To celebrate the end of Chemo, I decided I wanted to get Christmas pictures of the girls since they are only little for so long. Brynnley was 6 months and Aubrie was 3 years old.
8 month old professional pictures!
13 years ago
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Christmas pictures
To celebrate the end of Chemo, I decided I wanted to get Christmas pictures of the girls since they are only little for so long. Brynnley was 6 months and Aubrie was 3 years old.
Christmas miracles
Since being diagnosed with Cancer in June, I have been overwhelmed by all the help that has been offered by our ward members, neighbors, and my family. Both of my grandma's have sacrificed their time to babysit every week along with my parents taking a lot of time off work to help with the kids, along with Shannon helping me out while she is home for the summer. Due to me being so sick, weak, and exhausted, I needed somebody to be with me 24/7 to make sure I was getting my medications on time, eating, driving me to my appointments (almost daily) and helping with the kids.
In December I had a few wonderful surprises provided to our family. The first one was at my RPT Christmas Party the first Saturday in December. I was asked to come up to the front and informed that my work chose our family as the Sub for Santa family. My parents and sister surprised us by bringing the girls to us during the announcement. All of the clinics in the company had been collecting money from patients and staff for our family and was shocked to hear that $8,000 had been raised to help with medical expenses!
We were again surprised by a knock at our door and "the Grinch" with Christmas dinner and some toys for the girls. The Grinch was Miss Shenna, the director of the daycare.
Another blessing was being the recipients of the 12 days of Christmas by 2 families. We received wonderful gifts, gift cards, and food which helped us out so much.
Then on the 20th of December, we were again surprised by a handful of people on our doorstep and hearing the news that we were chosen as Toyota of Bountiful's Sub for Santa Christmas Wish family. They provided us each with a large garbage sack full of gifts for each one of us, Christmas dinner, and lots of baby food and diapers! What a blessing!
The blessings we received continued into January when the Bishop's wife helped to set up a fundraiser at Chick-fil-a. Chick-fil-a donated 10% of the money they made from 5-7pm. We had a wonderful turnout full of neighbors and friends.
In December I had a few wonderful surprises provided to our family. The first one was at my RPT Christmas Party the first Saturday in December. I was asked to come up to the front and informed that my work chose our family as the Sub for Santa family. My parents and sister surprised us by bringing the girls to us during the announcement. All of the clinics in the company had been collecting money from patients and staff for our family and was shocked to hear that $8,000 had been raised to help with medical expenses!
We were again surprised by a knock at our door and "the Grinch" with Christmas dinner and some toys for the girls. The Grinch was Miss Shenna, the director of the daycare.
Another blessing was being the recipients of the 12 days of Christmas by 2 families. We received wonderful gifts, gift cards, and food which helped us out so much.
Then on the 20th of December, we were again surprised by a handful of people on our doorstep and hearing the news that we were chosen as Toyota of Bountiful's Sub for Santa Christmas Wish family. They provided us each with a large garbage sack full of gifts for each one of us, Christmas dinner, and lots of baby food and diapers! What a blessing!
The blessings we received continued into January when the Bishop's wife helped to set up a fundraiser at Chick-fil-a. Chick-fil-a donated 10% of the money they made from 5-7pm. We had a wonderful turnout full of neighbors and friends.
Brynnley is 6 months old!
I can't believe how quick this little munchkin has grown! Brynnly is 6 months old!
My cute 6 month old baby is growing up so quickly.
Brynnley:
- is still quite petite and weighs 13.15 lbs and is 26 inches long
- started wearing her helmet to correct her flat spot at the beginning of December and has been a trooper as she has to wear it 23 hours/day
-loves to sit in her walker and play with toys
-is a good eater and loves to snack on gerber puffs
-sleeps most of the night but will wake up for a bottle about 2 am.
- is such a happy and content baby and hardly cries
We saw Dr. Rodney Schmelzer at Primary Childrens who said her flat spot is mild-mod and recommended a helmet for a few months to re-shape Brynnley's head.
Here she is getting fit for a custom helmet made by the orthotist, Alan.
Brynnley is such a trooper with her helmet! She can have it off for 1 hour a day and she doesn't seem to mind the helmet at all. I think it bothers Jeff and I more than her!
Brynnley:
- is still quite petite and weighs 13.15 lbs and is 26 inches long
- started wearing her helmet to correct her flat spot at the beginning of December and has been a trooper as she has to wear it 23 hours/day
-loves to sit in her walker and play with toys
-is a good eater and loves to snack on gerber puffs
-sleeps most of the night but will wake up for a bottle about 2 am.
