Crystee's Corner

Cyrstee and the grandkids...

2009-05-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

Crystee is home now. She was released from the hospital yesterday, she was in the hospital a total of 20 days and says she is positive she will heal much quicker now that she is at home! Welcome home Crystee!

Hospital stay pictures...

2009-05-11T13:53:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, this is Dawn, Crystee's friend. I was able to visit her last Tuesday, and she was on the rebound from her surgery. She was admitted in the hospital April 22nd I believe, and it has been a long and lonely road for her hospital stay. She has had great support from her ward family, while I was there her home teacher stopped by for a visit. Her surgery was suppose to only last 1 1/2 hours but ended up more like 4. She had her Vegas nerve removed, she has a good joke about that, you will have to ask her. Also she has some intestine removed, and she has quite the large amount of staples going from her sternum to her bikini line. She is upbeat, and is working on keeping solid food down so she can come home. The oral pain killers cause nausea, and she was still in quite a bit of pain. She is attempting 6 small meals today, so hopefully she will get to come home soon. Her mother in law is planning on taking care of her for a week when she gets out of the hospital. She is very grateful for all the support and help. I will update more as it comes!

HERE'S THE LATEST.

2009-02-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

Sorry it's been a little over a month since the last update and I'm sure you are all wondering how I am doing. I am doing great! the Dr actually used the word remission so that's great. John is doing well thank you to everyone for all your prayers. He had the surgery and got the cancer removed and it was all contained in the tumor so they think they got it all and John will need no further treatment so this was miraculous news. I have a surgery coming up my preop apt is 3/12/2009 and then I'll have a surgery date, they have to cut out the bottom of my stomach no biggie at least I'll get skinny! I can't end this update without expressing my gratitude to my ward family when I was in the hospital for a week & a 1/2 this month the service and compassion they showed to our family was amazing. I have really for the first time in my life realized how important the ward family is and I turely can not explain the love I have developed for all of you. I have always been fortunate to have my family close by and in the same ward or stake and have not relied on the ward and never felt like they were family so thank you to my ward family for teaching me. And of course thank you to my Dad and 4 sisters (oops I mean 3 I forget David is a boy) and all my family and friends. Take care and don't forget to find the time to tell your love ones you love them!

THINK PINK!!

2009-01-23T04:02:00.000-08:00

My hair started to grow back, the fell out again but only in a large patch on the left side of my head. My Grandson thought I should have a Hawk like his, so I decided to make mine a breast cancer one.

Jaden and I rocking our Hawks.

Don't worry this is just my Lane from Gilmore Girls moment. Meaning I am shaving it so my hair grows in even and all I will have are these pictures to prove I once rocked a hawk

OK it's 4:00am and I can't sleep thanks to the steroids, so I thought this would be a good time to update the blog. It's been a week since my last high dose of Chemo and this coming Monday I take my first of four weekly low doses of the chemo. I am looking forward to it they say I won't get that sick, YEA! The Dr. told me to take my anti nausea medicine 3X's a day to keep me from getting ill. I was real good the first 5 days, then yesterday I thought I feel fine so why take the meds when I don't feel sick. Well lets just say the cashier at the store who's feet got in the way while I was throwing up on the floor probably wished I had followed the Dr. orders. I just had to laugh what else could I do, I am not pretty when I cry.

We still don't know when Johns surgery is there was a problem with the Oral surgery office and our insurance. They first told us our insurance wouldn't pay for the anesthesia and we would have to pay out of pocket up front, then they said the insurance wouldn't cover the removal of the tumors and guess who they wanted to pay?! If I had hair I would have pulled it out! Apparently our medical insurance is better then our dental and the insurance company says it is covered if they bill it right. I was quite stressed out by Monday afternoon thinking John wouldn't be able to have surgery, then I had my dad give me a fathers blessing and with allot of personal prayer I was guided to the Cancer Alliance Center. They should be calling me to day with a surgery date.

I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father I know that we are in His care and He is guiding us through this trial. Thank you everyone for all the help and prayers on our families behalf.

take care, Crystee

GOOD NEWS!!!!

2009-01-14T18:19:00.000-08:00

Well today I went to the Dr. for a bunch of test and a Bone Marrow biopsy and the good news is my body is producing all three blood components and I don't have to do the growth factor!! I did Chemo today and will do a dose on Friday, then I go down to once a week for four weeks, then two times a month for two months then once a month for a year. I feel so blessed thank you for all your prayers and support you have giving me. Now I can put all my energy on getting John over his Mouth Cancer so please continue keeping us in your prayers. Sorry this is so brief but I just had a couple of minuets take care Crystee

2008-12-24T07:36:00.000-08:00

I love spending time with my Family!

