My Letter Arrived

This week was a photo-filled one. The best part came as the result of a letter. My "Nuncle" Gordan sent me a note telling me I needed to lose 40 pounds while I was in London, he then enclosed the 40 pounds  I should lose. This letter cause another letter to arrive, though about 11 years late, I finally made it to Hogwarts. Below are some photos of me enjoying myself. If you would like to see more photos of the HP Tour and of my London travels thus far, click here.

I did a lot of other stuff this past week.

• Saw Viva Forever! (based on the songs of the Spice Girls) (it was not very good- fun but not good) (it is closing before I leave London)

Met a famous person: Amara Karan from Doctor Who "The God Complex"

Went on a tour of Parliament

Boat ride to Greenwich

Visited The Painted Hall (Royal Naval College)

and The Queens House

Next week will be just as exciting. Stay tuned.

Loving London

Hello All.

Let me begin by saying: To all the men who have made a difference in my life, whether you are related by blood or action, family or friendship: I thank you for being a part of my life. Happy Father's Day. Fatherhood comes in all shapes and relationships, this is a day to thank and celebrate the male mentors in our lives.

Now, back to the exciting topic you come to this blog to hear about: Kelsey in London!

Another week has come and gone. It has been busy, fulfilling and routine- all in all- absolutely wonderful.

I thought you might like to see my living situation. The space is larger than the last one and in a vary hip and diverse neighborhood. I have a bedroom to myself and share a kitchen and bathroom and shower with a roommate. There are two rooms with bathroom sinks; one has a toilet, one has a shower.

This picture has a stove top, microwave/grill/oven, and fridge in it. Can you spot them all?

So that's where I live. Now a bit about how I spent my week. I work four days a week, I would work a fifth but Friday is claimed by a leadership and culture class. Yay! Anyway, I shall tell you more about work at a later date and focus on something a bit more enjoyable: the Queen's Birthday Parade.

The parade was Saturday 15 June, starting at 10am. However, because the Queen's birthday only comes around once a year (well, twice really but she's the Queen so it's fine), a group of us left our flat at 8:15am. I hadn't come home until 3am that morning.

 This was the night before. Meet Kendall. She is in my program but living in independent housing. We and some others went out for happy hour at a Tapas restaurant near my office on Friday after class and then we got back together to go out for the night...morning...something.

Those with whom I went to the parade: Macie, Lucy, Monica, Jamie, Me.

The mall, waiting for the parade to start. It was about 54F outside, a bit chilly, especially because I was wearing a dress and 3/4 cardigan. 

Purchased a flag benefiting Hope for Heroes.

The first of many bands marching.

And the guards to take up posts along the route.

Duchess Camilla, Duchess Catherine, Prince Harry

Cousins/Family

Family

Mounted band. The guy with the drums had to guide the horse with his feet.

HRH Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip

Princes Charles (far) and William (near)

It was a lovely and exciting thing to see. As soon as everyone passed us, we were ready to return home for a nap.

Until next time.

London Called- I answered

It's been a long time since we spoke. I hope all is well with you. I am fantastic. For those of you not keeping a calendar of my exploits, I have officially spent a year in remission. Beyond that, I had a great year at IU getting back in the swing of Bloomington life and friendship. There is even better news though: I am back in London!

I arrived in London very early in the morning, Thursday of last week. I am with the same company I traveled with last time (IES) interning four days a week and loving London at all other hours.

It has been a whirlwind of a week. I simultaneously feel energized with the newness of being in London and confident in the home-ness I feel.

Thus far I have:

• seen A Midsummer Nights Dream at Shakespeare's Globe

•  roamed around London

• taken tourist-y photos

• cooked in my itty-bitty kitchen

• seen a West End Show- We Will Rock You

• partied the night away

• visited a friend

• made new friends

 It is amazing how much fun someone (ME) can have when they feel healthy.

I will (attempt to) write to you all each week. Perhaps it will be more of a photographic posting or perhaps I will be deep and thought provoking. However this blog ends up, I am completely satisfied with the current hand I have been dealt, and I hope you stick around for the ride.

Life goes on

Hello all!

Have you missed me?

