September 19, 2012

Happy 17th Birthday to our sweet Kassidy!

Last Wednesday, was Kassidy's 17th birthday.  Oh what a great day she had!  The day started off with her feeling pretty good that morning, that in itself is always fabulous.

In her first period at school, she received flowers and a singing balloon from one of her coaches and teachers.  We just love her coaches, they are so good to her!

Since she leaves 5 minutes early from each class, to prevent from tangling her tubes with other students going from class to class; she was alone in the hallways carrying her backpack, binders, flowers and singing balloon.  She had so much in her arms that the balloon kept hitting her head and letting everyone know that someone outside had a birthday. Hahahahaaha  She loved it!

The singing balloon & flowers!

Also at first lunch, coaches and a couple of the softball girls had a surprise party for her where they sang happy birthday, had cake, donuts and milk.   Talk about sugar overload!  But it was her birthday, but otherwise her sugar intake is quite controlled!  We let is slide.

That evening we took her and two of her good friends to her favorite place, Cheesecake Factory.  We had a great night spending time with the girls and just thanking God what a blessing it is to have Kass with us each day.  We never knew how our little girl would impact our lives.  I know that we sure appreciate things so much more now.  Special memories mean the world to us now.

Kass good friends Kayla & Bailey

It was so great to see her open the little knick knacks we got her and especially the big surprise we had in store for her for her special day; tickets to the Ellen Show.

Do you think she was excited to get tickets to Ellen?

This weekend ended being busy for her as well.  Her friend Tori came home from NAU, so Kass got to spend the night on Friday at her house and Tori came over Saturday to our house, of course with Ryan and I stressing a bit because she was away from us for a Friday night.  We prepared her medication before she left, but she still would have to hook the new bags and program the pump herself.  She did amazing and I think we underestimated her a bit!

When she got home Saturday afternoon she gave us a scare.  She came home with a splitting headache where she was having a hard time seeing and her feet were numb.  Ahhhhhhh!  She asked for a dose of IV decadron, something she never does.  That seem to the trick and she felt better after a couple minutes.  She's learning to listen to her body!  We are so glad, even though deep inside we were wondering what the heck does this mean; tumor growth or .....

Sunday we also had a small bbq for friends to celebrate with those we couldn't celebrate with on Wednesday.  Thank you to all those who were able to make it and share Kassidy's birthday celebration with us.  We appreciate you.

Happy Birthday!

Friends Trinity & TJ

This week was again the dreaded MRI week.  On Tuesday, Ryan actually took Kass to her appointment, he decided to take off Tuesday and Wednesday to be home to help me thru those two dreaded days.  Kass had it rough on Tuesday, she ended up throwing up in the bathroom at Steinberg before she had to go in the magnet, but she made it thru her MRI and came home so we could continue her treatments.  She also had a mishap in her car after coming home that day from her hyperbaric appointment, she got an urge to throw up and couldn't pull over and got it everywhere in her car.  That was not so fun for Ryan and I to clean up.  LOL!

Today we anxiously waited to MRI results, every time the phone rang we would jump.  Dr. Barbara called and gave us prelim results of the MRI and said the tumor is stable.  Sigh!!! I don't think we've ever been so happy about a stable MRI.  I guess July's MRI when she had 14% increase in her tumor scared us to death.  I guess we have learned to love stable! She said since Kassidy has only been on full dose for 3 weeks she hopes we see better results next scan.  We are hoping and praying and trusting God to guide us with the next step!!!

I wanted to remind you of two fundraisers coming up for Kassidy:

Kass will be this year's face of 

Ride for Life 

Saturday, October 6

A motorcycle poker run here in Las Vegas.  

So those of you that ride, please help us spread the word to your rider friends.

Also we have a date for
Kassidy's Army 2nd Annual 5k run & 
1 Mile Family Walk. 

at Bunker Park on 

Saturday, November 3rd at 9:00am 

We are inviting EVERYBODY!!! 

All Ages, walker friendly, strollers welcome, dogs on leashes.......

Also needing VOLUNTEERS!!! Please email us!!!!

You may now register at:

http://www.active.com/running/las-vegas-nv/kassidys-army-2nd-annual-5k-run-and-1-mile-walk-2012

September 10, 2012

Our trip to Boise ended being momentous.  Not only did it take us 11 long hours to drive because of all the construction, but more than halfway there, Kassidy's pump decided to break.   At that moment, I called Ryan so he would overnight the new pump and new tubing we were suppose to be already using, but was reluctant to do so because of the pump's bigger size and the fact it needs to be recharged at night.  Fortunately, Kass felt ok off medication for the rest of the evening.