The 5 Kid's

Tim, Heather, Kayla, JD & Ali

The 6 Grand kids

Melia, Vanessa, Hailey, Madi~Lu, Jaden & Nathan

Well it has been a couple of rough weeks! Last week was my last week of chemo 3X's a week and for the grand finale they had me take double dose of my already high dose of chemo, that was a sick & twisted thing to do to a girl! I was miserable!! Thursday was the worst 24 hours straight of puking and a terrible headache I was ready to give up. But they order new anti nausea and pain med's and things got better. I was able to enjoy my Birthday with my family and had a great time. I have been keeping a Gratitude journal and try to find something to be grateful for each day, which helps me keep things positive. After reflecting on last week I am thankful that through my whole illness I've really only had one week of being that ill some people are that sick the whole time their on chemo, so I feel fortunate for that.

I would like to share an entry from my Gratitude Journal.

Friday December 19Th

"Yesterday was a really tough day for me I was the sickest I've been through out this whole ordeal but I realised that it was necessary so I could learned from it. And this is what I have learned; my Faith in Priesthood blessing's increased I learned to seek a Priesthood before pain med's. My relationship and love for my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ has increased. I learned that my Heavenly Father loves me so much that He sent His Son to help ease my pain and burdens. And I have learned when I exercise my Faith in my Savior and His Atonement He really does take away my Pain and suffering.

This week is my week off from chemo and now my body is going through with drawls from not having it, go figure I get sick when I take it and sick when I don't. I have been feeling pretty shaky and jumping out of my skin, but I realised this morning that I forgot to take my steroids the last couple of days, so I took them and those side affects seem to be subsiding and this week will be getting a lot better.

On a positive note my hair has started to grow in but there is a mystery I am trying to figure out, I know the hair is growing out of my head but it's not my hair it's dark and feels coarse and it has gray in it! Maybe it's because I have so many people's blood cursing through my veins.

Like my dog Winnie I am done with the snow!

Merry Christmas and my the Lord bless you and your families in the New Year.

Look what I did!

2008-12-13T14:20:00.000-08:00

Look at my new Tattoo's!

I figured since I don't have hair I might as well make my head pretty!

I CAN SEE YOU!

Dustin you were right Tattoo's on the head don't hurt! May because mine are rub on.

Well I am still here and as you can see I am finding ways to spend my time I do get a little bored here at home. I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. We had the whole family over to our house the Sunday before to celebrate Thanksgiving since my brother was having a nose job on Monday and wouldn't be up for a big get together it was fun.

GOOD NEWS!

I went to the doctors yesterday to get blood and we found out that my red blood cells weren't as low as they expected and that my Bone Marrow is starting to make red cells! I am the only one in the study that this has happened to and they were happy yet surprised. I know that it is through the power of prayer that I am doing so well, so thank you to every one who keeps me in your prayers.

Now I am on to phase two of the clinical trial in a couple of weeks I will start on the Growth Factor and cut the Chemo down to once a week. This should stimulate my Bone Marrow into making all three blood components, so please keep me in your prayers. I can't say Thank you enough to all my family and friends for all you do for me and my family during these trials.

Take care and don't forget to hug those you love and tell them you love them.

Gone Yesterday Hair today!

2008-11-24T23:18:00.000-08:00

Look I have hair!!!!

R>I can't beleive how having hair can help me fake looking better then I feel! Don't get me wrong I do wear my bald head as a badge of honor, but when I wear the do rag and mask out in public I don't like the fact that perfect strangers treat me like I am dying! My friend told me today that her little girl Sarah saw me at church and said look Crystee's all better she has hair now, aren't little kids so cute.Well its been a couple of rough weeks I have had to endure some personally humilating moments that I won't go in to details about thank goodness for our oldest daughter Heather who was here to help me. I went to the Doctors today they say my Bone Marrow is dying off and they all seemed thrilled about it so I take it this is good and the chemo is doing it job. They have to wait a couple of weeks for my blood counts to continue going down and then they will give me one last transfusion before they start the growth factor.

>My granddaughter Madi-Lu shows her support for me! !

A couple of weeks ago my good friend told me to start writing a gratitude journal and to find thing in each day to be thankful for. I thought each day would be a very short entry but to my surprise I have a lot to be thankful for,I was just focusing on the wrong things. I won't bore you with the list but I encourage all of you to write down a few things each day you are thankful for and you will blessing how many bleesing you have in even during trails and tribulations. This last week I have had some wonderful and faith building experiences that I would like to share with you. We had the opportunity to go and listen to an Apostle of the Lord Russell M Nelson speak on Sunday. I was so uplifted by his talk and was thankful I went because I almost didn't. At the end of the meeting I had the opportunity to well kind of shake hands with Elder Nelson He noticed my relcuntancy and I explained that my Dr told me not to shake hands and he said well I can give you a hug and he did.He told me that My hevenly Father was aware of me and that my trails and tribulations were for a purpose. Words can not describe the feelings I felt. I am so thankful for my ward family,friends and faimly who continue to serve me.