In case you were wondering, or not keeping track, it has been three months since I got the remission announcement. For those of you that remember, I meet with my oncologist every three months for the first three years and have a CT scan every three months for the first year. I meet with Dr. Azar a week ago today. And I am still in remission.

In other news, I am back in Bloomington and loving every minute of it. I am taking four classes and I have an internship with the Sylvia Plath literary symposium (happening at the end of October if you want a literary reason to visit me). I am not particularly excited about any of my classes but I don't hate any of them either, and I am beginning to be more interested in the majority as time progresses.

I am embracing the social life of Bloomington- in a responsible way. I am having fun and doing what I want.

I am also looking into putting my photos on cards and possibly selling them (hence the post below) to build up my travel fund. Check out some of the photos I am more proud of here. <Click the "here" to look at the photos.> If you want cards made, let me know the picture (I will come up with an ID system), card type, message for the card (can be blank) and how many you want.

Anyway, shameless pitch aside, nothing much is new.

Maybe there will be more later. Do you want to hear more? I started this blog to keep everyone up to date on my treatment. That chapter continues to be written, but it is slow and steady without much excitement. Life continues to change and deal me new experiences, challenges and adventures.

5x7 Folded Card

Picture In Landscape 5x7 folded card

Shutterfly custom cards for Valentines Day, Easter & Mother's Day.

View the entire collection of cards.

If you didn't know (good news!)

My deepest apologizes if you have yet to receive the memo but I have been making the most of it and have been quite busy.


However, without further ado:
I AM IN REMISSION!!!!!!!!


No more caps lock, I don't want you to feel as if I am yelling at you.


Here is a brief-ish summary since I last typed:


I went to Bloomington and got a studio apartment behind-ish Yogi's (really it is more behind Mr. Copy but it isn't as well known). We also took a mini-trip for spring break to Columbus, OH. We went to the Franklin Park Conservatory and COSi. Pictures available here.


And there was Rummage Sale.


And then I had chem #10 and then chemo #11.


And then chemo #12- the finale! A few close friends went with us (plus Dad and Kim). And one of my nurses stayed past her shift end to see me ring the done-with-chemo bell. (Video on Dad's FB if you want to see and are "friends" with him.)


Being the awesome person I am, I made roughly 4 dozen cupcakes for my Thursday class and chemo nurses (red velvet w/cream cheese and funfetti w/white & sprinkles and Oreos b/c one girl was vegan).


When we got home, I found 3 boxes of flowers on the front porch from "Becky". I put the quotes because there was a bit of confusion about the flowers. 2 of the notes said "Becky"- Becky P. However, the third was signed "BBE&A" so Mom and I thought is was from Becky, Brain, Email and Andy. Nope, it was also from Becky P (and her family).


I also got flowers from Brandt & Christine (the balloons from the previous flowers were still floating in the living room).


I went to Bloomington for CollinsFest- Mom drove as I was still tired.


I went to California to visit the West Coast Van Wyks. It was very much fun. Special shout-out to "Uncle" Gary for the plane tickets. Picture here. 


I also started cognitive training with a woman at Mom's office- I can name the presidents forward and backward really quickly. When not training with Naz, I worked a few hours a day (2.5) at MCCOY in Early Intervention & Prevention admin assistant stuff.


Then I had an interview with IU Health as a Corporate Communications intern (spoilers... I got it an I love it).


Then I had my CT and PET scan. And I got my results and I am in the clear (pending the next 5 years).


We met with Dr. Azar and as you can guess from the beginning of this (turning out to be long) message - I am in remission. I have a 5cm bit of scar tissue in my chest but there are no live cancer cells in my body. But Dr. Azar can't get rid of me that easily. I will see him every 3 months for the next 3 years and every 6 months for years 4 & 5 (scans every 3 for the first year, then every 6 for years 2 through 5).


Dr. Azar told me to expect to gradually start feeling better. It can take up to 6 months to get to 80% of "feeling good" and a full year to get back to 100%. 


I am feeling much better. I got my port out - I was ready to rip it out on my own or seriously cut myself in the area and then go to the ER and just have them take it out while fixing the gash.


So anyways, thank you for all of your support- physical, emotional, philosophical, religious, telepathic, etc.
It meant and continues to mean the world to me.


