#miracleformysister

My name is Kim Phillips many of you know me as Kim Boyette and even more remember me as Kim Bragg. This story is about my sister Kerri Riles also known as Kerri Thompson and Kerri Bragg.  

I love this picture of me and her! It represents such happy times.  Times where the worries we had were minuscule compared to what she and our family are facing today.  In January of this year we found out my dad, William Bragg, had bladder and prostate cancer.  Well we put on our gloves and went to fight for him. (and we still are.... he is receiving treatment and so far is doing really good!) She went with him on his appts all the while feeling sick and hurting so bad in many different places but she was a fighter and wanted to be there for him. And let me not forget she has had such unbearable pain for the last year but was too stubborn to go to the doctor because she was in nursing school.  But the pain just got to be too much she could no longer bear it...not to mention she could hardly walk 15 steps without being out of breath.  She knew something was going on.   She called the doctor and asked for some test to be done..."Kerri was sick and tired of being sick and tired!"  After several test she received news (via a phone call) that her worst fears were coming true.  She heard the word...CANCER...and then INCURABLE!! What do you mean you ask.  Well my sister was diagnosed with Multiple Myleoma in April and she is in stage 3 (which is the worst it can be).  Her cancer is very aggressive and she has genetic changes which makes it more problematic. She has already had several blood transfusions and has been hospitilized twice.  They immediately started her on chemo and she has 2 more rounds of that.  Our hopes are that she will be in remission once done in July.  But even if she is the doctors say she must have a stem cell transplant to give her a fighting chance and more years(statistics say a person typically has 3 - 10 years.  We do not accept that!) Due to her aggressive cancer she has to have a donor.  My brother, Brian Bragg, and I are being tested now.  If we are not a match (25% chance) they will look to the Natational Bone Marrow Registry next.  If there is no match we will have a donor drive.  For the stem cell transplant she will first be given very high doses of chemo to completely kill the cancer( yes she will lose her hair)....killing the cancer sounds great but the problem is it kills everything else too, meaning her immune system will be gone.  Once she recieves the transplant the doctors have warned us that she is going to think she is okay in the beginning but then she is going to be very sick.  She will proably be in the hospital anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks depending on how her body reacts to the donor cells.  Once she is out of the hospital she will need a 24hr caregiver and will be required to stay in Atlanta for about 4 months so that she can be near the hospital for her daily clinic vistits to draw labs and be sure there is no infection.  The days are gonna be long and the nights will probably be as well but she has a great support system and we will always be by her side! 

Soooooo...this is where you guys come in.  So many of  you have asked how you can help.  And so many of you have prayed without ceasing and we all are so very grateful! We are Christians and we believe in the power of prayer and we believe our God is going to deliver a MIRACLE! But in the meantime we have to be realistic and we have to be able to make ends meet and be sure that Kerri is taken care of.  They do have medical insurance  yet some things are not covered.  Her medicine alone each month is $500! The bills are piling up and this brings added stress to Kerri which of course does not help her any!  She worries beacuse she knows how hard Mark works to provide for them. 

So, I sat and talked with Mark and Kerri and found a very humble man.  He is so good to my sister and wants to be her sole provider but what I said to him is "Mark this is bigger than what you can do!" And with tears in his eyes he knew I was right.  He is very prideful of handling his business and his finances.  He has never asked for a dime from anyone! And I respect him so much for that.  So this is ME asking for my sister and for our family! I do not want to see Mark and Kerri left with only pennies from this.  They have worked so hard to be where they are. My hope is for the stem cell transplant to work.  For donations to help with her medical expenses and that when she is HEALED yes I say HEALED of this ugly disease that she and Mark can move on with their life doing the things they love...going to the beach, exploring new places, building furniture, playing golf or just sitting on their porch enjoying each other.  

Kerri and I from Day 1 have been "googling" like crazy.  We would read and cry and read and cry, we were seeking knowledge and each time left dumbfounded beacuase this disease is incurable and the internet is full of stuff to make us worry!  The web wants us to believe that she has 3 - 10 years but know this ....My sister is not a statistic! She is only 44 years old and we are claiming a long life for her! So no more googling" for us!   We know that Our GOD has her in His arms and He will deliver her miracle in His time.  We know and believe that with all that we are!  

If you feel led to share in this journey with us please do.  And if you dont thats okay too because more than anything we still need your prayers.  If you have negative things to say please hold your tongue.

Also, any money that is not used for medical expenses and accomdations while in Atlanta will be donated to the study of finding a cure for multiple myeloma so that no other person has to go thru what my sister is going thru!

Your donation is appreciated more than I have the words to express.  From my heart to yours I am humbly on my knees in awe of your gift and I thank you with every fiber of my being!!! 

I will part with this....  This diagnosis for my sister is not the end for her!!!! We believe in miracles and complete healing!!  We also know it takes a village and that we cant do it alone!  We need our family and our friends!  I sit and think and this I know....I want to grow old with her... I want to sit on the porch on Sundays and watch our grandbabies running around the yard playing... I want to tell stories that start with "remember when"... I want to see the happy glow in her eyes again.... I want to see her pain free and enjoying life instead of masking the hurt and the fear with her brave face!  But until that day comes I will be there with her every step of the way.... for doctor visits, hospitals and caregiving, to praying with her and for her, to hold her hand, to cry with her, to laugh with her or just sit in silence with her! I love you little sister and hang in there! Help is on the way!