Take care Crystee

A New Look!

2008-11-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

Me and my girls. I am the one sporting the do rag!

I know you are all wondering how I am doing? Well lets just say the release date for Crystee's Funeral "The Musical"has been post pone indefinitely. I was surprised when I logged on to do the update and saw my friend Dawn had added the donating blood blurb and pics,so thank you Dawn! Thank you to my Friends in Auburn for your support!

I started loosing my hair a couple of weeks ago. John says it looks like a goat chewed on my head! and I have to agree with him!

Last week they up my chemo dosage and I am now on the highest dose and will stay on it for 4 months. As you can see it is starting to take its toll on me physically I have been very tired and in some pain. Saturday I went to our Niece Shaina's wedding and enjoyed spending time with Johns family. The best part of the night was when John & I got out on the dance floor, our girls were mortified so I thought that was a perfect ending to a great day.

I woke up one morning and there were more bald patches so Kayla shaved my head!

Yesterday however was a very bad day I was in a lot of pain and nothing seem to work and I was emotionally exhausted. I missed my Mom terribly and the more I missed her the madder I got! I was mad that Heavenly Father took her away from me and that I had to go through this with out her when she was the best care giver ever! I was mad at the stress my illness is causing my youngest daughter.I was mad that my two older sisters lived in other states and that my brother is busy with his family,work and church calling and that my dad is not like my mom. I was truly ready to throw in the towel yesterday.

I tell you this not because I want you to feel sorry for me but so I can tell you what I have learned from my tantrum. First of all like any child who yells at their parent I had to say I was sorry and I did repent to my Heavenly Father I know he loves me and does understand what I am going through. And like my friend told me this morning at least I had a loving and nurturing relationship with my mom cause some people don't have that so I am thankful for that. I have been spoiled in the past by having family close to me so I never had to rely on my church family and find myself in uncharted waters. I am having to learn why we call it a ward family I am so great full for all of you that are in my ward that have help in ways I might not even be aware of so thank you. Thank you to all my friends and family who continue to pray for me and you words of encouragement keep them coming!

Tada! here I am in all my BALD glory! John says he thinks it sexy, I think he maybe crazy!

We donated blood in honor of Crystee!!!!

2008-11-11T08:51:00.001-08:00

Ok, so this is not Crystee typing, it's her friend! One of the benefit's of setting up her blog is I have her password...so Crystee I hope you don't mind! Here are some pictures of us donating yesterday, we really livened up the day down at the blood bank with our camera! This is for you Crystee!!!

I am a first timer!!! Look at my fabulous blood!
Heather is more experienced at this, her bag fills up quickly!

Look who we found! Pre. Crabtree has know you since you were a baby and was so happy to get his picture taken for you!
All done, we got these gorgeous 80's pink and green bandages!
& a Cookie!

These girls couldn't make it today, but were with us in spirit. They hold cotton balls on their arms in support!

This is Patty & Alec Howard friends who live in Spokane donating blood!

Blood

2008-10-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

Wow 2 updates in 1 week who would of thought. The chemo is starting to take its toll on me, the phrase "the mind is Strong but the body is week" comes to mind. While I was getting Blood transfusions on Tuesday I sat there and watched the Blood go into my arm and then it hit me I hoped that the Blood I was receiving came from Super Models and that some how my body would be magically be transformed in to a perfect size 4. All joking aside as I was sitting there watching the blood flow in to my arm it dawn on me how lightly I took Donating Blood in the past. Don't get me wrong I have Donated Blood when it was convenient for me or it fit in to my schedule but I have to admit I didn't give it much thought. I thought it was no big deal and at time I thought it was a pain because my veins are to find or one excuse after another not to Donate. There was a Rep from the Puget Sound Blood Center there on Tuesday and she told me that on average 38% of people in the USA are eligible to Donate Blood but only 10% do. I have Seen the phrase "Save a life Donate Blood" many times through out my life and never given it much thought. Now that phrase has significant meaning in my life if it were not for the selfless acts of people giving Blood I would not be able to fight this disease. OK OK I'll get off my soap box, but not before I tell you about this new program they have were you can donate 2 units of Red Blood Cells in one sitting I've put the info below as well as links to Blood Banks on the side of my blog.

