Barbie Ballschmidt's Journey

While visiting her family in Illinois, Barbie Ballschmidt began to have severe back pain and went to the hospital. While there, the doctors found shadows on her bones in the scans, suggesting that pain was something more than the slipped disc or pinched nerve that was originally considered to maybe be the problem.

After more investigation, on June 7th, Barbie was officially diagnosed with Advanced Stage Multiple Myeloma Cancer. After the diagnosis, Barbie and Brian returned home to Florida to begin treatment.

We now begin the long and arduous journey of navigating what this means for Barbie’s life moving forward.

As of 6/24 - Currently, around 90% of Barbie’s bone marrow is filled with Multiple Myeloma Cancer. She is currently still in the hospital and has completed 3 rounds of Chemo, with a 4th round scheduled for 6/26. Her current problem, second to the cancer, is her kidney function. In order to complete the aggressive chemotherapy required to fight the cancer, her kidneys need to be in working order to filter the cancer from her body. So a lot of the treatment currently is working towards getting her kidney function up as much as possible in order to move forward with a potential bone marrow transplant and aggressive therapies for the cancer itself. She is currently still in the hospital working on the kidney function to make progress before her next round of chemo. The desire is to hopefully head home soon after that, where she will do Home Health, physical therepy, pallative care, and continue outpatient chemotherepy. She has slowly but surely made progress in terms of getting the rest of her numbers up to achieve that goal. She is very much looking forward to going home and being in her own bed!

2 of her children are currently with her in Florida to assist through this, and her 3rd will be down soon.

She wants everyone to know that while physically she may be struggling, emotionally and spiritually, all is well with her soul.

Multiple Myeloma is one of the most expensive cancers to attempt to treat. Your generous contributions will be used for medical equipment, treatment, high cost medicines, and other associated costs.

Due to the rigorousness of her treatment, she may not be able to take and respond right away to all of your phone calls and texts, but she thanks you all so much for reaching out. She plans to respond as soon as she is able. Thank you all so much for your thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. Please feel free to check back here, and her caring bridge site - CLICK HERE - to keep up with what is happening with Barbie, how God is speaking to her in this season, her progress, and how you can make an impact in her life. Barbie and Brian extend to you all of their love, thanks, and blessings.

John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.