MD Anderson this week!

Hi Team Kelly :)  We hope you had a blessed Christmas!  We certainly did!  Kelly did receive treatment since the last post.  And WOW did He hear our prayers!  She still had the tough 2 days with the drip, but bounced back so much more quickly.  They gave Kelly some hydration with the chemo this time.  That seemed to make a big difference.  At least that's what we attributed it to for a couple days.  Thinking back after that week, we figured out that it was our amazing Father answering our SCREAMING prayers!! Funny how we pray and pray and when He answers, we completely miss it, assuming it was only because we tried something new.  Thank You Jesus!

Because of these answered prayers, Kelly had almost a week to get everything ready for Christmas.  Not to say she didn't have an army of happy little elves helping her out, but she was grateful to pull it together herself!  The Stewart family had the same old typical last minute, crazy, fast and frenzy filled Christmas season as usual.  Scooter the Elf and (his little Nutcracker friend) made all kinds of crazy appearances...she went to class parties...went to her annual SGHS girls ornament exchange...went to her Gunstream gals secret santa night...saw the Nutcracker with Ella...forgot to fill the advent calendar several days ;) ...bought and wrapped gifts on December 23rd... spent Christmas Eve at the Prewitt's...spent Christmas Day at the Stewarts.  So. Very. Crazy. Normal.  What a blessing!! She has loved every single minute this past couple weeks with her friends and family.  God is so good.

Sam's Birthday Bash

sweet Lucia

scooter and his nutcracker friend in the 
american girl doll bunk beds

loving their Santa gifts

 

scooter dunks it! 

 The Nutcracker at Fort Worth Bass Hall

cake balls for the best nurses EVER!

scooter strikes again...mustaches on the boys picture

at the deer lease...

SGHS girls...
Shara, Brandie, Kristen, Malinda, Tammy, Amy, Robin and Kelly 

Sam and his teachers 

FB encouragement from Kevin

carson and his pine cove camp crew supportin' TK

Kai making leaf angels for TK :)

The Thomas girls at Universal Studios

LeAnn on the slopes

sweet gift from cousin Carla 

Shara's text picture of rainbows and prayers

 

another encouraging text from Kristie

  

from Andrew :)

Kyle's christmas and TK cookies for Santa!

an anonymous surprise in the mail

beautiful necklace from Dana

cole and carol at cole's baptism...his decision was made this summer at camp with his Aunt Kelly

some christmas letters from the kids and jason...

 Merry Christmas 

and Happy New Year!

 

My amazing sister told me that she almost feels lucky to have this disease.  Can you imagine?  She said not everyone gets the privilege to see so much compassion and generosity first hand.  God's pure love pours right into her through all of your kindness, encouragement and faithful prayers.  

Please pray for Kelly and Jason this week as they travel to Houston.  She has a scan Wednesday evening at MD Anderson, and her appointment with Dr. Javle is on Thursday.  

Much love to you all, Team Kelly!

quick update...

hi there Team Kelly :)  Let me get you up to speed.  Since the last post, she did not receive treatment.  Platelets were too low 2 weeks ago.  Which was a disguised blessing since leaving the hospital she spiked a fever and fought a tough cold that week.  Then the next week, her white blood cell counts were too low.  She received shots each day last week to boost her numbers.  We are pretty certain she will get treatment tomorrow.  So please start praying for her anxiety now.  She's already had some tearful moments anticipating treatment.  The big blessing in all this...Sam turned 10 last week and he started cheering at the news that his mommy was gonna be feeling good on his special day :)  She was able to plan and execute Sam's birthday celebration in a mere 2 days.  They had 20 something crazy, loud, happy, stinky boys over this weekend for a big birthday bash!  I will post pics this week...but wanted to give you some specific prayers for tomorrow...

TK prayer warriors, please pray...
1.  For her counts to be up to receive treatment
2.  For her anxiety over getting treatment
3.  For the anti-nausea drugs to work as the nausea is what really brings her down
4.  For her spirit to stay up and for her to have a I CAN DO THIS kind of attitude
5.  Thank Him for the trials in our lives, that force us to depend on Him.
6.  Thank Him for precious time spent with family and close friends.
7.  For jason, will, ben, sam and ella...always

merry christmas, team kelly!

a BIG celebration!

Celebrations and Thanksgiving

Life is worth celebrating! 

 I am choosing to celebrate not only the big things in life but the small things as well.  If I have learned anything from this experience so far, it is that life is fragile and it needs to be celebrated!! The Purple Stride was definitely a day to celebrate.  You overwhelmed me with your participation and support!!  It was a celebration of family and friends reuniting, of lots of hugs and smiles, the ability to walk a 5k, of feeling great.  A celebration of yucky chemo working, for money raised for pancreatic research, of children showing compassion, for laughter, and celebration of hope and miracles...big and small.  

Thank you to all who joined me in celebrating life that weekend.  

I absolutely loved seeing all of you...

