Moving forward, I will be utilizing Caring Bridge to post updates to Kristine's condition. I feel I will be able to provide more timely updates via my iPhone. Caring Bridge has an app you can download right onto your smartphone, so for those of you who have one, please download this app to stay abreast on updates.
If you don't have a smartphone, you can access Caring Bridge on the internet. Kristine's page can be accessed at www.caringbridge.org/visit/kristinedufrene. It's still work in progress, so stay tuned.
Thank you and keep praying!
DuFrene Family
Such a beautiful family!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
March 24, 2012
I apologize that I've not taken the time to provide more frequent updates on Kristine. Since October, Kristine has been fighting GVHD (grant vs host disease). It has been quite the battle and it's nowhere near over yet. It has now spread to her lungs and she is experiencing shortness of breath and has had a nagging cough for months now. Dr. Paquette said it's going to be a long, hard battle. He upped her Prednisone as well as added more medications to Kristine's large stock pile of pills she must take daily. Kristine was not happy about the Prednisone, which is a steroid, but will do whatever it takes to beat this disease.
Good news, she is still cancer-free, thank goodness!! Kat's donor cells are just kickin' her @$$ for the time being. She gave Kat a hard time about that the last time she saw her. Keep in mind, it is not Kat's fault that Kristine has GVHD. GVHD is a normal and expected side effect of a stem cell transplant.
On March 6th, Dave and Kristine suffered the loss of Dave's father, Jack. Jack was laid to rest on March 17th and the family was touched by all who came to bid their goodbyes.
I'd like to share a story about Jack with you...
Last summer, while helping care for Kristine and the kids, Chloe and I went to visit Jack at his house. The kids were running around the yard. Jack had a couple of child-sized adirondack chairs that he had purchased for Kahlen and Logan. Kahlen's was pink with the Disney Princesses and Logan's was blue with Disney Cars characters. Needless to say, with three kids and only two kiddie chairs, you can imagine the struggle between Chloe and Kahlen for that pink princess chair!
Jack excused himself and disappeared for about 20 minutes. When he reappeared, he had a pretty pink princess chair in hand for my little Chloe. He had driven over to the store and bought Chloe her own chair! I was so touched by this sweet and generous act by Jack. I had always found him to be quite intimidating, but realized at that moment, he was a teddy bear on the inside.
Thank you Jack, for always being so kind to me and my family when we crashed your house during our visits. You will be terribly missed.
As Jack watches over his loved ones, please continue to pray for Dave and Kristine. They have had a difficult time dealing with Jack's death. It's always more difficult a few weeks after everything has settled, so keep checking in on them from time to time. Also, please continue to pray for Kristine to beat this GVHD and to live a normal, healthy life once again.
Good news, she is still cancer-free, thank goodness!! Kat's donor cells are just kickin' her @$$ for the time being. She gave Kat a hard time about that the last time she saw her. Keep in mind, it is not Kat's fault that Kristine has GVHD. GVHD is a normal and expected side effect of a stem cell transplant.
On March 6th, Dave and Kristine suffered the loss of Dave's father, Jack. Jack was laid to rest on March 17th and the family was touched by all who came to bid their goodbyes.
I'd like to share a story about Jack with you...
Last summer, while helping care for Kristine and the kids, Chloe and I went to visit Jack at his house. The kids were running around the yard. Jack had a couple of child-sized adirondack chairs that he had purchased for Kahlen and Logan. Kahlen's was pink with the Disney Princesses and Logan's was blue with Disney Cars characters. Needless to say, with three kids and only two kiddie chairs, you can imagine the struggle between Chloe and Kahlen for that pink princess chair!
Jack excused himself and disappeared for about 20 minutes. When he reappeared, he had a pretty pink princess chair in hand for my little Chloe. He had driven over to the store and bought Chloe her own chair! I was so touched by this sweet and generous act by Jack. I had always found him to be quite intimidating, but realized at that moment, he was a teddy bear on the inside.
Thank you Jack, for always being so kind to me and my family when we crashed your house during our visits. You will be terribly missed.
As Jack watches over his loved ones, please continue to pray for Dave and Kristine. They have had a difficult time dealing with Jack's death. It's always more difficult a few weeks after everything has settled, so keep checking in on them from time to time. Also, please continue to pray for Kristine to beat this GVHD and to live a normal, healthy life once again.
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