| HEAL |
Email from Phil 12-2005
A little more on Kati Bray. She had a very rare and serious bone cancer in her jaw. The cancer had moved into the soft tissue and very quickly grew to the size of a tennis ball -- upper jaw, roof of mouth, sinus cavity, socket under eye. The first operation in early November removed upper jaw bone and the cancer mass in the soft tissue. The second reconstructive surgery was Nov 15 -- bone transplant from pelvis, titanium implant under eye socket, stomach muscle and skin for transplant into jaw and roof of mouth. Kati has some paralysis on the left side of face (similar to a stroke victim). She is a real testimony of good health care, shear grit and determination, and God's love and grace. We spoke with Em over the weekend. Kati is back in medical school, going to class, and taking makeup exams. In early January they plan to take her to MD Anderson (in Texas) for chemo assessment. Em anticipates six months of chemo treatment (most likely in North Carolina) after the assessment. Kati will have some real tough challenges ahead, so I know they will appreciate your continued prayers.
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My sister, Emily, called Saturday to tell us the Kati's cancer has returned. Kati has just completed her 3rd year of medical school, but now faces incredible challenges. Em sent the following email this morning, and I ask that you again pray for Kati, her fiancée, and all during this time. Phil
Emily
Date: May 6, 2008 5:19:27 AM EDT
“Josie was able to quickly take a train down from NYC and David, Kati, Josie, Paul and I have had a wonderful time together this weekend. I am taking Josie back to the train station this morning.
The doctors at Duke have talked with their peers who are as expert as it gets in this disease. She will need surgery that involves an ear, nose and throat specialist, then a proton beam radiation that is only done 4 places in the country. Apparently it is an extremely quick radiation that can be directed within microns and dissipates very quickly, without the potential of long term tissue damage of traditional radiation therapy. She is getting all the preliminary x-rays and tests this Thursday. The only center on the east coast that does the radiation is in Boston. She will either have the surgery and the radiation in Boston, or the surgery at Duke and the radiation in Boston.
She still has a chance of a long term cure with the combination of surgery and radiation. However, the anatomy of the tumor location is infinitely more tricky than the last time. The big risk is that to remove the tumor completely, they will need to scrape on a very thin bone at the base of her brain. So the biggest risk is the tumor, radiation, or the surgery making an opening into the brain and causing meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain.)
At present she and David plan to go ahead with the wedding, regardless of whether it is between radiation treatments, even if she looks beat up. They are both planners and there are not too many details to attend to before then, if she can show up. They are very much in love and he is as realistic as any 25-year-old can be about who he is marrying. We love them both very much. And it is wonderful to have the Strickland family and such large support network here at this time.
She is having a shower at the Strickland home on Saturday, and will be asking Paul or me to take pictures of her in her wedding gown that day. Currently she probably is the most beautiful and fit she has been in her life.” |
1982 - 2010 (27 years)
