Quick Updates
We will keep this part of the blog fresh with Kristi’s latest medical updates.
Most Recent Updates
August 8, 2022
Kristi has been given a clear PET scan result. She will have her port removed and put on a regular checkup schedule. She is in remission!!
March 1, 2022
At 9:30AM, Kristi will meet with the Oncologist. She then starts her second treatment of R-CHOP chemotherapy. This will be a long day. Pray for low side effects other than cancer destruction! Thank you!
February 23, 22
Kristi got her port yesterday. The procedure went well. Now we wait till Tuesday, March 1 for her next chemo. The port procedure has left her in some pain. Praying she can rest and recover so she’s ready for Tuesday.
February 3, 2022
Kristi was released from the hospital. We head home to recover. She is getting stronger each day.
February 2, 2022
In honor of 2.2.22, Kristi went down to the big window and back 2 times! She is getting stronger and more stable! Both JP Drains are out. She is off IV fluids and nutrition. She is eating ok. Maybe we can go home soon? 💪🙏
February 1, 2022
Kristi has improved again today. She had one of the drain tubes removed as well as the bandage over the incision. She will have the other one removed tomorrow. She also is off all IV liquid and nutrition. 🙌
January 31, 5:15PM
Today, Kristi took her first steps out of the hospital room since her big surgery. She looks strong! I’m super excited to see this!
January 31, 2022
Kristi continues to improve. She is getting up and walking on her own. Pain is still intense. We are looking at a couple options today to see if we can manage better so that we might go home. 3 things to go home: eating, bowel movement, pain management. We have the first two down – now for the third.
January 29, 12:40AM
Kristi continues to improve. She made several rounds around the room this morning. More to come this afternoon. She is reducing her pain medication and starting to eat regular food.
January 28, 7:30PM
Kristi experienced some significant pain this afternoon. Her colon is fully awake and functioning. Her incision is also awake and screaming. At the same time, she is trying to wean herself off the pain meds. Praying for a restful night.
January 28, 3:00PM
Kristi is recovering at a fast pace. She has been up and walking, sitting in a chair, going to the restroom, and staying positive. She is so strong!! The Hospitalist can’t believe she’s progressing so fast. I told him she has thousands of people praying!
January 27, 6:00AM
Our goal today is to move. Kristi needs to be active. It’s extremely painful, but motion will be her friend for speedy recovery. Modern medicine is amazing! She has all sorts of gadgets attached to her that do different things. The goal is to step by step get her off of them.
January 26, 7:00PM
Kristi’s surgery was successful on all accounts. See update here: https://kristirhoton.com/2022/01/26/warrior-queen-success/
January 26, 11:58AM
Kristi is prepped and ready for the surgery. She has been taken back. Pray that all will go well and she returns to her room ready to recover and tackle the next battle.
January 26, 8:30AM
Today is a big surgery day for Kristi. She will go in around 11am. I won’t really know anything for hours – could be up to 4 hours. Her surgeon is amazing. The team is great. Pray that everything that is needed will be easily accessible.
January 24, 2022 8:40AM
This morning, her white blood count is 5.1!! Perfectly within the normal range! All her vitals are perfect! Overall great night with several runs to the bathroom. Bowel prep is continuing today. Nothing big to get done other than prepare for Wednesday’s surgery. Kristi is positive and ready to tackle this next battle. Pray for continued strength and preparedness. Dr is calling infectious disease to get a clearer picture of the infection she has been fighting. She continues her strong antibiotic regimen.
January 23, 2022 9:45PM
Not much to report except Kristi’s White Blood Count is at 4.3! Super excited about this. Her vitals were great all day! She started her bowel prep for Wednesday’s surgery. We think she’ll be ready to go in for another battle in this great War. We had an overall great day. It seems weird to worship online with Bethel, but are thankful for technology and a great team to stream the services! Goodnight!
January 22, 2022 9:30AM
We had a pretty good night considering Kristi received a bunch of IV treatment all night. They started her on nutrition via IV to allow her system to heal. We slept on and off all night, at one point for 3 hours straight. The JP drain they installed has been emptied a couple of times. We want all the crap out! Her pain is managed and we have hope that our next plan of action will get us in the right course. Just pray that the we (doctors and me and Kristi) have clarity and peace about option 1 or 2.
As for me, yesterday was rough. I had trouble most of the day with seemingly anxiety and stress. Come to find out, I had food poisoning from a burger on Thursday night. I almost passed out when they were explaining Kristi’s JP tube procedure. I laid on the floor in the waiting room while Kristi had the procedure. Later in the day my mind wasn’t working and I couldn’t move. I was worried I was getting sick. I justified my feelings with all the pressure we’ve been under. I would try to sleep, but would hiccup over and over again. I would also sigh every minute. Kristi kept asking me what was happening and I just blamed it on stress. Around 9pm I woke with a feeling in my throat. I ran to the bathroom and emptied my stomach. Once that happened, I slept, relaxed and my mind came back!
