This week has been a whirlwind! From Emergency Room experience to scans, colonoscopy, lung drain, medicine, admittance, room change and more.
Kristi has been experiencing incredible health challenges over the past 7 weeks. She first experienced vertigo a week before a procedure to remove basal-cell carcinoma from her nose. She went through the surgery fine, had a skin graft taken from her ear to cover the spot on her nose and then went home to rest. Because of the graft, she had to remain very still for the first week, semi mobile on week 2 and 3 and then once she was released, she could resume normal activities.
By week 4 I could tell she was not well. Her surgery and graft recovery were great, but her health seemed to deteriorate. She was weak, in a lot of back and abdominal pain, and was very tired. She seemed to come down with some kind of virus that caused her to be nauseas. That and the vertigo really made her ill. She stopped eating any food after week 4 and would dry heave and vomit anytime we would get any food in her.
She missed several weeks of church and couldn’t go to any activities outside the home. She missed Thanksgiving celebration and Christmas. She was very discouraged and frustrated. We had a company come in three times and give her IV’s and vitamins. This helped with her nausea, but she still couldn’t eat or get any sleep.
A bit of a back story… for years, Kristi has experienced back pain. Mainly in her ribs. She has gone to the chiropractor every week or two for 2 years now because of this pain. Being immobile from the surgery really made her pain flare up to be intolerable. She couldn’t sleep. She couldn’t find a comfortable position.
I did so many home COVID tests on her over the past several weeks thinking it had to be what was affecting her so much. All tests were negative. I finally convinced her to go to urgent care. They tested her for flu, did a urine analysis, and scheduled a gall bladder scan for the next day. That night, she started running a fever. I got her dressed, ready to go, and took her to the Emergency Room. Something had to be done – she was very sick!
As we sat and waited to be checked in and taken to a room, so many people were coming in and out. So many sick people! We have an incredible friend that works in the hospital. As soon as she saw our name on the list, she came and found us in the waiting room. She has been a Godsend.
They got us a room, took blood, and ordered a cat scan of the stomach. They were extremely fast with the results. The ER Doctor came in with his arms crossed, sat down, and told us that Kristi has a mass in her abdomen. It is through her colon, spleen, and tail of her pancreas.
You know how people say that they felt like someone threw a bucket of cold water on their head? As I sat there and listened, my body went numb, and I felt like someone poured a bucket of hot water over my head. Stunned. From there, things moved very quickly. They gave her high pain medicine, referred her to an Oncologist and began prepping her to be checked out.
The next day, we went to the oncology appointment. He scheduled a colonoscopy and chest cat scan. He said he was 90% sure she had stage four colon cancer. They also took blood to check if the indicators for colon cancer were there. He called us within a few hours and told us the markers were not present in her blood. He was 50% sure she had colon cancer. We arrived at the hospital for her colonoscopy. They prepped her and took her back. She was running a slight fever and they were concerned about her breathing. Oh yeah, she started coughing the week prior to this. It is a deep gurgle cough. As she came out of the colonoscopy, they were closely monitoring her levels. The anesthesiologist did not like her oxygen levels. He told me, as soon as I saw her this morning, I saw a very sick girl. He called the oncologist and they both agreed to have us admitted into the hospital.
We saw the cat scan images and were amazed to see a mass pushing against her ribs, abdomen, and lungs. This is what has been causing her pain for years! After the biopsy and without any diagnosis, the oncologist now does not think it is colon cancer.
Since then, it has been a whirlwind. They have done so many scans, blood, and x-rays, we have lost count. The chest cat scan showed large amounts of fluid on her lungs. They stuck a huge needle in her back and drained a liter of liquid. This helped her breathe. Her oxygen and vitals improved and today, they removed her from oxygen.
We are now in the cancer ward and being cared for. Once the pathology report comes back from the lab, we will know what we are dealing with. We are expecting chemotherapy. We are expecting a long road.
For the first time in months, she can now sleep, rest, and have some relief from her pain.
Kristi's War 
Love you guys prayers for your family and for Kristi
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Kristi,
Tim and I are praying for you and your family. Our hearts hurt for you and what you are going through. Because of your big loving hearts, we have quickly came to love you and the Bethel family in just the short few months that we have been attending. Thank you for being a part of that and welcoming us into the fold. If there is anything we can do, please do not hesitate to ask Faith and love, Bonita
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Praying constantly for you! Wish I lived closer so I could better support you through this time. Love you all fiercely!
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Dear Ray and Kristi. I can’t believe this. Praying for Kristi and you Ray, your family and church family. Love you all so much!!! May our precious Lord give you comfort and a peace that passes all understanding.
