Prayers for Kristin
This is my dear mother in-law, Kristin. She is a Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Daughter, Family member, co-worker and lifelong Friend. She is one of the most loving, giving, selfless people you could ever meet. She has a heart of gold, and is always willing to give all of herself to help another. Family is her everything. Her grandchildren are the light of her life. No one would have ever expected that an illness could take a person so full of life, and leave her struggling to get through each day.
This past spring, Kristin was just not feeling herself, and knew that something was wrong. A diagnosis of Stage 3 Colon Cancer left us speechless. But still- as a family we were ready and willing to do what it took to get her through this. Within two weeks, Kristin was hospitalized to have a foot of her colon removed. After surgery, she began the scary reality of what lay ahead. "Your cancer has migrated through the muscle wall, into the lymphatic tissue, and into the nerve endings." Treatment needed to begin quickly, as this aggressive cancer was moving fast.
In July, camping and fireworks turned into a hospitalization for port placement, and the beginning of a 12 round chemo course. Every two weeks, Kristin has a full day infusion of chemo, and then comes home with a pump for another two days. Each course has become more difficult than the last, and as a family, we have watched her struggle. The side effects, the nausea, the pain- Kristin endures it all so gracefully, and without complaint. Then came the day that I watched my husband cry, as he buzzed what was left of his mother's thinning hair. We have made scarves a new fashion statement, and believe me, there is one to match every outfit!
Even on the worst of days, a deep breath and the support of another, has brought her through with a smile. Her famous words are, "I will get through this". Though a week ago, I watched this fighter feel defeated, and broken. Kristin had found out that she was only eligible for long-term disability from work. This means 6 consecutive months on leave, before she will get paid. The one piece of security she had in all of this had been shattered. Unable to return back to work so ill, she wondered "How will I get through this? " After convincing her that stopping treatment for this aggressive cancer was not the right decision, she picked herself back up again- determined that she will beat this.
From the bottom of our hearts, we are asking for your help to get Kristin through this battle. No donation is too little. For someone who is so willing to give to others, now is our time to give back to her. Kristin's cancer treatment is due to go through December, and after that, we will pray for a Christmas miracle that the chemotherapy has worked. The type of cancer cells she has are resistant to most treatments, so this is her one shot to beat this. We cannot express how grateful we are to each and every one of you willing to help this beautiful person in her time of need. Please pray that she will get through this stronger than ever. Her greatest wish is to watch her grandbabies grow up- and we will do everything in our power to grant that wish for her.
With love and gratitude,
The Family & Friends of Kristin Evjy-Desiata
