Jan 8th

Hey everyone. Im am so sorry I haven't posted for a while. First, our computer went down and I lost all of my passwords and what I needed to log in and then we have just been really busy. For the most part Kirk is doing really well. He recovered from the surgery and is eating really well. But at our last visit to Doctor Swans office the tests he had done on December 20th showed that he still has the cancer in his back and there are a few more spots. They aren't bad but we really need to keep a close watch on them. He will be seeing Doctor Swan again this Thursday and they will check the blood markers that they have been using to monitor his cancer to see if they have gone up any. They were up just a little on the last visit and if they continue to rise Kirk will have to take more chemo. We hope and pray that they will stay down. He is still doing the monthly trial study and they said that this would also help.

We had a very nice Christmas and we just got back from Florida were we watched the Hokies lose their bowl game but we still managed to have a nice trip.

There are a few more of our friends who have been diagnosed with cancer lately and we ask that you put them in your prayers, Becky Harrison and Ted Patton. Your prayers can do miracles and we all need them.

Again I apologize for the delay in getting information to you I will definitely do better. Take Care.

God Bless!
Kirk and Laura

October 22nd

Hello everyone, we are finally at home again. Kirk was released from the hospital yesterday. He is doing O.K. but he is still having to use the feeding tube. We have a home health nurse that is helping but for the most part I have to take care of most of the feeding part because he has to have it 24/7. He is eating as well but until he is getting the nutrition that they feel that he needs he will be on the feeding tube.

Next Monday he has an appointment with both his surgeon and Dr. Swan who he hasn't seen in almost a month so I'm sure they will want to do a full check-up.

Again thank you for all the cards the phone calls and prayers. It helps that he knows how much he is loved by all. Just pray that he continues to improve.

God Bless!
Kirk & Laura

October 4th

Hey everybody, sorry I haven't posted until today. It has been a little crazy. Kirk had his surgery on Friday and that went great. They put a new connection from his stomach to his intestines to help with the emptying of the stomach. They left the stent area alone because it was to close to the pancreas. But that should be O.K. because the biopsy from that area was benign. Kirk is doing O.K. but it is taking a little longer than expected for his digestive system to kick back in so he is still on I.V. Food (TPN) and liquids. They want to start him on tube feedings first (the tube is in his stomach) so that this will help stimulate his intestines. Once this works he can then start to eat some soft foods. Right now he is having trouble with the tube feedings because his system is just not working well enough. Hopefully things will start to move in a couple of days.

I've been going out every morning after I take Chase to school and then coming hope at night to get Chase. Then I try to stay on weekends so I haven't been at home much. As soon as I have more news I will try to post. Keep Kirk in your prayers he really needs them right now. Thanks!

God Bless!
Kirk & Laura

September 26th

I just wanted to let everyone know that Kirk will be going into the hospital in Bristol on Friday to have surgery. The stent that he had put in at Cleveland is open but for some reason his stomach doesn't seem to empty the way that it should. They are going to go in and try to either take the part with the stent out and reconnect, or do a bypass by pulling up another piece of the intestine and making a new opening in the stomach. Hopefully this will help relieve the bloating and fullness that he has all the time. The same doctor that put in his port-a-cath is going to do this surgery and we feel comfortable with him.

All of Kirk's other tests have been very good. The biopsy that he had done when they did the endoscopy was benign and all his other tests were good as well, so hopefully this will get him all straightened out. I will keep you posted on how things go. They said that he would probably be in the hospital for 4 to 7 days. As always, please keep him in your prayers as he is really dreading this.

Thanks to all and God Bless!
Kirk & Laura

September 10th

Hello everyone, well we went to see Dr. Swan today. Last week Kirk had a PET study and a bone scan and we got the results today. Dr. Swan wasn't sure about the bone scan because it actually stated that things seemed to have gotten worse but Kirk has had three scans so he thinks that they were talking about the second one because the PET study showed that the bones were healing and that he had responded to the treatment very well. His blood marker was below normal today at 143 so Kirk got an excellent report. The PET study showed something around the stent area and suggested that he have another endoscopy with the light in his stomach to check that out but Dr. Swan said that this could be just some irritation or scar tissue. He scheduled an appointment for Kirk this Wednesday to have that done. For now Kirk doesn't have to go back to the Dr. for three weeks. He still has to get his shots for bloodcounts and his trial study injections but if this last test is clear he is good to go for a while. He has done really well and I'm very proud of him and I know that all of you are too. He has been through a lot and kept on going. Right now he is at Chase's football practice being a coach which he loves.

As soon as we know about the last test I will post to let you know to. I hope everyone had a wonderful summer since it is coming to an end so soon. Thanks again for your support and prayers.

God Bless!
Kirk and Laura

August 27th

Hi everyone, we just got back from Kirk's doctor visit just a few minuutes ago and this is what we know. Kirk has now completed six chemo treatments which is how many that Dr. Swan wanted him to have. He went over all of Kirk's records and bloodwork and decided not to do anymore chemo right now but to run some more tests. His weight is holding, he didn't gain any this time but the last two chemo treatments really seemed to drag him down a little more than usual, but he didn't lose any either. He eats really well and the doctor was very impressed with that and he isn't in any pain which is also a big improvement from when he started. All in all, Dr. Swan thinks that he is doing very well and is pleased with the results so far. Next week Kirk will go for a PET Scan, which he has never had before, and a bone scan. Then we will see Dr. Swan again in two weeks to get the results. Hopefully these will show that everything is clear and he can continue to recover from the chemo and get his strenght back.

He did have a birthday this past Friday and he received so many wonderful cards and gifts and had dinner with about thirty of his best friends last night. He enjoyed it so much. It's hard to believe that he has went through so much and for him to be out and about is just wonderful.

Thank you all for your continued support. Your prayers have helped get us through this each and everyday. We appreciate and love you all!

God Bless!
Kirk and Laura

August 8th

Hello to all, I hope everyone is staying cool during this hot weather and is having a nice summer. Well today Kirk finished up his 6th chemo treatment. This is how many they had intended on giving him so hopefully this will be his last. Probably by next week they will start sceduling tests to see how things look. Bone scans, CT scans and I am going to request a Pet Study which has never been done but is very good at detecting cancer. If all goes well this will be over and he can continue to recover. He is still gaining weight two more pounds this past visit and out of the forty pounds he lost he has gained back twenty-five so he is doing very well. We go out when he feels like going somewhere like to eat or to the movies. So he is getting out and doing some things which is also good.

As soon as we start getting tests results back I will post to let everyone know what is going on. Sorry I haven't posted as often but there hasn't been a lot of news but I soon as I know anything I will be sure to let you know. As always, thanks for your thought and prayers.

God Bless!

Kirk and Laura