Help Support Kim Back to Health.
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On November 18, 2018, 54-year old Kim, a wife and mother of two sons, was admitted to Tenova Hospital where she was diagnosed with chronic liver disease and was in liver failure. She was told she needed a liver transplant and time was of the essence. She suffered from severe ascites, abnormal buildup of fluid in her abdomen, which caused her extreme abdominal discomfort and shortness of breath making it hard to eat or breathe. In addition, her white blood cell count was high and the doctors could not figure out why. After having spent several days at Tenova Hospital and still no explanation as to why her white blood cell count was so high, they sent her home.
Five days out, still unable to walk, eat, and hardly able to breath, her family took her to the UT Medical Center ER where she was admitted. Little did they know, she’d spend 5 weeks there to find out she was not only suffering from liver failure, but hepatitis, colon cancer and skin cancer. Her prognosis was not good. Her family was introduced to palliative care in preparation for the worst. She could not be put on the list for a liver transplant until the colon cancer was removed. Her doctors at UT Medical Center told her no surgeon would touch her cancer with her liver in the condition it was in. Her chances of surviving that operation would be slim to none.
Her GI doctor at UT, who ultimately found the cancer, arranged for Kim to see a GI specialist at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. The GI specialist’s initial evaluation was grim but he set her up with a surgeon at Vanderbilt, that specializes in colon cancer surgery and liver transplants. The surgeon told Kim that if she would follow his recommendations on diet, medications etc. that her liver might improve to the point that he would feel comfortable enough to risk the surgery to remove the colon cancer.
Kim did not give up. She fought. As Kim does, she took charge of her destiny. She got herself well enough to have the colon surgery. The survival rate was still not good, but she was brave and agreed to do it. After several trips to Vanderbilt for tests, Dr visits and follow ups the surgeon determined it was time to set a date for surgery. The surgery was successful. Post-surgery Kim spent 6 days in the hospital with some time in ICU but Kim came out swinging!
She will see an oncologist to determine whether the cancer spread beyond the section of colon that was removed and the possible need for chemotherapy.
Kim is determined to stay positive, but there are more battles to fight and a lot of medical bills to pay now and more to come. Will you help her in her fight to get well?
Five days out, still unable to walk, eat, and hardly able to breath, her family took her to the UT Medical Center ER where she was admitted. Little did they know, she’d spend 5 weeks there to find out she was not only suffering from liver failure, but hepatitis, colon cancer and skin cancer. Her prognosis was not good. Her family was introduced to palliative care in preparation for the worst. She could not be put on the list for a liver transplant until the colon cancer was removed. Her doctors at UT Medical Center told her no surgeon would touch her cancer with her liver in the condition it was in. Her chances of surviving that operation would be slim to none.
Her GI doctor at UT, who ultimately found the cancer, arranged for Kim to see a GI specialist at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. The GI specialist’s initial evaluation was grim but he set her up with a surgeon at Vanderbilt, that specializes in colon cancer surgery and liver transplants. The surgeon told Kim that if she would follow his recommendations on diet, medications etc. that her liver might improve to the point that he would feel comfortable enough to risk the surgery to remove the colon cancer.
Kim did not give up. She fought. As Kim does, she took charge of her destiny. She got herself well enough to have the colon surgery. The survival rate was still not good, but she was brave and agreed to do it. After several trips to Vanderbilt for tests, Dr visits and follow ups the surgeon determined it was time to set a date for surgery. The surgery was successful. Post-surgery Kim spent 6 days in the hospital with some time in ICU but Kim came out swinging!
She will see an oncologist to determine whether the cancer spread beyond the section of colon that was removed and the possible need for chemotherapy.
Kim is determined to stay positive, but there are more battles to fight and a lot of medical bills to pay now and more to come. Will you help her in her fight to get well?
Co-organizers (2)
Kelly Muir Raines
Organizer
Knoxville, TN
Don McWilliams
Beneficiary
Tina Hutcheson
Co-organizer