- is such a happy and content baby and hardly cries
We saw Dr. Rodney Schmelzer at Primary Childrens who said her flat spot is mild-mod and recommended a helmet for a few months to re-shape Brynnley's head.
Here she is getting fit for a custom helmet made by the orthotist, Alan.
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Chemotherapy is complete!
On December 30, 2015 I completed my 6th and final round of chemotherapy. I decided to do the IP chemo one last time and boy was it tough. I was extremely sick and weak and ended up having to have a blood transfusion due to low red blood cells. I was so bloated after each of the IP chemo rounds and felt like I gained 10 lbs due to all the fluid and chemo put into my stomach.
Even though Chemo was complete, I still had to get the Nulasta shot the following day due to my white blood cell count not looking so good and me being at a high risk for infection and hospitalization.
My CA-125 blood marker continues to stay in the normal range but varies from 16-20. As long as it stays below 35, I will be happy.
Me hitting the 'graduation gong' at Huntsman on my last day.
Now the plan is to have a my ports removed in December and have a CT scan in January and follow-up with Dr. Beck for CA 125 levels and with Dr. Zempolich for exams every 3 months.
Friday, December 18, 2015
Cancer updates go fund me
I thought I would put the updates I had posted on my GoFundMe account on here to remember the journey:
GoFundMe campaign:
Excited for the birth of their second child after a high risk pregnancy, the day finally arrived! Mckinzy's OB arrived at the hospital in the middle of the night to help deliver a baby via C-Section. A healthy baby girl, Brynnley was born 3 weeks early.
Imagine the surprise when the Doctor discovered McKinzy's ovaries were the size of tennis balls during the surgery. (They should be almond or marble sized). He removed one ovary and biopsied the other. Sadly, two hours later a positive Cancer test arrived. Shock and tears for this young mom and her family as they recieved the news. How could this day be so bitter sweet?
McKinzy put herself through school and is energetic, dedicated and focused. She normally works full time helping others professionally as a Physical Therapist. She loves her family, job and community! She strives and prays that she may continue taking care of her family and working.
Extensive surgery and biopsies have been scheduled and an aggressive chemotherapy plan made due to the rapidly growing ovarian cancer. Sadly a full hysterectomy and ovary removal will be performed when dreams of more babies were in the future.
Please help this mom have the opportunity to fight, live and raise her sweet little family. She means so much to so many people! Her family, community and employment love her. This new baby needs her mom. Her extended family support group is working hard on her behalf too but we need a team and you can make a difference!
This honest, hard working family seeks support for medical bills and prayers to help us win this fight against ovarian cancer. Thank you for your love and support!
Update #1 (July 19, 2015)
I underwent surgery on Wednesday July 15th and unfortunately we found out the cancer has spread throughout my entire abdomen. I had hundreds of cancer granules on my organs making my stage of cancer at least a 3c which means it is in both ovaries and spread to the abdomen and lymph nodes. I had multiple organs removed including my ovary, uterus, spleen, appendix and hundreds of cells over my liver. This was shocking news to us all as my CT scan was clear. Thanks to all those who have supported me and my family at this time and together we will beat this!
Update #2 (August 2, 2015)
Here's an update on my journey: I met with my chemotherapy doctor to set up my chemo schedule which will begin this Monday. Since I have so many microscopic cancer cells in my abdomen and pelvis even after my surgery, I am doing a more aggressive form of chemo called intraperitoneal chemo. I have a port in both my abdomen and chest and will have 9 days of chemo through these ports and then get a week and a half off and repeat it for 6 rounds. Our goal is to be cancer free by Christmas.
Round 1, Second day of Chemo at Huntsman
I am healing well from my big surgery and am ready to fight through the next step to becoming cancer free and being able to live for my family and daughters.
Thanks to everyone who has supported us this far in my journey to fight ovarian cancer.
Update #3 (September 2015)
Good news today....my CA-125 number is 27! What does this mean? Well this is the blood marker that the doctors use to track progress with Ovarian Cancer and to see if chemo is doing it's job. When I was first diagnosed my number was 350, normal range for no cancer is 0-35, so I am pleased to be in the normal range now. Unfortunately, I still have 3 1/2 more rounds of aggressive chemo to go. Chemo has taken it's toll on my body as my hair has fallen out almost completely, I have lost a lot of strength, and chemo brain has set in, but I continue to have a positive outlook and will put up a good fight with this nasty cancer in my body.