The next day the pump and tubing arrived bright and early.  As I unpacked the box, I noticed that everything was in the box, except for the y-connectors.  OOPS!  Ryan had never learned the new pump so he didn't know that this new pump had different parts to it.  He felt so bad! He found a medical supply store in Meridian (close to Boise) that would gift me a couple y-connectors to see me through the weekend. I got the y-tubing and tried for 4 hours to make it work, but the pump kept giving me the error "down occlusion"; by then I was so frustrated not only because I couldn't get the pump to work, but by then Kass was now dry heaving from throwing up so much.  When I called the clinic they informed that for some reason the new pump didn't take any other kind of tubing except the kind they provided. Oh my gosh!!!

It was now 3:10pm Vegas time so I called Ryan in tears telling him that I would need the y-connectors we had at home.  At that same time as I spoke with him I looked at Southwest website and found that they had a flight at 4:20pm nonstop to Boise for $170.00 and it would cost $120 to send the tubing fedex.  I begged to please come bring me the tubing that friday evening and come help me get Kyle settled.  The amazing man he is, he packed in less than 10 minutes and arrived at the gate at 4:19pm. That evening we troubleshooted the pump together, got it to work and it only took an hour for Kass to start feeling better.  Ahhhh! The next day we spent helping Kyle unpack and setting up his room.

Never a dull moment!!!!

Kass saying goodbye to Kyle before we left Boise.

Monday, we started going back up in dose as Dr. B ordered.  All of us a bit sad that it would mean 3 bag changes a day, 3 blood draws a week, and less and less time in between treatments for Kass.  But it only took us 2 and half weeks to get Kass back up to maximum dose without really any problems.  So glad for that part!!!

We also started hyperbaric chamber treatment for Kass.  I had been researching the benefits and I can't believe more people are not using it.  After Kassidy's brain surgery we have noticed balance issues, memory issues, and even bit of saliva issue (she's producing way more than she used to and chokes on it quite a bit and even causes her upset stomach).  By reading about HBOT (hyperbaric oxygen therapy) when oxygen is pressurized it can help regenerate damaged cells or tissue, increase neural brain function, help reduce steroid dosages, helps body fight infection, and so much more.  So she had her first treatment on August 9th, again she did so great in the chamber.  What a trooper this kid of ours!  We will be doing 30 treatment, but we have already noticed better balance, better mental clarity, more energy.

The hyperbaric chamber! I get to watch Kass from the small window.  My hero!

Kass a bit bored in the chamber last Friday!

Also this last month we were fortunate enough to have Kassidy's story featured on two different publications here in Las Vegas.

Our friend Chantal wrote a wonderful piece about Kassidy in the Desert Companion Magazine:

http://www.desertcompanion.com/article.cfm?articleID=383

Maggie who did Kassidy's story last year about Kassidy's Army did an update on Kass in the Las Vegas, The View, newspaper.

http://www.lvrj.com/view/teen-hears-promising-news-about-her-rare-brain-tumor-166857746.html

Singer Ron Pope proudly wearing Kassidy's Army gear.  Thank you Ron!

On August 20th we held Kassidy's Army 2nd Annual Golf Tournament at Canyon Gate Country Club. Players, volunteers and our family had a great time.  We didn't have the amazing turn out we had last year, but I think it was due to that it was held on a Monday instead of a weekend day, so we hope to change that next year.  We still had great feedback from the golfers and had great raffle and auction prizes.  Thank you so much to those that came to play, sponsored, volunteered, and donated.  We appreciate each one of you.

Kassidy's Army volunteers ready to help.  Love you All.

Kass and her friend Alex at the tournament!

Those of you that would like to check out the pictures from the golf tournament you may do so here:

http://benniepalmore.zenfolio.com/p177026849

We took a small trip to Salt Lake City the weekend before school started, Ryan was very busy at school getting ready for the new school year so we escaped for a couple days while he worked.  We stopped to see our friend Catherine which we met in Houston at the Burzynski Clinic.  Catherine was battling cancer for the 3rd time when we met her, she is now cancer free thanks to Dr. B.  We got to spend some time with her in Park City, we had a great time with her.  After, we spend the weekend with my cousin Ari and her baby Thiago.  It was wonderful to hang out with them for a couple of days.

