Help Kari’s Boys and Scott for their future

My name is Robin Stone and I am raising money for my dear friend, Kari. Kari and I became fast friends years ago when our boys were playing baseball on the same team. It’s crazy to think there was ever a time in my life that she wasn’t part of it. I feel like I’ve known her for a lifetime. She is the kind of friend that brings light to any room and a smile to your face. Kari has been battling stage 4 colon cancer for the last 6 months and she still has a few surgeries and many treatments ahead of her. She’s only 42 and has two beautiful boys ages 7 and 9.  Her husband has been by her side faithfully for the last 12 years. Kari is the love of his life and the amazing mother of his dear boys. This is an incredible family and my heart hurts that they have been having to battle cancer together as a family. Please donate anything you can, share, and send prayers and positive energy her way.

 

Here is Kari’s story in her own words:

 

Thank you all for taking the time to read this and for the constant prayers!

 

The last 6 months have been quite the journey for me (and my family). Sept 10, 2021, my world changed. “You have cancer”. Specifically metastatic colon cancer, stage 4, with secondary liver cancer. I was shocked when those words came out of my GI doctor’s mouth. To be honest, he was shocked when he found the tumor. I was “young”, healthy and in good shape (I had been working hard at OrangeTheory for the last year!). The next few weeks consisted of a whirlwind of appts with a surgeon, oncologist, a battery of tests, CT scans, and biopsy of liver. Because my symptoms were bad enough, we decided to move forward with surgery - they removed a foot of my colon (thank goodness no colostomy bag and it was done laparoscopically so I had an easier recovery) and the surrounding lymph nodes (13 out of the 17 lymph nodes were cancerous). I had 5 weeks of recovery then I was able to get back into working out - how I missed OTF Roswell!

 

Soon after recovery I also started chemotherapy - every 3 weeks. Chemo journey hasn’t been the most fun, but the side affects could have been a lot worse so I try not to complain too much - and silver lining, this type of chemo doesn’t make me lose my hair! As the chemo was working, and the liver lesions were shrinking nicely, my oncologist recommended I see a surgeon specific to liver cancer. I met with him and, after an MRI and PET scan, we decided to move forward with surgery to remove the liver lesions out of my right and left lobes - he estimates that he’ll need to take 30%, which is a lot less than we anticipated. Surgery will take place on Friday, March 25th. Unfortunately it will be open surgery (not laparoscopic) because he wants to save as much healthy liver as possible. I will have a 6 week recovery and then will resume chemo (not sure for how much longer). I also have a couple small lung nodules that the doctors are still concerned about - after consulting with a thoracic surgeon, he said he didn’t feel surgery was the right way to go in my situation so he recommended targeted radiation. He already spoke to the radiologist who agreed to take my case and I will see him on Thursday, 3/17, to get a plan started.

 

I have been surrounded by an amazing team of doctors and nurses who have been nothing but encouraging and hopeful. From Dr. Bullock at Gastroenterology Consultants who initially found the tumor, to Dr. Petrofski at Northside Forsyth (1st surgeon), to Dr. Mehta (oncologist) at Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers Wellstar who walked me through the treatments and patiently answered my many questions and scenarios, to Dr Nguyen at Piedmont (2nd surgeon) for the upcoming liver surgery. I have been impressed and very much on board with how aggressive the approach has been and how quickly things moved forward.

 

Through it all I have had the support of my husband who’s had to pick up the slack at home and with the multitude of practices/games between both boys, shuttling me to appts, all while juggling a new job. I love you!

 

I also couldn’t have made it through the first few months (well, to be honest, through this entire time) without the unending support of my friends and family who have helped with meals, gift cards, books for me to read, endless lists of shows to binge, helping transport the boys to practices/games when Scott had to travel, and the constant prayers and good thoughts. And for keeping me sane by getting me out of the house or coming to hang out but not talk about “it” all the time. And for periodically checking in with me but not constantly sending texts/calls . You all are THE BEST and I seriously don’t know how to thank you enough - everyone knows I don’t like to ask for help so seeing y’all come out of the woodwork to help was overwhelming and very much appreciated. I love you all!

 

I don’t know what the future holds and I try not to think about the statistics of what stage 4 means…even if we are able to get all the cancer out of my body, my journey will never be “over” as I will have to do checkups/CT scans every 3 months and colonoscopies every year. And after that I will constantly be thinking about the possibility of it coming back. But, as a friend (who had to go through her own battle with cancer) said, God can do anything with my story and operates outside of statistics, so we will praise Him in the valley and pray for more good days than bad, and hope that transcends all understanding.

 

I have learned so much through this process: I have a HUGE network of prayer warriors (many of whom I’ve never met) and I have to say, prayers do work!!!, cancer does not define me, I am more resilient and stronger than I thought, I have amazing support from people who have been in my life for years to people I barely know (through the boys sports) but stepped up even when it wasn’t asked, and to really listen to your body. Take care of you by eating well, exercising, getting regular checkups, and not putting off seeing a Dr when you first see symptoms.