The Nitty Gritty
The last couple of weeks were anything but ordinary.
For some reason, my white blood count went too high, which meant I was fighting some kind of infection — we just never quite figured out what it was. As a result, my 11th chemo was cancelled.
So… I got a break. And I got to enjoy ice a little longer (yay for the small wins).
The good news is my numbers are back to normal, so we should be back on track for chemo next week.
The News We’ve All Been Waiting For
I had my scans done, and overall — they looked OK!
I met with my surgeon, who is confident that surgery will be successful. He wants me to do two more chemo sessions, and then we have a surgery date: (UPDATED!) December 10th.
I’m still nervous, mostly because he has a few different options for repairing my small intestine, and we won’t know which one he’ll choose until he’s in there. I’ll get another CT scan the first week of December to avoid surprises, and we’ll meet again on December 18th, just one week after surgery.
Here are the options:
A. Resection: He’ll snip out the bad stuff and sew the good ends back together.
B. HIPEC: A newer, more complex procedure (linked [here]) that involves a longer surgery and more hospital recovery days.
C. Simple Bypass: The least invasive route if needed.
All of these options will help me get back to real food and off TPN — and I can’t wait. I’ve said it before, but this girl is HUNGRY.
My surgeon told me to start getting ready — work out if I can — to be strong for surgery. I’m going to do my best.
Gratitude & Updates
Thank you to everyone who’s reached out and even kept my appointments in your calendars. I feel so supported and seen, and that means more than I can say.
We’re hoping for Option A — it’s the best outcome and my doctor feels confident about it. So do I, even though I’m still nervous. I don’t think anyone ever stops being scared before surgery.
Creative Distractions
Between chemo sessions, I decided to do a thing.
I created my first workbook called Guide to Coaching as a Leadership Style. It’s now live on my store page! You can also read about the full be.CURIOUS Series of workbooks I’ve been developing since last year.
Now that I’ve had time to focus, I’m finally getting them off the ground and securing inventory. The website is ready — I’m just waiting on the products to arrive!
My calendar planner is also coming along beautifully. The prototype is done, and I meet with my graphic designer on November 11th. This project will take a little longer since the products will ship from China when ready, but I’m so excited. This calendar should be ready by mid next year for 2027.
These creative projects have kept my mind busy and my spirit full. I’ve learned so much about printing, costs, and fulfillment — all that behind-the-scenes jazz that goes into making an idea come to life.
A Walk to Remember
On November 8th, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance is hosting its annual Walk to End Cancer. I’ve registered my family, and I’m hoping it’ll be a good day for me — maybe I’ll walk part of it, maybe I’ll get pushed in a wheelchair for some of it. Either way, I’ll be there.
When I registered, it automatically created a fundraising page. There’s no pressure or goal, I’m simply showing up with my family and friends. I believe registration might even be free.
Reflection
This part of the journey — the waiting, the planning, the uncertainty — is where faith and patience meet. I’ve learned that progress doesn’t always look like movement; sometimes it’s just holding steady and letting your body catch up to your spirit.
I’m grateful for every message, prayer, and note of encouragement. On the hard days, your love reminds me to stay rooted in gratitude — and that has made all the difference.
With gratitude for this journey,
KC