It is with deep sadness that we inform all of you of the passing of our beloved wife, sister, daughter, and friend Katherine Bray-Strickland this morning after a 4 1/2 year long battle with cancer. Kati's fighting spirit and courage throughout this time has inspired us all. Her big heart and sense of humor has created a huge ripple effect, and we are truly blessed by the outpouring of support and love we have already received from so many of you.
It was Kati's request that, in lieu of flowers, gifts in her honor be given to the Pitt Memorial Family Medicine Center Bldg Fund at:
ECU Medical & Health Sciences Foundation
Family Medicine Center Bldg Fund
ADI Bldg, 525 Moye Blvd
Greenville, NC 27834
Visitation will take place this Saturday, February 13, from 6-8pm at the Hilton Greenville (207 Greenville Boulevard Southwest Greenville, NC). For those who wish to stay, at 8pm we will have a celebration of her life with light refreshments and story-sharing. It was at Kate's request that instead of a traditional wake we have a party to share warm memories of her, so please come prepared with a story to tell. She also wished that those interested should write a letter, either to or about Kate, which will all be burned and buried along with her. She intended this as a cathartic exercise for those who feel they have a few thoughts and words left to convey privately.
The graveside memorial service will take place on Sunday, February 14th, at 1:30pm at Pinewood Cemetary (4150 E 10th St, Greenville, NC 27858).
There will be a potluck in Greenville (location to be determined) after the service on Sunday.
A block of rooms have been reserved under the name of Strickland at the Hilton with a special $99 rate. To book one of these rooms, please call 252-355-5000 after 12pm tomorrow, Thursday February 11th.
Cards may be sent to any of the following surviving family members:
David Strickland
3565 N Main St
Farmville, NC 27828
Michael and Brenda Strickland
600 Westhaven Rd.
Greenville, NC
Paul and Emily Bray
1300 Green Springs Road
New Bern, NC 28560
Josie Bray
1822 21 Road
Astoria, NY 11105
Thank you all for your love and support during this very difficult time.
With Love,
David Strickland, Josie Bray, Paul and Emily Bray, Brenda and Michael Strickland,
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
She need fight no longer.
Kate passed away this morning (7:15 a.m. 2/10/2010) after battling cancer for the last five years. Her family and I thank you all for your continued support. It was her request that gifts in her honor (instead of flowers) be given to the Pitt Memorial Family Medicine Center Bldg Fund at:
ECU Medical & Health Sciences Foundation
Family Medicine Center Bldg Fund
ADI Bldg, 525 Moye Blvd
Greenville NC 27834
As memorial and burial plans are finalized we will make another post.
ECU Medical & Health Sciences Foundation
Family Medicine Center Bldg Fund
ADI Bldg, 525 Moye Blvd
Greenville NC 27834
As memorial and burial plans are finalized we will make another post.
Friday, January 29, 2010
five out of five doctors agree...
Well it is official. All of Kate’s doctors agree that the proton beam radiation was ineffective in stopping the growth of Kate’s aggressive tumor. For all intents and purposes, that leaves us with nowhere left to turn, treatment wise (but for a set of likely ineffective experimental drugs). This past week (and continuing for the next few weeks), she has been resting in New Bern with her family, where attention has turned toward making her as comfortable as possible. She is very weak but has found good pain medicine and strong steroids that have provided her on good days with around five good waking hours. Having visitors is very taxing on her physically and emotionally and she worries about her strength levels when she thinks of all of the attention she may receive over the next few weeks. She says she understands that there are many family members and friends who will want to come visit her, but she warns that she knows her body will not let her see everyone and that she will sleep through any number of visits if that is what her body tells her is best. Arrangements have been made in terms of end of life care, thoughts of contacting hospice are gaining support, and slowly all are coming to grips with very sad realities, but also love is being shared, hugs and stories exchanged, and warm feelings and gifts of support abound. So we thank you all for continuing to follow Kate through this ordeal, for sending best wishes and hugs, and for praying for her and those close to her. We love and thank you all.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
New Information
As requested, this post will relay all that I know as of this point (3:30 1/21/10). I have more questions than answers right now (as you will after reading), but I am told and agree that it might be better than not knowing what has been going on.