Thank you to everyone for your continued support for both me and my family. We couldn't do it without your help!
Update #4 (October 2015)
Good news continues as my CA-125 number continues to decline and is now at 19 compared to 350 when I was diagnosed. I just completed round 4 of 6 and am definitely feeling the effects of the chemo. For round 4, I went back to the aggressive chemo and had the chemo placed in my abdomen. This type of chemo is especially hard as I have the equivalent of 2 big gulps of fluids/chemo put in my abdomen. I have been having complications with this type of chemo as my body is not filtering off all the fluids and my weight fluxuates 10 lbs from week to week. My doctor has advised me to take another break from this type of chemo for my 5th round and just have the IV chemo (which is still tough, but I call it the 'easy' chemo).
The side effects from chemo are getting worse for me as my energy level is very low and my white blood cell counts are low which places me at a high risk of getting sick. I have to be very careful who I am around and where I go out in order to avoid becoming sick. I am still attempting to work as a physical therapist a few days a month to keep my life as 'normal' as possible.
I want to thank everybody for the prayers, meals, help and donations in my behalf as life is difficult with more medical bills coming in each day.
Update #5 (November 23, 2015)
Today begins my final round of chemotherapy!!! It has been a long 5 months since my cancer was discovered and even though it's been a tough road, I am grateful it was caught before it took my life. I was told by my doctor that I have a 70% chance of it returning and becoming terminal in the next 3 years due to the aggressiveness of ovarian cancer. I have chosen to take this news and spend the next phase of my life focusing on keeping the cancer away though nutrition. Through this journey I have come to truly believe in miracles and will remain positive despite the news I was given. I have had a wonderful support system including neighbors, my ward family, co workers, family, friends and especially my husband and Mom and Dad and am so grateful for the help and love along the way. Even though my body is getting more exhausted by the day, I look forward to having better health and energy to take care of my family again.
GoFundMe campaign:
Excited for the birth of their second child after a high risk pregnancy, the day finally arrived! Mckinzy's OB arrived at the hospital in the middle of the night to help deliver a baby via C-Section. A healthy baby girl, Brynnley was born 3 weeks early.
Imagine the surprise when the Doctor discovered McKinzy's ovaries were the size of tennis balls during the surgery. (They should be almond or marble sized). He removed one ovary and biopsied the other. Sadly, two hours later a positive Cancer test arrived. Shock and tears for this young mom and her family as they recieved the news. How could this day be so bitter sweet?
McKinzy put herself through school and is energetic, dedicated and focused. She normally works full time helping others professionally as a Physical Therapist. She loves her family, job and community! She strives and prays that she may continue taking care of her family and working.
Extensive surgery and biopsies have been scheduled and an aggressive chemotherapy plan made due to the rapidly growing ovarian cancer. Sadly a full hysterectomy and ovary removal will be performed when dreams of more babies were in the future.
Please help this mom have the opportunity to fight, live and raise her sweet little family. She means so much to so many people! Her family, community and employment love her. This new baby needs her mom. Her extended family support group is working hard on her behalf too but we need a team and you can make a difference!
This honest, hard working family seeks support for medical bills and prayers to help us win this fight against ovarian cancer. Thank you for your love and support!
Update #1 (July 19, 2015)
I underwent surgery on Wednesday July 15th and unfortunately we found out the cancer has spread throughout my entire abdomen. I had hundreds of cancer granules on my organs making my stage of cancer at least a 3c which means it is in both ovaries and spread to the abdomen and lymph nodes. I had multiple organs removed including my ovary, uterus, spleen, appendix and hundreds of cells over my liver. This was shocking news to us all as my CT scan was clear. Thanks to all those who have supported me and my family at this time and together we will beat this!
Update #2 (August 2, 2015)
Here's an update on my journey: I met with my chemotherapy doctor to set up my chemo schedule which will begin this Monday. Since I have so many microscopic cancer cells in my abdomen and pelvis even after my surgery, I am doing a more aggressive form of chemo called intraperitoneal chemo. I have a port in both my abdomen and chest and will have 9 days of chemo through these ports and then get a week and a half off and repeat it for 6 rounds. Our goal is to be cancer free by Christmas.
I am healing well from my big surgery and am ready to fight through the next step to becoming cancer free and being able to live for my family and daughters.
Thanks to everyone who has supported us this far in my journey to fight ovarian cancer.
