Quality over quantity

245

Comments

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    Kari, you are not a quitter.
    Kari, you are not a quitter. You are a pioneer, showing us all how to live and die with dignity. My heart is broken and I don't know what to say, but I love you and please know that I am here if you need anything and praying for you every day.
  • RozHopkins
    RozHopkins Member Posts: 578 Member
    Sadness in my heart
    But bless your heart. We are with you on your journey. XXXXXX
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    Oh sweet Kari... I don't
    Oh sweet Kari... I don't jump in nearly often enough for all the pinks but it doesn't mean I don't watch from the sidelines praying... you are no quitter... not you... you are rock of strength... you've gone through so much that my mind though aware, just can't comprehend. You've gone through it with strength, courage, grace, and a kick **** attitude that many could never muster... I pray that you have many "good" days... that everyday you can do something that you truly enjoy surrounded by those you love... You are an inspiration... a blessing... I hope you can feel all of us around you... surrounding you with love.

    Love,

    ~T
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    I felt your peace
    in reading your decision Kari. I know you have fear, as we all would. This is by no means a decision to quit, quite the opposite. It's a decision to live. Your faith will continue to give you the strength, grace and peace.

    You are a hero in my eyes and I will pray for you. I would LOVE nothing more right now than to see pictures of you on that cruise. Go for it!

    Warm embraces to you sister,

    Sylvia
  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    Keep on walking...
    Sweet Kari -- We never want to see a pink sister go through this, and from a selfish perspective, we want them with us, always. But I understand your decision. You gave it all you've got and you fought, and in a way, you emotionally keep on fighting. I don't see you as a quitter at all. I do think you're brave and inspiring. This helps me put things into perspective too. I think whatever decision you feel is good for you will be right for you and that is all that matters. Listen to your heart, closely. I will continue to pray for you. I will pray for you to feel at peace with every decision you make moving forward, for you not to experience any kind of pain, and to always feel well enough to drop a line or two for us here. I personally get happy when I see your post.

    Sending you a huge hug and kisses from here. Love.

    And you keep on walking...always...
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    Kari
    I can feel the peace in your post. I will be there with you and for you and will continue to keep you in my prayers. I do not in any way see your decision as quitting, I totally see it as making the most of the time you have left with quality and dignity!

    I thought I had come to terms with this until a couple of weeks ago when they offered me one more chance with a new regimen. The se of this have been very hard and I, along with my boys are questioning if this is the answer, or if I should have stayed on the path which was stopping the herceptin and do palliative with hospice. I know that it was heaven not being sick from chemo, the pain was manageable with a patch.

    I wish you much happiness and hope you are able to spend this time with your family and friends and enjoy all of the small things in your life. This is a whole new journey that you are embarking on and along with the peace I can see being scared... I just have to believe that the next journey will be one that is free of pain and cancer, and filled with love and happiness.

    Miles of love right back to you,
    Carol
  • Blondiemomma
    Blondiemomma Member Posts: 41
    At a loss for words
    All I can think right now is thank you. Thank you for showing us the way to live with joy, hope, and peace. Thank you for being brave enough to allow us into your most tender thoughts. Thank you for the kindness and guidance you have given us. I pray you get that cruise.
    Agalia
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    Miles of love back at you,
    Miles of love back at you, Kari. I so admire your courage, strength, and grace over these three difficult years. May you be blessed with many days, with much peace, and with the knowledge that of course you are doing the exact right thing. xoxoxo Lynn
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    lynn1950 said:

    Miles of love back at you,
    Miles of love back at you, Kari. I so admire your courage, strength, and grace over these three difficult years. May you be blessed with many days, with much peace, and with the knowledge that of course you are doing the exact right thing. xoxoxo Lynn

    Kari ... I have so much admiration, and love for you
    my dear feisty, kick a$$ Sister in PINK. You made the right decision for you, and
    your children. You did it your way, on your terms.

