A BIG HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS:  

Sherry, Susan, Linda, Kristi, Lorie, Chris I., Tadd, Courtney, Jualetha, Joel, Lindy, Beth, Jerome  MaryAnn,Tammy, Janie, Amy, Becky, Kelli, Cristi, Erin, Shari and Sara!

(I should also mention my mother, Vickie who also donated by paying for our family’s registration for the race!  Yay! )

Grand total as of 9/22/08:  $103.45  WOW!!!

Grand total today 9/23/08 268.45 YAY! We are halfway there already!

Total on 9/24/08:  $348.45 YAY!!!!!  WOOOOOO! 

Total for 9/25/08:  $368.45 we’re soooo close!

Total today 9/26/08 468.45  OMG!!  I’m crying,  You guys are the best! 

Total tonight 9/28/09 $473.45 We are SO CLOSE to our goal!  Yay!

Total today 9/29/08 $608.45 WOWEEEE!  We exceeded our GOAL!

Total today 9/30/08 $628.45 I am thrilled and so grateful!!  

 You guys are truly the very best friends and famiy I could have.  Thank you for catching the vision and being completely passionate about finding a CURE for this awful disease.  We WILL find a CURE! 

Hello to all my faithful readers!  I want to ask for your help in something tonight and I hope that I can communicate to you just how important it is…Our family began a tradition last year of walking in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure.  We had a great time and more importantly I felt like I was impressing on the girls how much I love them.  I’m walking for a cure.  I walk to honor my grandmother, who fought bravely for so long before the cancer took her away from us and into the arms of her Savior.  I walk to honor my mom, Vickie Jenkins, who, drawing strength from her own mother’s experience,  was able to survive the fight and is here today to encourage other women who are fighting the battle of their lives.  Women like me.  My mother was a constant reminder of the goodness of God, that He had a plan, that there will be a cure.  I walk in celebration of my own journey and to commemorate the chapter in my life that I realized how strong I am, and yet how desperately I need God for every breath.  I’m bound and determined to find a cure for breast cancer.  Can you imagine–our little girls grown up, young women–not having to face the fear or worry that accompanies a family like mine?  This is what I want for Gracie and Trinity.  For all our daughters.  For the generations to come to see cancer as obsolete.  It can happen, I hope it happens in my lifetime.  The Susan G Komen Race for the cure gives grants to hospitals and research.  The treatments that saved my life and my mother’s life are all because of generous donations and countless research grants. 

Will you help our family this October?  We are walking on October 4th.  I set a family goal of $500.  I think we have enough people who read the blog and on facebook, that if everyone sends a dollar, we’ll meet that goal.  If you want to do more, by all means, go ahead!  (If you are sending more than $250 I will need your address so I can get you a tax reciept.) 

My cancer fund paypal address is Princesskikiriki@aol.com 

Thank you all for everything!  I’ll keep you updated on the progress! 

Kari

Last year’s RFC:

Breast Cancer. Sounds so scary, doesn’t it?  Sounds like for old ladies.

This is NOT a death sentence.  I have an MRI next week to make sure this is the only cancer in my body.  Then within a few days I will have a lumpectomy to remove the cancer.  I will have radiation for around 6 weeks and, at that point, will be a cancer survivor!  Thank you to all who have been praying and thinking of us!  I could tell that God was with us as I recieved the news I have (kind of) been expecting.  Chris was calm and not shaken at all–he looked at me when the Dr left and said, “Baby, we’re going to be fine.” I know what he meant, I believe him.  I am optimistic that not only will I come out of the surgery cancer-free, I will stay cancer-free.  I refuse to let this ruin my life.  I will not be devastated in this, I am a fighter!

Please keep us (and me) in your prayers as we go through this time together.  I will let you know details as I get them…

Little did I know, that was not all the cancer, and I would have to rise up to the challenge of more than “just” a lumpectomy and some radiation.  I didn’t know two years ago today, that I was facing chemo, losing my hair and my lunch, unbelievable weakness and pain in my body, a double mastectomy, reconstruction, emotional highs and lows, medications, sooaring medical bills, and a temporary loss of control of my own life.  

I also didn’t know how much I would gain.  An opportunity to speak out for all young breast cancer survivors, to raise awareness about this disease and prevention, to inspire hope for those suffering with breast cancer, or those who are dealing with other difficult circumstances, to be in numerous programs and interviews and People Magazine sharing our story, to see miracles in our finances and health and every aspect of our lives, to appreciate life in all it’s ups and downs and to see things more in a big picture perspective, to hug my kids a little bit tighter and to make the most of all my days.  To say “I love you” to people that I took for granted.  To kiss Chris a little longer and to make our marriage a little sweeter.  To make my life fuller.  Cancer didn’t stop me, it made me fight.  I said I was a fighter.  I didn’t realize how fierce I could be.  I have gained so, so much.  I can’t count my losses, this is my life and I have to see how much I’ve gained to move forward.  I can’t change the circumstances, and I’m not sure I would if I had to do it all over again.  God worked through all this, and for that I am grateful and full of true life!  

Thank you to all my family and friends (many of you whom I have never met) who prayed us through this, who read my blog, laughed with me and cried with me.  You all are part of this journey and I hope you understand the depth of gratitude I have to each of you.  You helped me live.  How could I ever thank you?

Here’s a little trip down memory lane, starting with when I didn’t know I had cancer and ending with a couple weeks ago.  It’s really more a hair journey, but whatever.  haha

Hilarious!