For the past two weeks, Kate has been very sleepy, staying awake for no more than 20 minutes at a time. This fatigue has been accompanied with chills, head pain, trouble swallowing, and instability when standing. On Friday (15th) we drove to Durham (Duke Medical) for her to have an MRI (her first since radiation). On Monday (18th) Kate passed out and on her Mother’s recommendation, I took her to the hospital here in Greenville. She was tested for all sorts of things and eventually treated for dehydration and thyroid insufficiency (which I understand to be a lack of hormone problem). The tests revealed that many of her hormone levels as well as potassium levels were low. She was given plenty of rest, liquids, and a few hormone and potassium drugs before being released (to see how she was in a few days). This morning (1/21/10) after little change if any in Kate’s symptoms, I woke up to her passing out again. She had talked with her Mom and had scheduled an appointment with her primary care doctor just moments earlier. When she awoke (from passing out) 20 seconds later, I took her back to the hospital. After seeing Kate, her primary doctor suggested she be admitted back into the hospital as an inpatient, so that she could be checked out more thoroughly for the fatigue and fainting. Since being admitted, blood has been drawn and other samples taken to help determine how her body is doing. Her doctors here have also gotten the results from the MRI at Duke and are trying to find out all that they can tell us.
As of 4:50 1/21/10, the doctors cannot be certain what they are seeing in the MRI. Cancer growth causes light to show up on MRIs, but so, too, does left over radiation, as well as some types of radiation induced inflammation. There is a lot of light showing on Kate’s recent MRI and the Duke radiologist’s report on the MRI says that they believe they see cancer growth. This would be horrible news if it turns out to be true (as it would mean the very high levels of radiation she received had not stopped the tumor). Because of this, Kate’s doctors here in Greenville are trying to get in touch with her doctors at Duke as well as her doctors at MGH in Boston to compare notes, as well as comparing MRI images, old and new, to see what is going on and what they can do to help her.
So, what do I know? I know that Kate’s recent symptoms (severe fatigue, pain, trouble swallowing, and instability) are being caused by radiation, inflammation, or tumor growth. Radiation is unlikely, as we would have expected to see these symptoms earlier and for them to be getting better (they are getting worse). Inflammation is unlikely because she has been off and on anti-inflammatory drugs ever since radiation (for one reason or another). So most likely it is her tumor that has suddenly caused all of these symptoms to arise. If this is true, we can expect very bad things, as there was already very little room for it to grow without threatening life functions.
She says she is feeling about normal, which recently has been code for feeling cold, pain, and very tired. I will be with her here in the hospital overnight and will (as time allows) update this blog with what I know. Limited as that might be.
(6:20 no change)
(10:40) late update
Comparing a CT scan done today with the MRI done on Friday of last week, the doctors here in Greenville as well as the doctors at Duke and in Boston all agree 100%, that the tumor is the cause of Kate’s symptoms and it is growing aggressively. They have told us that the experimental treatment we had been told about in Boston (mentioned in a previous post), would be our option of last resort, but that there is little hope that those trials would provide any help at this stage (due to size and location). The folks here in Greenville still want to try a few things (tomorrow) in an effort to help her with the pain and with her energy levels but know that anything else is beyond their ability.
For the past two weeks, Kate has been very sleepy, staying awake for no more than 20 minutes at a time. This fatigue has been accompanied with chills, head pain, trouble swallowing, and instability when standing. On Friday (15th) we drove to Durham (Duke Medical) for her to have an MRI (her first since radiation). On Monday (18th) Kate passed out and on her Mother’s recommendation, I took her to the hospital here in Greenville. She was tested for all sorts of things and eventually treated for dehydration and thyroid insufficiency (which I understand to be a lack of hormone problem). The tests revealed that many of her hormone levels as well as potassium levels were low. She was given plenty of rest, liquids, and a few hormone and potassium drugs before being released (to see how she was in a few days). This morning (1/21/10) after little change if any in Kate’s symptoms, I woke up to her passing out again. She had talked with her Mom and had scheduled an appointment with her primary care doctor just moments earlier. When she awoke (from passing out) 20 seconds later, I took her back to the hospital. After seeing Kate, her primary doctor suggested she be admitted back into the hospital as an inpatient, so that she could be checked out more thoroughly for the fatigue and fainting. Since being admitted, blood has been drawn and other samples taken to help determine how her body is doing. Her doctors here have also gotten the results from the MRI at Duke and are trying to find out all that they can tell us.
As of 4:50 1/21/10, the doctors cannot be certain what they are seeing in the MRI. Cancer growth causes light to show up on MRIs, but so, too, does left over radiation, as well as some types of radiation induced inflammation. There is a lot of light showing on Kate’s recent MRI and the Duke radiologist’s report on the MRI says that they believe they see cancer growth. This would be horrible news if it turns out to be true (as it would mean the very high levels of radiation she received had not stopped the tumor). Because of this, Kate’s doctors here in Greenville are trying to get in touch with her doctors at Duke as well as her doctors at MGH in Boston to compare notes, as well as comparing MRI images, old and new, to see what is going on and what they can do to help her.
