greetings from afar

Art Greco greets the warrior from Pat Stark on Vimeo.

Congrats from afar

There are so many people who have been praying all over the country for Karen. When my travels allow me, I try to get them on video.

http://vimeo.com/4204807

COME PARTY WITH US!!!

Okay, so I”ve been chomping at the bit to announce this, and Karen has given me the official go ahead: Karen and I would like to invite all of you, no matter where you are or how long you have known us to come to a very special CELEBRATE LIFE!! Party at the Stark’s on MAY 3rd, 2009 from 2-6pm. This is a THANK YOU for all your wonderful prayers and support during Karen’s Breast Cancer treatment, so NO gifts, NO cards, just come and celebrate with us and let us wine and dine you. This is a drop in style party so come whenever you want between 2 and 6, and stay as long as you want! If you want a formal evite, send us your email, but if you are reading this, consider yourself invited! if you need directions to the Stark house, then comment me back and I’ll hook you up!! Yea God!!

Curse you Tomoxafin!

So Karen began her twice daily regimen of a estrogen inhibitor, that she will take for five years. It is not agreeing with her. She felt pretty nauseas yesterday, but came through it well, and this morning she has been throwing up non stop. The oncologist wants me to bring her down to the office for an IV hookup of meds. Temporary setback. We’ll no more later. Oh, and it is Good Friday, and I am preaching tonight…aren’t I?

Change

Thanks to all who have given me input on how to use Karen’s blog from this point forward. I changed the subtitle to punctuate the new stage of life we are in, and I believe that I’m being led to share how Karen’s victory over cancer has affected us: spiritually, emotionally, physicallyand as a family and couple. But, it’s Holy Week, and I’m in over my head, so the next installment will have to wait! May your Holy Week be blessed as we journey to the cross, the tomb and the resurrection!

Moving forward

So, though Karen lost her job and has been sick all week, I’m realizing I’m not sure how to use this blog from this point forward. Karen starts on Tomoxafin next week for 5 years. This is the estrogen inhibiting drug that will prevent future estrogen fueled cancers from getting her. But I’m not sure if this blog needs to go on or not. I’d be interested in your input. Should I put a bow on this baby and put it up on the blog shelf, or should I keep it open for now or indefinately? Your input desired…

WARRIOR FOR HIRE!! Apply within…

So Karen was officially laid off today…crazy timing. But crazy good. Karen’s company, has been hurting like many small businesses in the valley of the sun. She was moved to part time status shortly after she finished chemo, and she had a feeling they were keeping her around until radiation treatment was over. Well she finished on Thursday, took Friday off with me and the kids, and got called in for a short meeting today 25 minutes before she was off. 25 minutes before quitting time!! She considered making a run for the door  (ala George Costanza) so they couldn’t lay her off…kidding. She’s excited, believe it or not. My wife, she is one of a kind. Who else gets excited to get laid off? She has all these ideas about what she wants to do, all kinds of projects she wants to finish around the house. She is a crazy woman…and I love her! We’ve been preparing fininancially for this to the best of our ability, though like most of us struggling in AZ, it will have it’s challenges. As a friend once told me when we planted Genesis, “God has brought you this far, He’s not about to drop you on your butt now!”. It’s all good. But if you know anyone who is looking to hire a warrior woman, breast cancer survivor, kick butt project manager with an IT background and Microsoft certification…you know who to call.

The Warrior has prevailed

The most beautiful, vivacious, amazing Karen

This a repeat photo, but it’s one of my favorites of Karen taken this summer in Westport, Washington about a month before her cancer diagnosis. She has defeated the monster in her life by the grace of God and I’m so excited for the life she has in front of her. I know her well, and I know that because she has already used her life to bring hope and love to so many through Jesus, that it’s only going to be taken up a level or two from this point forward. She still has a long road in front of her with skin that needs to heal, possible reconstructon (more painful that her mastectomy), and lifelong cancer checkups. But she has prevailed, and I’m so happy for her. Thanks to you all who have been so supportive of my wife through these last 6 months! Praise God with us today that it is a new day for Karen, the warrior.

UPDATE TO THIS POST….

On Friday March 27th, 2009 at approxiamately 10:30am, Karen’s oncologist declared her CANCER FREE! We rejoice at this news and wanted all of you to know! Praise be to God!

1…

What about 2 days to go? Karen informed me that somehow we were off a day…so this is it folks! No more radiation, no more chemo, no more surgery, no more.  After 3:30 today, she will be zapped no more forever.

So happy. So happy for my wife. So grateful to God. So thankful for all the peeps who have been praying and supporting and driving our kids, and taking care of us. I do not know how we would have made it thorugh this without you all. Thanks for your posts, your comments. If you would like to send one last barrage of comments to Karen I know that would be an awful lot to her.

3…

There is light at the end of the tunnel now, Karen can see it. She is so very close. Just 3 more days of laying on a machine that shoots invisible beams of energy at her bright red chest. Thanks for praying everyone!