Kass and Catherine! We hung out in her balcony that evening.

Out to dinner with friends in Salt Lake City.

The night before Kassidy's first day of school she woke Ryan and I by calling us from her cell from the bathroom saying she needed help because she had thrown up.  Since, at night she is connected to an extension chord because she has to charge her pump she can't really make it all the way to our room to wake us.  She had thrown up all over the bathroom! Our poor baby!  Her sleep is so interrupted that when she sleeps she is out cold, so it took her off guard.  We felt for sure would miss her first day of school, but to our surprise she was up at 5am getting ready to go.  She said she felt fine and was ready for the day.

It's tradition to take a pic on the first day of school!  Can you tell she's not excited LOL

  I think she was excited for her first day as a senior.  Crazy, how time flies! We are so proud of our new senior.  We visited her counselor the week before school started to make sure her schedule was set, her 504 plan updated and make sure she's on track to graduate and low and behold she still is on schedule to graduate with her advance honor diploma and medallion as long as she keep a 3.5 or higher this year as well.  She was bummed to hear her gpa is now a 3.52 instead of her 4.0 she used to have, but my goodness all she's gone thru and she still has that great of gpa, we are extremely proud of her.  She will be taking 4 classes this year, Government Honors, Geological Studies Honors, English 12, and Foods. Since Centennial has block schedule she only will take 2 classes per day which is great.

She's only missed one day in two weeks so we hope and pray she can attend as much as she can this year so she can accomplish her goal.

Our next MRI is scheduled for September 18th.  Ryan and I are very nervous for this next MRI since it will tell if ANP is working.  We ask to please remember us in your prayers!!!!

September is Childhood Awareness Month!!!!!! Go Gold before Pink!!!!!
Please remember our children fighting and volunteer or participate in your local childhood cancer charities.

August 1, 2012

Please!

Yesterday felt like a blurr.  The news hit us like a brick, but we've done our crying and feeling sorry for ourselves and we are ready to FIGHT along with Kassidy.  We will NEVER GIVE UP!

Thank you so much for your kind messages, texts, email & especially your prayers.  They gave us comfort.  It's so great to know the great support we have around us.  You guys are truly amazing!

So, tomorrow we leave to take Kyle back to Boise State.  Bittersweet for this mama!  Not sure if it will ever get any easier, but we will treat it as a nice teeny vacation for us to take our minds of things for a bit and at the same time help Kyle get settled.

Starting Monday, we will be increasing Kassidy's ANP dose slowly, so we can deal with any side effects while she's home and not on vacation and also allow her body to get use to the dose before we increase again.  The nurse that calls from the clinic agreed that it would be a good idea to do it that way.

On that note, we need your HELP on new fundraisers!

2nd Annual Kassidy's Army Golf Tournament

on August 20, 2012

at Canyon Gate Country Club

Will be a 4 man best ball scramble, shot gun start.
Each golfer will receive a polo shirt, lunch, free driving range practice and round of golf.

Auction & Raffle Prizes

You can register online by clicking the following link:http://www.active.com/golf-tournament/las-vegas-nv/kassidys-army-2nd-annual-golf-tournament-2012
 

OR you can register by filling out this form!!!

We are also looking for donations for auction and raffle prizes, hole sponsors, driving range sponsors and even corporate sponsors.

  

Sponsor Form

Please email us at kassidysarmy@live.com if you have any questions

Thank you so much in advance!!!!!

Marketplace products free of preservatives, additives, MSGs and food colorants and dyes.

We had such a great turnout last time we did a Wildtree party that we decided to do another .

Please take a look at the unique herbs and spice blends and mixes that you can provide your family with healthy meals that taste great and easy to make.

ANYONE can order online!!!!!  

 Go to: http://www.mywildtree.com/Kerri/ and click SHOP, Kassidys Army Fundraiser

Affordable, trendy, high quality, monogrammable and very attractive totes, bags, baskets etc...

View the Thirty-One catalog and place an order online

http://www.mythirtyone.com/sallywelk/

between August 1st-10th 
Just click on My Parties and you will see the Kassidy's Army Fundraiser.

August special...for every $31 you spend, you can get any item from the spirit

collection for 50% off!


PLEASE SHARE THESE EVENTS WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

Thanks a million!

