A Blessed Holiday Season

The good news about Erika a few months back has made me lazy about posting anything to this blog (and thank goodness for that). However, there was a date looming... the date of her next round of body scans to see if in fact the cancer had mostly disappeared. That date was 12.17.09.

The news I received from her yesterday, and I quote from the results she received, "There is no evidence of metastatic disease based on the PET scan."(!!!! - that's how I would have ended that sentence.) The cancer is no longer in her body, and it is a true blessing... Erika is busy making 4 different kinds of cookies today to celebrate Sofia's one year birthday with her family this Sunday (her bday was on 12/16), and she has Mammoth on the calendar for next year (as well as trip to SF to visit me! :) ).

There is no blog posting that can express how amazing this news is.

So enjoy all the little things in life... all the wonderful daily things that we take for granted.

Celebrate your health and your family.

Happy Holidays!

Erika Fights and Wins!

I received the best phone call yesterday. Erika called to tell me that she met with her oncologist yesterday to go over the latest set of body scans. And.... her words, "all tumors are dead." WHAT!! People... this is awesome news, and frankly, as I've said over and over again, I'm not surprised given Erika's tough attitude. She has 2 small tumors left that are basically dead and shrinking! The doctor said that this is unprecedented and absolutely excellent. (well, of course) Erika no longer needs to have chemo and will just stay on her daily cancer killer drug, and she doesn't need another body scan until December. So... all is beyond well... she needs some physical therapy (who wouldn't after being laid up for so long) and she's so happy to be zipping around town again in her favorite set of wheels. Yeah!! Really, if you do nothing else in the next few days, at least raise a glass, do a little jig, or continue saying your prayers and sending all those good vibes that worked. It's still a life long fight, but she's proven stronger than cancer for sure.

Wooohoooo!

Ongoing Strength and Smiles

If there's one thing I can say about Erika is that I feel her energy every time I talk to her on the phone. Again, it has been too long since I have posted an update, but I find that to be a good sign. I spoke to her last Friday, and she had just undergone another round of chemo. Yet her words to me were still, "I feel like a million bucks." Seriously... only Erika. It sounds as though she is mastering the chemo (or knows what to expect so she knows how to prepare for the onslaught of nausea). Also, her latest body scan is looking pretty good although, when I talked to her, she hadn't had her doctor assess the scans thoroughly yet. Her brain scan was totally clear! All positive news really... and Erika has been out and about a bit more. She and Greg were able to go out and celebrate their 2 year anniversary! And I know they've been entertaining quite a bit at their beautiful home.

All those positive thoughts and prayers are working. Certainly, Erika's strength is the real master of well-being. Go E! :)

Livestrong - Team E!

Lindsey Schroeder, her son Owen (nearly 2), Cammie Doder, and I participated in the Livestrong Foundation's event in San Jose last Sunday July 12th. It was such an inspiring event - so many people out to fight and bring down a huge disease.  We walked as Team Erika!

You all helped me raise $1,000 in Erika's name for the Livestrong Foundation! Thank you!! There were over 3,000 people who biked (up to 100 miles) or ran/walked the 5K, and $1.3 million was raised overall for the Sunday event. I was so impressed with the organization and all the amazing people.  Kids from the Lucille Packard Childrens Hospital (at Stanford) were also able to participate in carts that they decorated and that were then pulled by bikes.

Erika, you would have loved it! And even the pancake breakfast to follow (even though I'm sure you have no where near an appetite for that at the moment).  Team E was strong on Sunday ...

My visit with Erika on July 3rd was so wonderful... selfishly for me as her friend. I got to see how amazing she looks and get to just be with her... the Erika I love so much.  She is doing so well (and of course, I got to squeeze her sweet little Sofia who is just the cutest!).  Erika just underwent a round of chemo this week.  She keeps talking about how excited she is to get up to Napa and sip a little vino - I'll bet that will be sooner than later. :)  How adorable is her little baby (already 7 months today!)

My next post will be about the Livestrong event.

Seriously, are we surprised?!

All,

I can't say I'm surprised given Erika's fighting spirit, her focus on taking cancer down, her intense zest for life.  Great news... yesterday, Erika received some results of a scan which showed that much of the cancer that was at first there a few months ago is gone.  Yep, as Erika put it, "Gonzo-ed."  There is still a spot in her liver and in two vertebraes (not sure if the spot in her liver is actually cancer or just major cell restoration).  The chemo (cancer killer extraordinaire) is working, and Erika's body is reacting just as we all prayed it would.  She is beating this thing with a really big baseball bat!!  Anyway, your prayers and good thoughts are working.  Keep the support coming b/c it's still a battle.  She did another round of chemo yesterday which is no fun but all for a good cause ... send her "anti-nausea" vibes.  I get to see her in a week and look forward to catching up and giving Sofia many baby squeezes.

If you haven't already, donate in Erika's name to support cancer research: http://sanjose09.livestrong.org/kirahallemeier 

Yeah!

Quick Update

I was out of town for a few weeks (and offline) and am back, but have been in touch with Erika as much as possible while I was gone. I will update more as I hear from her. For now, she had a chemo session last Thursday which is great news that she got some cancer killer going... I know she is feeling yucky so send your happy healing thoughts and prayers.