Donate Apheresis Red Cells Through the Double Take two unit donor program.
You can play an important role in our community, making a difference in the lives of patients, and you can do it by making fewer visits to the Blood Center.
Double Take is a new donor program that allows you to give enough red blood cells for two transfusions in a single visit through our apheresis (ay-fur-ee-sis) Double Take two unit donor program. This donation results in twice as many red cells for patients and allows you more time in between appointments. And red cells are the component of blood in greatest demand by the hospitals and clinics we serve.
Blood is made up of three components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. When you donate whole blood you are donating all three components at once. The apheresis process allows us to collect only red blood cells, while safely returning platelets and plasma back to you.
What are the requirements?Apheresis red cell donors must be type O, type A negative or type B negative and meet the minimum blood volume requirements determined by height, weight and hematocrit (blood iron levels). Donating two units of apheresis red blood cells takes a little longer than a whole blood donation. The entire visit takes about 85 minutes from start to finish.

Good News!

2008-10-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

My Colonoscopy was normal so this is good news we now know that the bleeding isn't from that end. I just started on my 6Th week of chemo, I am feeling OK I have my good days and bad. I am getting Blood on Tuesday because my counts are down so I am pretty tired and keep passing out. Thank you to every one who continues to pray for us and helping us.

Every ones keeps asking what they can do for me so here is what I would like every one to do......

DONATE BLOOD! Plus send me a picture of the event just for my entertainment cause you know I don't get out much.

Take care

Crystee

4 weeks into Chemothrapy

2008-10-11T17:09:00.000-07:00

JD & his girl friend Tia (no germs allowed!)

I just finished my fourth week of chemo, nothing like having battery acid and Drano cursing through my body. My hair is still intact but getting thinner by the day,yesterday was very sad as my hair was literally blowing away I was out side talking to a friend when the wind blew and a big chunk of my hair flew in my friends face! My Blood counts are down so I bruise and bleed easily. Friday night I was loading the dish washer and cut my thumb just a little cut but it wouldn't stop bleeding, so I had to go to the hospital to get it cauterized. I think I might need to wear a bubble suit, does any one want to volunteer to make me my very own bubble wrap suit?

I need to clarify a couple of things I am not going to have a Bone Marrow transplant. We are doing a clinical trial were I take high doses of Cyclophosphamide(chemo)after 60 days they add a growth factor medicine to stimulate my Bone Marrow. Monday I have to have a Colonoscopy to see if they can figure out why I am still bleeding in my GI system. We thought they found the problem last month when they found the malignant tumor in my stomach. But I am sure they'll solve the problem soon, and no this is not related to the Aplastic Anemia.

Please keep us in your Prayers on Monday that the Doctors will find the problem. I am sure some of you heard rumors that Johns health is not doing great, those rumors would be correct. John was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes he apparently has had it for awhile as he has some damage to his heart, when they get his blood pressure down they will be able to do a stress test to see what needs to be done there. I know a lot of you are thinking that we have the worst luck ever, but I don't see it that way. We have been very blessed through out these trials and afflictions I have grown closer to my heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, i have made friends with people I may not have other wise. Thank-you to the members in our ward who bring in dinner and serve us in so many ways. Thank you to my friends Shari and Trina who come and clean my house every week. I am great full for all of my Friends and family who keeps us in your prayers and I can't forget my two Dads and little sister who do so much for me!

Take care and God Bless

Crystee

Welcome to my blog!

2008-09-30T10:43:00.000-07:00

I am having a hard time with the mask, people can't see my expressions, so here is my solution. I made a sad face, an angry face and of course a happy face. Do you like it?
Me and my daughter Ali!
Aww, we are so beautiful!
Having a terminal illness has giving me a different perspective on life and what matters most. I take nothing for granted I know my life isn't in my hands it in the Lords Hands, but how I live my life is in my hands with the help and strength From my Savior Jesus Christ I will live it to the fullest. I am truly grateful for my Heavenly Father and I know he loves me enough to allow me these trials and tribulations and with His help and my faith I will overcome them and become a stronger and better person Physically, Mentally and Spiritually.

So now I live each day with the attitude of an 86 year old! You know how old people seem to have life figured out; whats important and whats not, they don't care what other people think, and they do what they want, eat what they want and say what they want. I might as well have some fun (with my new attitude) because lets face it there are a lot of people wandering around with bad hair, fat girls in shorty shorts,leggings, and halter tops, camel toe jeans and half shirts with their muffin tops hanging out. So now I won't be afraid to tell them... I might even make them sign's to wear so other people will know they aren't dealing with the sharpest tools in the tool box of life.

Take care, Love Crystee