    “Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about dancing in the rain..!”

    I wish and pray for many dances in the rain -- Miss Kari!

    Miles of love, right back at you =

    Vicki Sam
  • salls41
    salls41 Member Posts: 340
    Miles of Love
    Miles of Love back to you... I am sorry I did not have the opportunity to have known you longer but this short time I have known of you, I am so truly inspired! May your days be filled with smiles, love and sunshine. I pray for peace for your family as your time draws near. I believe by reading your post that you have peace. God Bless you Kari.
    {{{{Hugs}}}}
    Sandy
  • MsGebby
    MsGebby Member Posts: 659
    YOU
    are special in so many ways. My heart breaks for your family because I am sure this is so hard on them as well.

    My life is nowhere near as complicated and yet reading about your struggles and accomplishments gives me much to think about. I can't begin to know what you are going through. But I thank you for being SO REAL.

    My heart breaks too because I don't want you to go! Is that selfish of me? It's so hard to realize how dastardly this disease truly is. You, MAJW and many others (my close friends included) have shown us all how to JUST BE. Be who we are and not let cancer define us.

    God has a funny way of showing His love at times like this. But I know that we are His disciples and will meet Him someday. It's our destinies. No matter how scary that is, I believe life will be harder on the ones who are left behind.

    I cry floods of tears as I write this. I keep saying "this can't be true". I don't want this to be true.

    Kari ... please know you are truly my hero. I don't know what else to say. But please know I love you, Dear Pink Sister.

    I pray the Lord will hold you in His light as you continue your journey.

    xoxo
    Mary :(
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    natly15 said:

    Kari I'm sending my love,
    Kari I'm sending my love, lots of hugs and prayers. One Day At A Time. You are a hero, and dont you forget it. ((((((((((HUGS))))))))))

    Thanks for sharing your
    Thanks for sharing your decision with us Kari. You are the most amazing woman I've ever known and probably will ever know. Your courage, wisdom and strength are amazing.

    Prayers for you,


    Jan
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    RE said:

    Hugs and Love coming your way!
    Kari I too am so very sorry that you are faced with such a decision but I must say i do understand it. My eldest sister after two bc battles got pancreatic cancer and decided to stick with palliative care to allow herself to be able to enjoy the time she had remaining and enjoy it she did. She was much like you Kari, strong and beautiful always showing us how to live life to its fullest and how to love! Kari you have, are and always will be an inspiration to me! You will continue in my prayers asking God to lift you up in the coming months, always an inspiration!

    ♥ Sending all the love I can muster for my dear Pink Sister ♥

    RE

    I read this earlier, but,
    I read this earlier, but, couldn't type anything. I will post something later.

    I love you Kari!
  • AngieD
    AngieD Member Posts: 493
    MsGebby said:

    YOU
    are special in so many ways. My heart breaks for your family because I am sure this is so hard on them as well.

    My life is nowhere near as complicated and yet reading about your struggles and accomplishments gives me much to think about. I can't begin to know what you are going through. But I thank you for being SO REAL.

    My heart breaks too because I don't want you to go! Is that selfish of me? It's so hard to realize how dastardly this disease truly is. You, MAJW and many others (my close friends included) have shown us all how to JUST BE. Be who we are and not let cancer define us.

    God has a funny way of showing His love at times like this. But I know that we are His disciples and will meet Him someday. It's our destinies. No matter how scary that is, I believe life will be harder on the ones who are left behind.

    I cry floods of tears as I write this. I keep saying "this can't be true". I don't want this to be true.

    Kari ... please know you are truly my hero. I don't know what else to say. But please know I love you, Dear Pink Sister.