January 21, 2022 3:54PM
Kristi is back in her room from her procedure to place a tube to drain the infection fluid. We are praying her White Blood Count continues improve. She now is the proud (actually not so proud) owner of a grenade looking ballon that will zero gravity drain the fluid.
On a less important note, I almost passed out while the surgeon was explaining the procedure. Kristi wanted them to take a photo of me on the floor because of all the photos I’ve taken of her. 😂 A nurse rescued me with a warm blanket and a Pepsi. Not sure if it helped, but I didn’t pass out.
January 21,2022 2:14PM
Kristi is heading in to get drain tubes inserted.
January 21, 2022 12:20AM
Options 1 & 2
January 21, 2022 11:51AM
We have two options going forward.
1. Tubes to drain the infection and then and ostomy bag. This will allow fluids to bypass the colon. She may heal and then continue with Chemo treatments and do the surgery later to clean up hole and cancer and organs.
2. Tubes to drain the infection and wait for white blood count to improve (her count more than doubled today!). Then Monday or Tuesday do the full surgery to remove hole, spleen, and other affected areas. Recover 4 weeks and then continue Chemo treatments.
We are discussing both options with the Oncologist and Surgeon. In the meantime, she is scheduled for the tubes to drain the infection.
January 21, 2022 9:25AM
Surgery is postponed!! More later! They are going to put in a couple drains to see if her White Blood Count increases. In a day or two they will do an osteomy to divert the colon.
January 20, 2022 8:45PM
Surgery is scheduled for tomorrow to repair the hole in Kristi’s colon. They will also remove her spleen. They have already ordered blood to be on hand. Chemo will be put on hold until they can repair her colon and she recovers from the surgery.
January 20, 2022 2:15PM
Kristi is on her way for a whole body CT Scan. We are hoping that the Scan shows what is going on with her fever and pain.
January 20, 2022 8:40AM
Kristi has pain in her abdomen and back starting last night. She said it’s the same pain that she had when we arrived in the ER on January 4. Her Oncologist came by this morning and ordered a CT scan of chest, abdomen, and pelvis to ensure nothing else is happening inside her. Her fever is lower and she continues on antibiotics. He said that she will most likely remain in the hospital for 3 or 4 more days. He keeps saying she’ll get better. He said after the first chemo treatment, it happens where her hemoglobin and white blood count lowers. He expects this to be the only time during chemotherapy for her to experience this. Let’s pray that’s true!
January 19, 2022 11:08PM
Kristi has received 2 units of blood today. That is a total of 3. Her fever has gone up and down all day. She has now been on heavy antibiotics for 48 hours. Tomorrow if there is no improvement, we will change treatment and get a consult from infectious diseases.
January 19, 2022 AM
Kristi is still in the hospital. They had given her a transfusion of 1 unit of blood. She has been administered wide-range antibiotics. Her fever is spiking and then lowering with fever reducer. They changed her IV line as the other line was hurting her. She slept most of the night – me too! And is resting now.
Recent Blog Entries
- January 4th//January 4th// Specific days are interesting. Looking at the date on the calendar can bring back so many memories and emotions. It’s fun to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and see how far you’ve come. There are dates that you didn’t intend to necessarily remember; they aren’t written on any calendar, yet you know. I know … Continue reading January 4th
- PET Scan All Clear// 12.7.22 PET Scan All Clear // We met with the oncologist today to review the PET Scan. There are no signs of cancer. We are so grateful! I’ll go back in 6 months for the next one. In 3 months, I’ll go in for some blood work. Thank you so much for praying me … Continue reading PET Scan All Clear
- SCANXIETY//12.3.22 — scanxiety// So this word isn’t actually in the dictionary, but just type it in google and you can learn all kinds of information. My next PET scan is Monday (Dec 5th), exactly 5 months after my last one. I have been feeling well and have no reason to think they will find anything. I’m … Continue reading SCANXIETY
- 3 MONTH FOLLOW UPToday Kristi went to her first post cancer checkup. Three months since she was released from the rigorous chemo regiment. Three months since she has been given a new shot at life. Three months of walking cancer free. As we sit in the waiting room to see her oncologist, we look around and see patient … Continue reading 3 MONTH FOLLOW UP
- VNG RESULTS//8.9.22// VNG Results // Quick update! I had the VNG done this morning. What a crazy experience! While wearing goggles to record my eye movement, there were several tests which included following lights and different positions. Then they then filled each ear separately with cold and then hot water. When the water drained it made … Continue reading VNG RESULTS
Kristi's War 