July 31, 2012

Yesterday we had the dreaded MRI, our anxiety at it's high as always.  Especially, since the night before Kass woke me at 3 am to tell me that she needed help because she had thrown up all over the bathroom and her backpack.  She hasn't had an episode like that in a long time where she couldn't make it to the bathroom.  I helped her clean up and after she said she felt fine and went back to sleep.  Thank goodness!


After that I could not sleep, my mind wondered all night and all I could do was worry for what was instore for the morning.  Surprisingly, Kass felt pretty good for the MRI with no nausea, Yeah!! But when we got to the room there was a new head cover for the MRI machine.  It looked like those old diving helmets from the 50's, it was so close to her face; I frieked out!  I went up to her as they rolled her in the tube to make sure she was ok and she calmed ME down.  She said, "Mom, I'm ok" HAHAHAHAHA I felt silly. Forgot, she's NOT claustrophobic, I am.  


After the MRI was done she did say her tummy hurt because she kept having to swallow her excess saliva.  In the last two weeks we have noticed that she's been drooling in her sleep and that she chokes on her saliva once in awhile.  Yesterday I asked some of the other parents with kids with the same diagnosis and they too have the same problem.  I looked a little more into it and saw that it happens in brains stem tumor, stroke, & MS patients who have increased pressure by a tumor or 7th nerve palsy.  The worry is that if it gets worse, she can aspirate in her sleep which in turn cause pneumonia.


Well, today our fears were confirmed.  Kassidy has had a 14% increase in the size of her tumor located by the medulla oblongata and upper cervical spine.  She has 3 spots in her brain stem that have small tumor and one area in particular is the one they saw an increase.  WHAT A BLOW!!!  This is the first time since we started treatment that we have had increase of any kind.  A set back!  I immediately broke down and couldn't even see straight.  Thank goodness Ryan happened to be with me since it's his last day of vacation before her goes back to work tomorrow.  


We came home to wait for Dr. Burzynski plan of action.  Ryan reminded that Dr. B had said that by lowering the dose there could be a chance were the tumor would fight back and increase.  Of course, you never think it could happen, especially since she's had such a great summer.  In May the pet scan showed that her tumor is no longer cancerous, but this does not mean the benign tumor cannot grow.  Which is exactly what's happened!!  Dr. B would like to attack the tumor by going back to full dose slowly and wait 4 to 6 weeks to see what the higher dose does to the tumor.


I also, wrote Jessica Ressel, an old patient of Dr. B who had a very similar situation happen to her.  Her tumor increased twice, but then completely went away.  She is now in her 20's and she was 11 when diagnosed.


I cannot tell you how disappointed all of us are at this time, especially our Kass.  She could see the finish line and now she's back at a "what if".  We have reassured her that we will continue to fight as long as it's needed.  We just wish we could take it all away once for all.  But this is God's plan for now!  So we will walk by faith!!


Please, keep her in your prayers as we FIGHT on.  And if you get a chance please give her a word of encouragement as her world has been changed once again.

July 21, 2012

It's been so long since I've updated the blog.  We have just been enjoying our summer to the fullest and pretending to be a "normal" family; it's felt so good!!!! :)  But I know many of you have been wondering how things are going, since we've been getting emails, texts and even messages wondering how Kass is doing.  But we have to tell you it's been pretty great.  Kassidy has been doing very well!  She finished her junior year of high school with pretty good grades.  We are so proud of our new senior!

The middle of June we finally hit 330ml on Bag 1 from 500ml; which was the dose Dr. B wanted us in May when we went to Houston, but couldn't achieve because her body couldn't handle the drastic drop of dose. After, Kass was out of school it was easier to wean her faster since at home she could handle her nausea a bit better as we lowered the dose.  She just wanted to be at the desired dose as soon as possible so she could let her body adjust to the new dose.  Not only that, but Ryan and I were delighted with the fact that this meant that there would only be two bag changes during the day instead of three.  A bit of relief in our schedule! Sigh! We welcomed this small break of freedom for us and for Kass.  She now is only on an 1 hour, 30 minutes of treatment every four hours versus the 2 hours 10 minutes every four hours that she had before.   She's loving the 2 hour 30 minutes of freedom she can use to either shower or just plain be unhooked from her pump.