    I pray the Lord will hold you in His light as you continue your journey.

    xoxo
    Mary :(

    Kari, thank you so much for
    Kari, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and this part of your journey with us. I think I can understand what an incredibly difficult decision it must have been. However, when the treatment becomes worse than the disease, I think you are very wise to opt for quality of life. No one knows how long any of us have. I hope you have a long, peaceful, pain free journey doing and enjoying the things that are most important to you. You are in my prayers and I hope you will stay in touch with us.
    Angie
  • Dot53
    Dot53 Member Posts: 239 Member
    Dear Sweet Kari..
    No words of wisdom from me...you know what is best for you... Just know that our hearts and minds are with you while you travel down your chosen road....And if you ever need us you know where we are...


    Mountains of love,

    Dotxo
  • teresa41
    teresa41 Member Posts: 471
    Dot53 said:

    Dear Sweet Kari..
    No words of wisdom from me...you know what is best for you... Just know that our hearts and minds are with you while you travel down your chosen road....And if you ever need us you know where we are...


    Mountains of love,

    Dotxo

    You are in my thoughts
    You are in my thoughts and prayers Kari ,



    HUGS

    Teresa
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    Kari,
    Not having chemo is

    Kari,
    Not having chemo is does not make you a quitter. Only you can decide the turns your journey needs to take. It takes great courage just to even face the decisions you have been making for the last 3 years. I hope this part of your journey is everything you hope for. As for when your journey home begins, only God knows. My sister opted to not have chemo when CA found its way to her liver. The docs wanted to throw everything at it. She said enough. She out lasted their expectations. She also lived her life. She spent time with us and my dad. She took me to London. She put all her ducks in a row so I wouldn't have to deal with too much. For the most part, she was never sad. She knew it was all part of her journey and in the end she went home. She taught me more than she will ever know about courage and hope.
    All the best in your journey,
    Cindy
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    skipper54 said:

    sending
    Dear Kari,
    What strength! I'm sending love, hugs, and prayers by the boatload. It's a hard decision but you have to do what's right for you. A friend made that decsion earlier this year and we all respected her & the decision and loved her for her strength of spirit. Know that we'll be with you, surrounding you with pink power to face whatever lies ahead.

    It's hard to write what I
    It's hard to write what I want to say, but, just know that you are everyone's hero on this site and always will be Kari. No one and I mean NO ONE will ever be the strong, beautiful, caring, sweet sister that you've been to each of us.

    We are surrounding you, and, will always with our love.


    Prayers and love,


    Diane
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    Sunrae said:

    Awe Inspiring
    Kari, What a wonderful inspiration you are to all of us. You are so much a fighter and its a testimony to your amazing spirit and courage that you can make this very difficult decision. You have given yourself permission to live for the day and make it the best you can have. You are in our thoughts and prayers and you are surrounded by all the pink sisters and brothers who love you. Peace and comfort to you and your family.

    Kari, you are an
    Kari, you are an inspiration, a breathe of fresh air to all of us. You've shown each of us how to live our lives and how to live it to the fullest. You've been faced with some tough decisions and have made the best one for you.

    I will always be praying for you and know that you are loved by all.


    Hugs, prayers and love,


    Lex
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    missrenee said:

    Kari--my sincere thanks for sharing this very personal post
    with us. I am also Stage IV and have done some thinking about if or when this scenario becomes my reality. As all the others have said, you have been a model of grace under fire. The dignity and humor you have had while facing such hard decisions and difficult treatment have been a valuable lesson to us all. I thank you so much for your kind advice, words of comfort and for being my friend on this board.

    No one can predict the amount of time any of us have. My wish and prayer for you is to have many, many quality days ahead filled with love, faith and laughter.

    Love and hugs, Renee

    I didn't know what to write
    I didn't know what to write before, and, I am not so sure that I do now. I know that quality of life is always better than quantity. I understand that. I just wish that you didn't have to make this choice. It is just so unfair!

    I remember when you used to be on more, that you were always so positive with everyone. You'd always shine a bright light in what might be a sad post. You're like that Kari, a bright light in everyone's life.

    I will be praying for you and I am sending you lots of love!