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

Update from the lounge...

Dr. Savin felt positive about the results of the scan. This chemo treatment is working! He says we should stay with it since seeing such good progress. Tumor indicator is still in normal range...35!! She is getting treatment today and will wait 4 weeks this time because of Thanksgiving. What a blessing to have a doctor that believes spending time with family is also good medicine :) Let's keep Kelly covered in prayer this week. Here is our devotion for today...

I am with you. Heavens bells continually peal with that promise of My presence. Some people never hear those bells because their minds are earthbound and their hearts are closed to Me. Others hear the bells only once or twice in their lifetimes, in rare moments of seeking Me above all else. My desire is that My "sheep" hear My voice continually, for I am the ever-present Shepard.

Team Kelly, listen for those glorious bells!

Written by Kim, Carol and Mom from the chemo lounge. Love you Kelly:)