The best part was that a couple days after she reached the lower dose of ANP we were able to completely take Kass off decadron.  Yipee!!!!  This was such a great accomplishment!!!  We hope she never has to go on that drug again.  We understand it's importance, but sure glad she's off.  Dr. B did tell her that it will take a couple months for it to be completely be out of her system, but we can already see the difference especially in that her cheeks are less puffy and she's already been able to start losing some of the weight she gained because of it.  We know it's gonna be a slow process, we just hope she doesn't get too discouraged with the long process.  Just hard to explain to a teenager that it will take time for changes.

Kass has gotten to do some pretty awesome things this summer.  On June 15, she got the opportunity to throw the first pitch at the Las Vegas 51's game.  What a great honor!  We all had so much fun that night watching her throw the pitch, we got to eat dinner at the club house restaurant and watch the game from front row club house air conditioned table and finished the evening with amazing fireworks.      All thanks to our friend Larry Brown who set it all up for Kass.  Thanks Larry!

Kass in action!

Our family!

Cosmo giving Kass a high five after her pitch!

Kass, Cosmo & Alex

Jeff & Sue came to watch the game with us

Kass & Ash

Dinner at the Club Restaurant

The fireworks!

The end of June, Ron Pope, one of Kassidy's favorite singers (he sings "A Drop in the Ocean", one of Kassidy's favorite songs on the blog) invited Kass to go to his concert in Phoenix, Arizona.  So Kass, her friend Alex and I made a road trip.  He listed us as his guests and we had enjoyable evening listening to his concert.  Afterwards we were asked to hang around so Ron could meet Kass.  He came over, gave us a hug and pulled up a chair and just chatted with us for about a half an hour.  He made Kass feel like a million bucks!  It was so great for him to take time out of his busy schedule for Kass, we truly appreciate him for that.  Please check out his music, he's so very talented:


http://www.RonPopeMusic.com

Ron Pope

Ron & Kass

On July 1, we celebrated Kass being on ANP treatment for a year.  Oh what a year it has been!  She wanted to celebrate going out to eat at her favorite place, Cheesecake Factory.  What a difference from last year's emotions.  Last year her day started off really early with surgery for the placement of her first catheter port and from there straight to the clinic for her first infusion treatment and learning how to administer emergency decadron in case of bad reaction.  We were so overwhelmed that day!  I still remember feeling we had like we were going to have a heart attack from all the excitement and what the nurses were asking us to do.  I remember thinking I don't think we will ever be able to properly prepare the medication bags, program pump, draw blood, clean the port, flush her line, change the catheter tip........ That year anniversary day we reminisced on how far we all have come and that we made the right decision for Kassidy.

July 11th was a really hard day for Ryan and I.  We sent Kassidy off to Camp Firefly, a camp for children affected by cancer put on by a wonderful organization called Candlelighters here in Las Vegas that's held at Torino Ranch about an hour out of Vegas. This was the first time since May 19, 2011 that either one had left Kassidy's side for more than just a couple hours.  Two nurses from camp came a week before to learn how to prepare Kassidy's medications.  I proceeded to brief them on everything I had learned in 4 weeks at the clinic in a matter of 3 hours.  Ahhhhh!!!  I also sent them with the videos I had taped while at the clinic showing the different steps of the process.  They assured me that if they needed help they would call us.

Kassidy was not allowed to take a cell, we would not have contact with her unless there was an emergency.  As Ryan and I dropped her off I could not help, but feel like I was leaving her for the first time in her life.  I couldn't help, but feel anxious and after I said goodbye couldn't help but cry on the way back home.  The nurse who I handed the HUGE  bag of medicine (the bag was so big that we even had comments from other parents leaving their kids meds) reassured that he would call me when they got to camp with the number to the med shed. He did, thank you nurse Stinky!

Kass & Tori leaving for Camp Firefly!

Huggin her tight before she leaves

Kass and her daddy!

When we picked Kass up from camp on our way to Newport Beach, she excitedly told us all about the amazing time she had at camp.  We were so glad!  The heat affected her a bit while at camp so she did spend a little time in the med shed, but she got to enjoy most of camp which is the important part.  Her friend Tori, who battled thyroid cancer last year and is a veteran at camp accompanied Kassidy the whole time.  Thank you Tori!  Kass told us stories about the crafts she made, the pranks they pulled on the boys cabin and boys throwing 100 crickets in their cabin, water fights, Cirque du Soleil actors putting on a show and so much more..... So thankful that she could have such a fun experience!!!  She can't wait to go again next year.

