Kevin's Watch

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:16 am**

Mom is all settled in at our hospital again, we all got a chance to talk to her on the phone. She sounds very weak, but she's very happy to be closer to home. Dad and Uncle Matt are on their way up here now. Dad is going to take a long nap, then head back down to her. He doesn't like to be away from her for too long. Uncle Chris, Aunt Julie, Grandma, Heidi, and me are going to go see her for a little while. The other kids can't because of new restrictions in place for H1N1.

We are all so very happy she's close again!

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:54 am**

Wonderful news today; time to ramp up the thankful prayers for a bit before resuming the petitionary ones for the next phase of getting Tracie better.

More than a little dance of joy as well!

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:21 am**

Soooo nice to hear!

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:31 am**

Savor Dam wrote:Wonderful news today; time to ramp up the thankful prayers for a bit before resuming the petitionary ones for the next phase of getting Tracie better.

More than a little dance of joy as well!

Absolutely!

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:48 am**

FANTASTIC!!!

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:52 pm**

'Bout time the universe paid attention.

--A

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:53 pm**

What Av said. And:

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:06 pm**

Hey all,

Long couple of weeks it has been. Tracie is scheduled for surgery early tomorrow. She is heavily sedated right now, she is in alot of pain due to the kidney tumor. The thing is a monster, when we first saw it, it was the size of a pea, now it's about the size of golf ball, all that growth in 11 days. At this rate, it will consume the whole kidney in a matter of weeks. So bizarre, the oncologist in Portland said he's never seen such an intense growth rate. This cancer is running rampant thru Tracie's body. And we couldn't start chemo until all these other conditions were taken care of. But, damn, she's already so weak, can barely lift her head. When she's awake, she doesn't know where she is half the time. She asks me about things that happened weeks or months ago.

Sorry all, I'm rambling. I'll pass on all the messages you all have left for her. Thank you again for the prayers and love. They mean so much to all of us. As Tracie always says "My cup runneth over". God bless you all.

Russ

Posted: **Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:05 am**

Thanks for keeping us updated, Russ, and hang in there.

Posted: **Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:32 am**

Yeah, thanks, Russ. I don't know how you still manage to be at all coherent at this point. All our love and hugs to you, too.

Posted: **Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:22 am**

and prayers

Posted: **Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:56 pm**

God's blessings on all of Tracie's family & strength to see you through

Posted: **Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:59 pm**

Yeah, we're still thinking of you guys.

--A

Posted: **Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:01 pm**

OK all.
Time to ramp up the prayers and positive energy right now!

via text, Harley Guy wrote:Hey all. Just took Trace back. Will txt when it's over.

Love and Light, Furls.
Love and Light.

Posted: **Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:26 pm**

Last two messages from Harley Guy:

Trace in recovery. Surgery went well. took long time.

and

Trace out of rec and in CCU. Heavily sedated, vitals look good.

Let's pray the good news keeps coming!

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:45 am**

In our thoughts

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:47 am**

The prayers continue to pour out.

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:45 pm**

For Mom, because she loved it so much...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSolNmTF9a4

"They always want you to be okay..."

Mom's first words coming out of anesthesia were..."Is everyone okay? Are the kids okay?"

I love you, Mommy. I love you so much.

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:07 pm**

Yes, Brooke. You'll learn how utterly irrelevant you are when you have kids. Doesn't parenthood sound fun???

Posted: **Sat Oct 24, 2009 1:57 pm**

I'm getting a taste of it now, helping with my little brothers and sisters. When I look back on when I was their ages, all I remember is joy and how wonderful my childhood was, because of my mother. Dad was gone alot, his job took him to all sorts of different places. So most of the time, it was Mom, Heidi and me...then Ryan came along and Tristan...and then baby Chelsea. If she goes, my littlest siblings will not have that. Stevie, Naeem, Ayize and Meggie, they will remember her, but it won't be like how I do, or how Heidi does, or Ryan or Tristan...Chelsea and Imani are 9.

I don't know why I'm saying all that. Mom is fighting so hard, and miracles happen around us all the time. Her presence is everywhere, she will never leave us. She may let go of the body that is now attacking her, but she will never let go of us. Stevie said "Mommy isn't going to let go of us, even tho someone is trying to pry her hands from holding on." And then he said "Do you feel Mommy hugging you? I do."

Arrangements have been made to send her to the MD Anderson Cancer Treatment Center in Houston when she is strong enough. Thank you, Savor Dam for mentioning this wonderful place to me and my Dad. He has spoken with them several times and they want Mom. They have been very encouraging, we may get that miracle yet. As soon as she has recovered enough from the surgery, she will be air lifted there. None of us want her to be so far away, but if this place can save her, then we are all praying that it works out for her to go.

They made it official a few days go, Mom is now in Stage 4. Please keep the prayers coming. We are all so grateful to you all.

Huggles from Mom and from all of us. God bless you all.

Kevin's Watch

Stephen C. McKinney Memorial Thread (1969-2001)