If you want to share my story with anyone, feel free to share. If you would like me to share it with someone, let me know or give them my contact information.


Thank you.

Late but worth the Wait

I'm sorry it has been awhile since my last post. My classes take more work than I had originally anticipated and I haven't been bouncing back from chemo as much as before.

I went down early Thursday, Feb 16 with my aunt Becky to get my lab work taken care of. The wait was a bit longer than usual and the nurse had some trouble getting a blood return. Luckily we had enough time for lunch and enjoyed food from the campus center. I had some yummy pizza and Aunt Becky had a salad. I went to class, two literature classes. We had good discussions and I went over and met Mom for treatment. The port worked fine and we were out of there after no time.

Friday was special because my sister, Katherine, came for a visit. Friday Katherine and I went into Broad Ripple so she could buy new running shoes, she has a big race coming up. Then we all went downtown to meet Dad for dinner at Creation Cafe. Saturday night we had a family game night for the first time in a really long time. The last time we had a family game night we played Trouble when I was quite little and I cried because people kept sending my pieces back to the start. This time we played Clue. Turns out we are missing one weapon piece and two of the character pieces. We still have all the cards though so it still works out. Kim took a gamble and lost out. Mom ended up winning which surprised us all. After we finished the game, I convinced everyone that we should continue on to a family movie night. We watched Clue, the movie and it was a hoot. Watch the trailer here if you have never watched Clue Sunday saw the entire Van Wyk clan at church for a great service led by the youth group at Fairview.

The rest of the week went by without much incident. Turns out everyone was hating one of the books as much as I was. It was a huge relief. Classes went along as before. On Friday I picked my friend Nathan up at the airport to move along to the Megabus. It was great to see him for a few hours. Mom went to Chicago for the weekend with Aunt Becky so Dad and I made tacos for dinner. Saturday Dad and I went to work out together and then went to see a movie. We got free tickets and ate at Johnny Rockets and then watch This Means War. It was a lot of fun. It was a good mix of explosions and covert operatives and pretty men. Sunday was more church. I also picked Nathan up from the Megabus and took him to the airport. I spent the remainder of the weekend reading.

Monday and Tuesday of this week were a bit boring, though Monday morning I got to wake up to two lovely little girls playing in the basement, I think college should get President's Day off as well. Wednesday was not so fun. I went in for a CT scan and that was less than fun. They were doing a contrast so they went through my port- which wasn't numb so that was not comfortable. The scan went well on its own but then I got a heparin shot it is did not go well. The heparin makes me feel a lot of nausea and really crummy so I went home and slept it off.

Today was much better.
Mom, Dad and I met with Dr. Azar and he had some very good news.

Dr. Azar had hoped for at least a 50% reduction in the cancer sites (I'm approx. 66% through chemo) Instead we got - NINETY PERCENT! (Or more... he didn’t want to be toooo optimistic)! He said it could have been a better report. He is feeling that I may not have to have radiation this summer, but isn’t saying it is still a possibility or the cancer could return.

I still have to finish the remaining three rounds of chemo and 4-6 weeks after that have another CT scan and PET scan. Between the two the tests will give Dr. Azar a clear picture of (PET) metabolic activity [i.e. energy] and (CT) shape, size, location if any cancer remains - but who knew what beautiful words these could be

As it stands:
liver is normal
spleen, pancreas, adrenal glands are unremarkable
kidneys are normal
bowel, intestines, uterus, and bladder are normal
abdominal aorta is normal
bones intact
heart is normal, aorta & great vessels are intact
(and great medical lingo here (scrabble players note))
the left supraclavicular lymphadeopathy has also nearly resolved.
previously visualized mass effect upon the SVC and azygos vein has improved with persistent attenuation of the left brachiocephalic vein (I think that’s the left lung)

They had some trouble with the blood drawn for my labs so they gave me a "clot buster" but had to draw my labs from my arm. The clot was cleared in time for chemo so that was great. It took a bit of time to get my drugs but they get them and I was home just before 6. A lovely neighbor brought dinner and dessert. It was very yummy.

Thank you for all your support and prayers. They mean a lot to my family and my self.