Kass aka Panama (camp name) with her Cabin #11 sisters and leaders!

And today we got home from a small vacation.  The beach was wonderful for all of us.  The weather was so nice that Kass got to spend most of the time outdoors.  She didn't even need one bag of hydration while we were there and even her nausea was very seldom.  She couldn't get in the water because of her broviach, but that didn't seem to stop her from enjoying the beach.  On Tuesday, for my birthday we all decided to get family tattoos.  We all got grey cancer ribbons to show our support for our brain cancer survivor and Kass got one with survivor on it.  Wish we didn't have to come back to real life.

Even a backpack full of medicine was not stopping her from enjoying the beach!

Fun times!

Lunch in Venice

Kass getting ready for her Segway Tour

Family Ink

Close up of Kass's tatoo

On Monday, July 30th Kass has her MRI and just the thought of it gives me PMS (Pre MRI Stress).  We hope and pray this MRI shows stable or reduction of the tumor so we can continue to wean of ANP.  We know that she can live with the remaining necrotic tumor that remains, but if the body decides to absorb it or reduce it that would be great so we know for sure that it won't cause side effects even after she's done with ANP.  So again, we place our faith in God and ANP and pray for the best.

Check out our facebook Kassidy's Army page for more constant updates:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kassidys-Army/271375682902038

June 5, 2012

Kassidy is much better since the trip to the ER that Saturday.  By taking her off treatment for a night she was able to rest for a whole night.   Her nausea has not completely gone away and it seems that every other day she is still vomiting.  :(   But we have seemed to be able to control it a bit better with zofran (nausea pill) and phernergan (another nausea pill).  It just comes and goes, but it's definitely better where she can eat and drink now.  It's almost like morning sickness..... Ugh!

She was able to go back to school last week and made it till Friday.  On Friday, she texted me and said she felt horrible, but did not want to come home because that would mean more makeup work.  School is almost out and she's trying so hard to catch up and finish school with good grades.  So proud of her!  She's one tough girl.  She's so close and then she can rest for summer break.

We are now at 440/40 on her dose, so we have been able to come down 60 ml.  I will keep her at that all week just so she can finish up school this week and her finals.  Then during summer break we can wean a little faster since she can rest at home.  She's just so ansy to get on living life.  She would like to be done faster than 8 more months.

Last week she was able to go to her softball banquet.  She received her 3rd varsity letter in softball.  She was more of a coach this year, instead of a player, but so thankful to her coaches and teammates for allowing her to still feel part of the team.  We are just so excited that she even tried.  At the banquet, our friend Don did a very emotional video of the 2012 season.  It was great to have him there to capture all the special moments.  He will missed by many as he leaves for Connecticut this summer.

Getting her 3rd year varsity letter.

The Fab Five, every year since there freshman yr they take this picture in front of the bulldog.

Last weekend, we did a surprise party for coach Spencer, one of Kassidy's old softball coaches who helped us organize most of the fundraisers we had last year.  I still remember getting a call from him when we were all in Houston in July and he had said "You worry about Kassidy and we will worry about raising the money".  We will never forget all the help he and his wife Karen gave us during the first hardest months of our lives.   We will be forever grateful for both of them and all they helped us accomplish.  They too will be missed as they move back to Texas to be closer to family.

Thank you Coach Spencer for everything!

Yesterday, we had the annual alumni softball game.  In this game the old alumni softball players are invited back to play against the current softball players.  When Ryan and I got there the game was just about to start and guess who's playing first base?  Yep, Kassidy! Ha, we were delighted!!!  She only played the first inning because she started to overheat and we had to place a cold towel on the back of her head.  But almost at the end of the game I see her coming to the plate with a bat in her hand.  I guess she asked coach if she could go hit.  We were jumping for joy!  I tried really hard not to get emotional and scared at the same time.

The smile that's worth a thousand!

Just awesome!

She stood with the bat on the left, since batting right hurts her port site.  And she did it, she hit the ball and made it to first safe!  Great moment for us!!!!!  She looked a bit rusty, but we didn't care.  No one did!!  They all cheered her on.  Sigh!!!  Her smile was contagious and it was exactly what she needed to finish of the season for her junior year.

Kassidy's video of her first at bat since surgery last year!

I can't wait to see more moments like this..... We only hope and pray.