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We are so sorry to hear about this. We will begin now to pray. We know our God is able to do more than we can ask or imagine. We love you and cherish the time we had together.
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Praying for you Kristi and Ray! May the Lord guide each of you on this journey and bring you peace and healing! ❤️🩹🙏🏻♥️
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Kristi, we will commit to pray for your complete healing every day. We know God is with you and hears our prayers. We love you both and if we can be of help in any way at all, please let us know. Know that we love you both and know God hears our prayers. We will TRUST HIM ALONG WITH YOU. WE LOVE YOU, Ted and Jerri Kersh💜
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Praying hard!
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Love y’all so much. ❤
I have my Prayer Warrior Uniform on…. You should see it..it’s Shiny Burgandy, my favorite color, and the sword is Gold of course! I’m ready for the Battle…let’s go!❤⚘
Love ya, Julie Mc
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Big prayers kristi! We are surrounding you in prayer.
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Ray and Kristi,
My wife and I are praying for you!! We are praying for Complete Healing! May He calm the waves and wrap you both in His Peace during this storm.
Tim & Christy Ingram
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Omg Please please tell Kristi Our family will be lifting prayers throughout our days & nights for healing, for you Ray and the children – all of the precious family. Lifting prayer for the Doctors and tests!
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Wow Ray! We’re so sorry to hear this. I’ll be following and praying.
Staci and Brandt Leich
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Praying for You all.
Prayers for Peace, Rest, and Comfort and Healing.
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Kristi, please know I will be praying for you and your full recovery. We serve an awesome God and He has this and He has you.
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Ray we are so shocked & sorry to hear this news. We will certainly keep Kristi & the rest of the family in our prayers!
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Kristi and Ray,
I am so glad you’ve been able to get a small amount of relief from the physical pain. We know the power of prayer and that He hears us. This is a scary time, and I know you have prayer warriors on their knees! I’ve added you to my Bible study prayer list as well. Many others in our group also grew up with Kristi….We will be specific for God to heal her completely, to keep her comfortable, to guide those that are helping with her medical procedures have clarity and options, and for God to hold you and your families in his hands through this journey…. And we will not stop praying. We will be specific…and we are here for you in any way needed.
Love you – Becky
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I am praying for you, Kristi. Praying for all that is ahead of you knowing that the Lord is taking care of you.
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Praying for you Kristi and your family.
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¡¡Orando por ustedes!!
¡¡Los amo con todo mi corazón!
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Praying for her and your family, for peace in your hearts in the middle of all this. Praying for wisdom for the doctors, and the perfect treatment for her.
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Ray I am so sorry to learn of Kristi’s battle. I will be praying and will ask my church to as well. We serve a mighty God and he can perform miracles. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
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Love you, Ray and Kristi. I will join you on your journey in faithful and fervent prayer! I am so thankful for your friendship and love for others! We serve a great big God who is bigger than any obstacle in our path. We also know that in times of trial, that is when He invites us to cling tighter. Cling tight. Love much. Pray hard.
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Love you guys!! Joining with you in prayer. Please let us know how else we can support you.
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Praying for strength and healing. Love you guys!
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Rey y Kris .. estoy orando 🙏 de verdad les mando un abrazo fuerte , hoy la noticia para mí fue fuerte . Pero se q Dios está trabajando. 🙏 Kris la quiero mucho ❤️ ud es muy fuerte , bendiciones mis amigos 🙏🙏
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Praying for wisdom, comfort, and rest… knowing that our sovereign God has Kristi in His loving care!!
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Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. If you need anything please let me know.
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Praying for you and your sweet family. Prayers for wisdom and guidance in each decision, and for the LORD’s peace.
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God loves when we challenge Him with His Word. So I am praying for a miraculous healing that would shock all the medical field, and give you, Jesus, all the glory!!
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Praying for you all and Kristi’s medical team in the days ahead. May our God of peace and miracles who is always near be known to many through what you are going through.
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We are praying for Kristi and the whole family!!! We love you guys.
The Currys
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Praying for healing for Kristi and that the doctors and nurses have wisdom as they treat her.
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Praying for y’all!! God bless you!
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I can’t even imagine what you are going through right now! Praying for you all as you go through this difficult time. May God surround you with His grace, peace, love and strength!🙏❤️🙏❤️
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I am praying for your family for peace and comfort for all and strength for Kristi as she goes through this battle.
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Praying for you, Kristi and for wisdom for your medical team. Praying for Ray and your family as well through this hard time.
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This is Matt Wehmuller’s Mom. He sent me this and asked me for prayer. God bless you and your family and know that He, the Great Healer, will never leave you
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Kristi touched my life! Praying for you and your family.
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We just saw this last night. We are praying for Kristi’s healing and for you to have great peace during these trying times.
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