More soon...
Kira

Relay For Life

Erika's family and friends joined Erika this past weekend during the Relay for Life.  The American Cancer Society Relay for Life unites communities across the country each year to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease.   It looks as though it was an amazing day.  Erika looks fantastic.... I'm sorry to have missed it.

But if you haven't signed up for the Livestrong event on July 12th in San Jose, sign up!  Or donate whatever you can:  http://sanjose09.livestrong.org/kirahallemeier

:)

Kira

Slight Correction

Hi Everyone!

I was just informed this morning that Erika's brain procedure that I wrote about a couple weeks ago was not a brain surgery (sorry... not familiar with the nuances of certain terms) - and I apologize if I alarmed anyone.  The procedure was a stereotactic radiation.  It is a very precise and accurate beam to the brain which destroys the lesion but there is no incision.  It was 20 minutes and performed in the radiation department.   I will try and relay the information as accurately as possible as some things get lost in translation over the phone.  My apologies...  

:)

Kira

Livestrong Challenge 2009

I've just sent out an email to some of you Bay Area friends (Erika's Bay Area Village) to join me on July 12th for the Livestrong 5K in San Jose.  You can also sign up for the bike ride (25K, 50K, or 100K).  If you would like to attend, join Team Erika!  Follow the link on my Livestrong webpage: http://sanjose09.livestrong.org/kirahallemeier

Or please donate money to this worthy cause and show your support for Erika!

Let me know if you have any questions....

~Kira

Don't Mess With E!

The Keese and Anhood family would like to spread some really great news.

Erika's x-rays have shown new bone growth in her tail bone and hip!!!!  And... the tumor in her spine has ceased to grow.  Greg called it new bone formation in her sacral spine.

Our girl is responsive to chemo, and that is just the BEST news!

Keep sending your good vibes, b/c it's working... that and her tough attitude. 

~Kira

Brain Surgery

I don't have all the details, but I heard today that her brain surgery (to remove the tiny cancer spot) went well, and she is recovering. I hope to speak with her tomorrow and send hugs through the phone... Yeah!

UPDATE!!! - I was just informed that this procedure wasn't a surgery afterall (sorry... not familiar with the nuances of certain terms)... this was a stereotactic radiation.  It is a very precise and accurate beam to the brain which destroys the lesion but there is no incision.  It was 20 minutes and performed in the radiation department.

Dreaming of Pizza

Spoke with E today. She sounds awesome! All the meds and her throat loveliness were preventing her from keeping food down, but sounds as though she threw back a few solid foods today. Let's hope for super extra calorie intake and nausea be gone!
Lara has been saying "hola" every morning to Sofia who's on our fridge... sending good juju!
(the way I see it, Erika could take on every one of these randoms on the Discovery Channel's "Alaska Project" that I have on right now)

Home

Just a quick note to say that Erika is home from the ICU.  Yeah!  Just to be amongst family in the comforts and the sunshine of 17 Mustang is huge.  After speaking with Audrey a day or two ago, she said that Erika was taking some meds that were making her feel nauseous.  I haven't heard the latest, but they were managing the nausea and will hopefully have her feeling all better soon.  More to come...

Friends... send along your thoughts and even just what you've been up to so Erika can read about it now that she's home.

-- Also, I had to attach a pic from New Years Eve in SF from 2006... love this one, and I don't think E has seen it in a while. 

Feeling Better

I spoke with Audrey yesterday evening who was in really good spirits about Erika.  She told me that Erika has been feeling a lot better the past two days, eating well, and taking a few walks during the day.  Her white blood cell count is wayyyy up! yeah! And the only reason she's still in the ICU is for occasional spikes in temperature.  E is super antsy to get out out out of course.  Sofia visited her mom yesterday and they had a great little catch up session.  The xrays of Erika's spine, etc. looked fine (no further growth of the cancer which is great!).  So we just need her to get perfectly strong again so she can get back to her chemo and radiation.  I think that's around the corner...

One other thing is that her cancer mutation is perfectly flagged for the chemo she's using (Audrey, am I saying that correctly?), so that is REALLY good news....

See you at home soon E!  xoxo

~Kira

Bring on Spring!

This is the first real update about Erika. She is doing great today! She had some issues with the chemo (she was able to handle all the radiation so well that they gave her the highest dose of one of her chemo drugs which knocked a bunch of good bacteria out of her). She's in recovery mode at the ICU which is great news. She didn't have much of an appetite last weekend, but since has regained that as well and threw back a burger and fries the other day hoping for a rotisserie chicken to follow. (Nice! - a milk shake and foot long to go with that? :) )
Anyway, I was lucky enough to spend last weekend with her family, and had the honor of watching Sofia for a good part of the weekend. What a dreamy little girl... the bluest eyes with dark eyelashes and smiles and gurgles of happiness all day long (well, unless she was a little overtired, but who doesn't get cranky in that case!). She and I had a few walks around the neighborhood. It was a joy for me...
E! You'll be home before you know it!!
~ Kira

Erika's Village

Friends,

I thought I would start a blog about our Erika so that everyone could be updated as real time as possible. Mostly, Erika refers to all her friends as her "village." Yep! It takes a village...
This blog will be a great way for you all to send Erika your support and also be updated on her war against cancer. As we all know, she is one of the strongest, most determined people we know... her strong will and love from you all will get her through this.

Just an introductory post. More to come...
~ Kira