Update #3 (September 2015)
Good news today....my CA-125 number is 27! What does this mean? Well this is the blood marker that the doctors use to track progress with Ovarian Cancer and to see if chemo is doing it's job. When I was first diagnosed my number was 350, normal range for no cancer is 0-35, so I am pleased to be in the normal range now. Unfortunately, I still have 3 1/2 more rounds of aggressive chemo to go. Chemo has taken it's toll on my body as my hair has fallen out almost completely, I have lost a lot of strength, and chemo brain has set in, but I continue to have a positive outlook and will put up a good fight with this nasty cancer in my body.
Thank you to everyone for your continued support for both me and my family. We couldn't do it without your help!
Update #4 (October 2015)
Good news continues as my CA-125 number continues to decline and is now at 19 compared to 350 when I was diagnosed. I just completed round 4 of 6 and am definitely feeling the effects of the chemo. For round 4, I went back to the aggressive chemo and had the chemo placed in my abdomen. This type of chemo is especially hard as I have the equivalent of 2 big gulps of fluids/chemo put in my abdomen. I have been having complications with this type of chemo as my body is not filtering off all the fluids and my weight fluxuates 10 lbs from week to week. My doctor has advised me to take another break from this type of chemo for my 5th round and just have the IV chemo (which is still tough, but I call it the 'easy' chemo).
The side effects from chemo are getting worse for me as my energy level is very low and my white blood cell counts are low which places me at a high risk of getting sick. I have to be very careful who I am around and where I go out in order to avoid becoming sick. I am still attempting to work as a physical therapist a few days a month to keep my life as 'normal' as possible.
I want to thank everybody for the prayers, meals, help and donations in my behalf as life is difficult with more medical bills coming in each day.
My inspiration for fighting for my life:
The 4th and 5th rounds of chemotherapy were Taxol and Carboplatin through my IV port only due to me becoming very sick and retaining fluid with the first 3 treatments. My body tolerated these changes much better and I only had chemo one time a week for 3 weeks. It took a lot of thought and convincing myself that for my final round I need to return to the IP chemo for my last push to kill this nasty cancer inside me. At my doctors appointment at the beginning of November, Dr. Beck gave me some not so pleasant news. She said if the cancer returns weather it be early or late it will be terminal. She said there are options for prolonging my life but once it is back it will always be in my body. I also have a 70% chance of it returning in the next 3-5 years. I came home from this appointment in tears and a hopeless feeling. After talking about this with my Mom, we decided we were going to take a few approaches to keeping this cancer away.
I met with a guy who cured his own cancer without chemo just by changing his diet and and making lifestyle changes. He gave me tips including taking supplements, drinking RO water, not eating gluten or sugar, and meditation.
These pictures were right after Round 3 and I still had eyelashes and eyebrows.
Today begins my final round of chemotherapy!!! It has been a long 5 months since my cancer was discovered and even though it's been a tough road, I am grateful it was caught before it took my life. I was told by my doctor that I have a 70% chance of it returning and becoming terminal in the next 3 years due to the aggressiveness of ovarian cancer. I have chosen to take this news and spend the next phase of my life focusing on keeping the cancer away though nutrition. Through this journey I have come to truly believe in miracles and will remain positive despite the news I was given. I have had a wonderful support system including neighbors, my ward family, co workers, family, friends and especially my husband and Mom and Dad and am so grateful for the help and love along the way. Even though my body is getting more exhausted by the day, I look forward to having better health and energy to take care of my family again.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Brynnley is 5 months old and Thanksgiving
At 5 months Brynnley:
- Loves to eat squash, sweet potatoes, pears, baby oatmeal, green beans and isn't such a fan of carrots, peaches, or peas
- Is sitting up with support
- Can still fit into 3 month clothes and wears size 1 diapers still.
- Loves her family and smiles and gets wild and excited when she sees us, especially Aubrie
- Is still a great sleeper and gets up only 1 time a night
- Is such a calm baby and so happy all the time
We had our first big snowstorm and Aubrie woke up, got dressed, and told me she was ready to go outside in this:
We had Thanksgiving at Grandma Uphill's house this year on the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving so we could all do our Black Friday/Thanksgiving day shopping.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Brynnley 4 months old
At 4 months Brynnley:
- tried rice cereal but didn't love it
- likes pears and loves squash
- laughs at us
- gives the biggest smiles when she sees Mom, Dad or Aubrie
- is getting wiggly and can turn herself in circles on the floor and scoot out of the swing
- loves watching her big sister play
She weighs 12.8 lbs and is 24.4 inches tall
Look at how similar Brynnley and Aubrie were at the same age:
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