her family. We ask all these things in your precious Son, Jesus' name.... Amen. God Bless You Emily!! Please keep us updated, as you can. Love and Blessings in Jesus, Emilee Elizabeth
Atlanta689 ~Reminisce Member~ Posts: 18 (1/19/03 12:28 pm) Reply	Re: I'm praying!! :) Dear Emily, Just wanted to let you know that I am praying for Emily and your family. What is happening to your sister sounds a great deal like what happened to my grandmother. Please do keep us updated. With love and prayers, Atlanta
BRRanch ~Reminisce Member~ Posts: 108 (1/19/03 2:08 pm) Reply	Re: I'm praying!! :) Just to let you know...your in my prayers also. Aja Nicole~~ This daughter of Zion is free to be who she was created to be...a lover of my Lord and handmaiden to my dear family.
sis2 12 ~Reminisce Member~ Posts: 12 (1/20/03 2:08 pm) Reply	Re: I'm praying!! :) Dear Emily, Here is a poem I read once. I hope it will bless you as it did me. He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater. He sendeth more strength when the labors increase. To added affliction, He addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace. When we have exausted our store of endurance, And our strength has failed ere the day is half done, When we reach the end of our hoarded resources, The Father's full giving is only begun. His love has no limit, His grace has no measure. His power has no boundary known unto men. For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and guveth again. -Annie Johnson Flint Your sister and family will be in my prayers. ~~Shannon~~
A Little Rosebud ~Reminisce Member~ Posts: 37 (1/21/03 11:55 am) Reply	Thank you! Thank you for your prayers and encouragement, dear ones. They mean a great deal to our family. It is such a blessing to have many praying for us! With thankfulness for you all, Emily
Mrs Lyn Administrator Posts: 95 (1/30/03 10:24 am) Reply	Re: Thank you! Emily, It is such a blessing to have you here with us!! It is a true honor to pray for your sweet family and sister. God Bless you and we are continuing to pray. Love in Jesus, Mrs Lyn
Fanny Beerepoot ~Reminisce Member~ Posts: 10 (2/7/03 4:12 am) Reply	Re: My sister, Kimberly Dear Emily Elizabeth, I have just read about your prayer request for your sister, Kimberly. I can not imagine just how hard a time it must be for you all, but especially for Kimberly. I too will be praying for your sister, that God may grant her a complete recovery so that He may be glorified. I do have some information which I thought you and your family may be interested in. Rev. Malkmus (you may have heard of him?) in America has a web site (www.hacres.com) in which he explains 'God's way to ultimate health'. He himself suffered advanced colon cancer. The doctors had no hope of him surviving very long. However, he turned to God and found out what God intended for us to eat. He works a lot with vegetable juices and Green Barley juice which are full of nutrients that the body (and especially a sick body) needs to rebuild and restore optimum functioning. God healed Rev. Malkmus and he is still here today (he had the cancer in 1976). What is so encouraging is that he gives God the credit for his healing and ever since he has been helping other people get better using God's intended diet for man (mainly fresh fruit and vegetables). Emily, I just wanted to give you that contact web site and I hope and pray your family may have the time to look into it to see what you think about it. You are probably getting a lot of advice from all corners telling you that this or that will help cure your sister, but this is the first time I have come across a gentleman who is approaching our health and healing from a Godly aspect. I pray you and your family, but especially Kimberly, may be blessed by it. I will be praying for you all, Your Sister in Christ, Fanny.
A Little Rosebud ~Reminisce Member~ Posts: 42 (2/14/03 7:24 am) Reply	Re: My sister, Kimberly Kimberly's cancer has spread to her bones (since last month, I believe). Thank you for your prayers. May the God of hope fill all of you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. In Christ, Emily P.S.- Fanny, thank you for the information.
Mrs Lyn Administrator Posts: 118 (2/15/03 10:53 am) Reply	Re: My sister, Kimberly Emily, Thank you for your update. It always helps to know how to direct our prayers on behalf of your sister and family. I am so sorry to hear the news of the spread of cancer. We will continue to bring prayers before the throne room, of Jesus,for your sweet family. Blessings in Him! Mrs Lyn
A Little Rosebud ~Reminisce Member~ Posts: 43 (6/8/03 8:05 pm) Reply	My sister is in eternal glory Kimberly-- not only my sister, but also my dear friend-- died on May 20th at 6:49 pm. I'm sorry to be so late in telling you; things have been rather busy. Below you will find most of the update that my father sent out the day after Kimberly went to Heaven. ~~~ Dear friends, Last evening we read scripture and then sang "All the Way My Savior Leads Me" for Kimberly. (You may recall that this was the hymn Kimberly sang in January right after learning that the cancer had recurred in many areas.) All the way my Savior leads me What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who through life has been my Guide? Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort, Here by faith in Him to dwell! For I know, whate'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well; For I know, whate'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well. All the way my Savior leads me Cheers each winding path I tread, Gives me grace for every trial, Feeds me with the living Bread. Though my weary steps may falter And my soul athirst may be, Gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! A spring of joy I see; Gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! A spring of joy I see. All the way my Savior leads me O the fullness of His love! Perfect rest to me is promised In my Father's house above. When my spirit, clothed immortal, Wings its flight to realms of day This my song through endless ages: Jesus led me all the way; This my song through endless ages: Jesus led me all the way. Yesterday as we sang "When my spirit, clothed immortal, wings its flight to realms of day" Kimberly took her last breath and then went to be with the Lord. After we finished the hymn, Emily said, "He doeth all things well." Amen. Yes, Jesus does all things well. We rejoice and thank God that Kimberly is safely home. By His grace, we are all doing well, especially Kimberly. We cannot adequately express our gratitude for the myriad of ways you have blessed us during the past two years. You have shared our burdens, served us, encouraged us, and covered us with prayer. We are truly humbled by the way you have given of yourselves. ~~~ In Christ, Emily
Mrs Lyn Administrator Posts: 139 (6/11/03 6:18 am) Reply	Re: My sister is in eternal glory Emily, Thank you so much for updating us on Kimberly. Praising Jesus for HIS provision for us in heaven. I look forward to meeting Kimberly in heaven someday!!! Please know that you and your family are in our prayers. We pray that you will feel and know Jesus' grace and strength very close and real at this time. God Bless and keep you, Mrs Lyn .
Emilee Elizabeth ~Moderator of Reminisce~ Posts: 330 (6/11/03 6:32 am) Reply	Re: My sister is in eternal glory Emily, Thank you for letting us know about Kimberly. She has such a wonderful testimony for others to hear. What a blessing and confort to know she is safe with Jesus! Like my Mom said... I do so look forward to meeting her someday! You and your family are in our prayers! May you feel the Lord Jesus' presence with you! Please do feel free to contact me anytime! May the Lord bless you! Your friend in Jesus, Emilee Elizabeth
Atlanta689 ~Reminisce Member~ Posts: 96 (6/13/03 3:02 pm) Reply	Re: My sister is in eternal glory Dear Emily, Thankyou so much for telling us about your sister. I will be praying for you and others who were to her. May our God be with you and comfort you. Love in Christ, Atlanta