Katherine's ALL Blog: June 2014

The color of your lips is supposed to be different from the color of your face, but when you need blood or have lost blood or are facing some sort of trauma where your blood is needed elsewhere in you body, the coloring goes right out of your face and you're pale as a ghost. Well, that's what I look like this morning. Mom sometimes calls me her little vampire.

Maybe it's no coincidence that Mom had her big blood drive this week. I sure hope I don't need a transfusion this weekend, but if I do, I know there are 58 shiny new bags of blood available for people just like me because of you! Thanks for donating blood or for trying to donate. That's probably harder than actually donating... Wanting to give of yourself that way but being turned away because your heart rate was too fast or your blood pressure was too high. Mom and I are still glad you tried and we thank you for your generous heart! My face is probably so pale because I got some big time chemotherapy yesterday.

I thought Maintenance was going to be a transition to smoother waters... But mom said our boat is still rocking a bit. Yikes! Spinal tap yesterday, IV chemo (the kind that causes constipation and might damage my ability to walk normally in the future), then steroids at home, some drugs to be taken with food and some to be taken without food! Oh my!

The hospital yesterday had a major power outage and we thought for a few hours that my surgery was going to be cancelled, but they fixed things and got me in to the surgery schedule just like nothing had ever happened. It was peaceful strollering around in a dark hospital. My doc had a little extra time to play with me while the power was out and Mom took our photo. I played a bit on the computers while we waited too.

All in all I had a good clinic day, a good day in surgery, and a good day listening to Mom go on and on about how touched she was that people actually came out to celebrate her birthday and give blood! I've heard my mom typically throws a good birthday party, but as far as themed parties go, this one was WAY out there.

But people came! 81 people came! 72 people registered to donate. 14 were deferred for medical reasons. 58 bags of blood were collected and according to the BloodCenter of Wisconsin 174…yes….174 local patient lives throughout southeastern Wisconsin can be saved. Those precious units will be used throughout all the local community hospitals (i.e. Aurora, Prohealth Care, Children’s, Froedtert and the list goes on) that critically need blood and blood products.

What an amazing gift!
Thanks for using my smiley face for inspiration if you had to. I felt a lot of you channeling my bravery, my strength to get stuck yourselves. We are in this together. Or at least that's how you make it feel. Thanks for making my family feel like they are not alone in this battle. Your generosity, your self sacrifice and your support will never be forgotten!

Here are some pics from my clinic day. Pics from the blood drive Mom is going to post on FB when she gets them.

Thanks again and God Bless you!!

Stick it right here!