G-town friends from Park East Drive to Vera Cruz Drive and from O'Banion to SGHS!

My Baylor friends, Pi-Phi sisters, 

Midlothian friends, Frisco friends, 

my entire Prewitt and Stewart family.  

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!! 

I also celebrated Thanksgiving this year.  I spent a lot of time thanking Him for my life and all the big and small celebrations of everyday.  It is very hard to say thank you to God for my cancer but I do because it has opened my eyes and my heart.  It has made me lean on Him and pray to Him in a way that I have never prayed.  It has taught me not to take life for granted and to see the beauty all around us.  i am so thankful for each one of you, for all your love, for my family and their dedication to me, for my kiddos and their fun spirit, for riding around in the woods, for time to read a book, fellowship with friends at the farm, for yummy food, decorating and remodeling my house, and for jason (he never leaves my side)! 

the purple stride...

TK raised over $4000!!!

DFW Purple Stride raised  close to $300,000 for pancreatic cancer research!  WOW!

these are just a few of the pics from the walk, you can see a whole lot more by clicking on this link:

http://teamkellypurplestride.shutterfly.com/

thanks Melissa, for being our photographer!  

 thanksgiving...

As i go in for treatment tomorrow i am going to choose to celebrate! i am going to celebrate the day that He gave to me and be thankful in everything! Yes, it will be hard but i know i can do it.  

thank you again for supporting me, praying for me and loving me.  

much love, kelly

GO TEAM KELLY!!!

 Hi Team Kelly...hope you had a good week!  

Kelly is feeling great and has felt your prayers this past week!  She is excited to see you all at the purple stride this Sunday.  

Thank you all in advance for walking and supporting 

TEAM KELLY!! 

cutie pie Malia has got hope!

Bake sale for the PURPLE STRIDE today :)

Raised almost $400!!!

 the yummy goods, made by the sweetest friends in the world...LOVE you girls :)

 meg with the moo-lah!  thank you to our murphy family who came out to support our aunt kelly...we love you to pieces!

So...c'mon TEAM KELLY...let's do this!  

Walk with us, or just cheer us on this Sunday to create awareness and find a cure! We would LOVE to see you!

Here is who and what to look for Sunday morning!  Wear your shirts and you are sure to find your fellow teammates!  

GO TEAM KELLY!!!

(the previous blog post has all the details)

PurpleStride Event Schedule

Your PurpleStride shirts are ready to be picked up at Kelly's house (well, I'll be there in 30 minutes)!

Here's the info for this Sunday, November 11th

Location:  The Katy Trail At Reverchon Park
3505 Maple Avenue, Dallas, TX 75219
Free parking at Scottish Rite Hospital at 3500 Maple Avenue

Registration opens (for those who haven't signed up yet) 8:00 AM
Opening ceremony starts at 9:00 AM
Event begins (1 Mile Fun Run then 5k) at 9:30 AM
Closing ceremony starts at 11:00 AM 

Look for TEAM KELLY shirts in the park.  I'll be holding up a shirt on a stick.
If you get lost or can't find us, call me at 214-533-4260 and we'll send out a purple search party for you :-).

See you Sunday!  Thank you all for your support!

-Gayla

the purple stride is this weekend!!!

Hi there TK :)  Have you registered for the Purple Stride yet?  If not, today is the day to do it.  It costs $30 and sweet Gayla has offered to pick up our packets.  After today it costs $35 and you will have to pick up your packet at the race Sunday morning.  There are 80 TK walkers so far!! Can we make it to a 100?  

mom and dad and mom's high school friends have hope!
(love the mag 8 :))

A little update on Kelly...she is feeling much better.  Thank you for praying for her last week.  It was a really tough week with treatment last Tuesday.  This chemo is the strongest stuff they make.  It makes her so sick requiring multiple trips to the chemo lounge for fluids.  All the driving there and back, the physical side effects, and spending her days in the chemo lounge crush her spirit and fight. She gets so much encouragement from you all every day with cards, texts, visits, and emails.   However, Kelly needs a BIG boost of willpower and fight.  Lets bring out the Italian Stallion in her and flood the Katy Trail this weekend.  

Here are some specific prayer requests:  
-for pancreatic cancer research to come up with a less harsh maintenance plan of treatment
-for her to change her "I don't want to anymore" attitude to a strong "bring it on" kind of attitude
-for gratitude to be at the forefront of our minds and hearts every day

PurpleStride Walk

The PurpleStride walk is coming up November 11, 2012.
If you registered to participate with us, I will pick up your participant packets on Thursday, November 8th from the Richardson RunOn! store and I will have them available at Kelly's house Friday, November 9th after school.  If I'm not there, I will leave a box on her front porch with a packet for each participant and their name clearly marked. Call me if you have any questions 214-533-4260. Carol will pull the packets for her neighbors Thursday. 

I love y'all.... thanks for being so supportive by raising money and awareness.  More info. to follow about when and where to meet that Sunday, November 11th.

:) Gayla