Kerrie couldn’t make it to the family reunion…. so we brought it to her!

Kerrie’s week has been a long one! I think it was especially hard for her knowing we were having a family reunion, on August 6th, and she wouldn’t be able to be there to see everyone.

Our aunt Michelle, always the one to come up with great plans for events, decided it would be fun to bring the reunion to Kerrie. 

On Saturday morning, I complained of a headache and asked if I could close her window shade. Down on the street below our family gathered with a huge banner that said “We love you Kerrie” and everyone was holding silk sunflowers ( since she can’t have real flowers).

We caused quite a commotion outside the hospital as people coming in were stopping to see what we were doing, patients we all looking out their windows, the medical staff was coming to the windows to see what was going on, etc.

When we were ready, Mom asked Kerrie to open her window shade.. At first she had a very confused look on her face, as she tried to figure out what all the people were doing out front. Then she realized she knew all these crazy people, and what was going on, and she was just smiling from ear to ear.. then crying.. then smiling. It was a lot of fun.

All the family members, that were able to make it, took turns visiting her and our cousins Shannon, Bridget, Katie and Alicia decorated her room with all the silk sunflowers. It really gives her room a “cheery” feel.

Today is Kerrie’s last day of Chemo and then we’ll begin the wait to find out if she will go into remission. From what we’ve been told, the days ahead are going to be some of the worst and she will be feeling pretty ill at times. Kerrie has been so good about all of this.. she has her moments where she says she just wants to rip out her catheter and walk home, but most day’s she’s the “Perfect Patient” and some of her medical team has even complimented her on being such a compliant patient.

We’ll have a 3 – 4 week wait to see if the chemo will work, and the Luekemia will go into remission, and Kerrie will be staying in the hospital for the entire length of time.

If this round of chemo works we’ll begin preparing for the bone marrow transplant.. if not, the whole process will start over again.

She has a rough road ahead of her for the next few weeks, but if anyone can handle it… it’s Kerrie.

Please keep the letters, cards and phone calls coming. They really brighten her day. If you need her address at the hospital please send me an e-mail at jenn@kast2006.com