So, what do I know? I know that Kate’s recent symptoms (severe fatigue, pain, trouble swallowing, and instability) are being caused by radiation, inflammation, or tumor growth. Radiation is unlikely, as we would have expected to see these symptoms earlier and for them to be getting better (they are getting worse). Inflammation is unlikely because she has been off and on anti-inflammatory drugs ever since radiation (for one reason or another). So most likely it is her tumor that has suddenly caused all of these symptoms to arise. If this is true, we can expect very bad things, as there was already very little room for it to grow without threatening life functions.
She says she is feeling about normal, which recently has been code for feeling cold, pain, and very tired. I will be with her here in the hospital overnight and will (as time allows) update this blog with what I know. Limited as that might be.
(6:20 no change)
(10:40) late update
Comparing a CT scan done today with the MRI done on Friday of last week, the doctors here in Greenville as well as the doctors at Duke and in Boston all agree 100%, that the tumor is the cause of Kate’s symptoms and it is growing aggressively. They have told us that the experimental treatment we had been told about in Boston (mentioned in a previous post), would be our option of last resort, but that there is little hope that those trials would provide any help at this stage (due to size and location). The folks here in Greenville still want to try a few things (tomorrow) in an effort to help her with the pain and with her energy levels but know that anything else is beyond their ability.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Hello All
Hello all. Kate and I have had such a wonderful holiday season that we forgot all about updating the blog. For this we are both very sorry. We know friends and loved ones want to hear just as much about the good and happy times as they do about the trying and sad ones. Kate had been planning a full holiday update (might have even typed some of it already on her comp.) last week, but has been feeling really bad this past week and thus hasn’t posted one. The bare bones of the update would say that we have been back in Farmville since just before Christmas and that besides the holiday spent with both sides of the family and some (forced by me) football watching, she has been back at work and I have been at the house getting it ready to be put on the market (anyone want to move to Farmville? It’s a great house….). As for the rest, I will let Kate tell you after she starts feeling better. The past week she has had swallowing, coughing, and fatigue issues accompanied with a “throaty” voice and mild aching. She is getting good rest though and is looking forward to getting back into the swing of things soon.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Hello again.
I have a confession. I am a horrible blogger. I must apologize to all of you for keeping you guessing as to what is going on with me. More importantly, I must apologize to all those who had to answer lots of questions from caring people that I should have answered for myself.
As of 9 am this morning (Nov. 17th), I have finished the recommend regime of 33 days of proton beam radiation. Please insert appropriate cheers and applauds. Due to appointments with other specialists, I will need to stay in Boston one more week before going off to spend Thanksgiving with my family in Maine. If all things go to plan, David and I should be in our house in Farmville on December 1st. Please insert louder cheers and applauds here.
Though the immediate side effects from radiation have been a little more server on this round of radiation than the last, overall I am very fortunate in the way my body has handled the treatment. I have a few radiation burns, a few bald spots in my hair, and swallowing continues to be difficult. I also have a general lack on energy reserve so I need to eat and nap frequently. But now that I have finished treatment (you can still cheer and applaud if you would like) all these things should improve. With radiation, particularly with two treatment regimes in the same location, there is an increased chance of long term complications from therapy. These however, may not present themselves for many months, to years into the future.
I will continue my current oral chemotherapy for another week. My oncologist hopes to then place me in a trail of another oral chemotherapy for the stabilization of bone tumors. He did not have a lot of information on the medication at the time of our last appointment, and I will keep you up to date as I know more about it.
My radiation oncologist is adamant that doing any scans of the tumor now would be next to useless, due to the amount of inflammation that radiation causes. She will not order another scan for 6 to 8 week. This thought is rather anxiety provoking given in August and September I received such frequent scans many showing the tumors growth at a frightening rate. However, I believe at this point, how I am doing clinically may be more reliable than a scan can be. To be blunt, there is really no place for the tumor to grow without me showing additional symptoms. Furthermore in between the last two scans, several more nerves were affected by the tumors growth, but the area is so small that the scans could not see any change. As such, since my symptoms have stayed the same since the beginning of treatment in early October, I am very optimistic that there has been no progression.
David and I continue to be thankful for everyone’s endless support and love. You all continue to uplift us on even the most difficult days. We are so eager to get home and see everyone. Love you all and see you in the near future.
Katherine
As of 9 am this morning (Nov. 17th), I have finished the recommend regime of 33 days of proton beam radiation. Please insert appropriate cheers and applauds. Due to appointments with other specialists, I will need to stay in Boston one more week before going off to spend Thanksgiving with my family in Maine. If all things go to plan, David and I should be in our house in Farmville on December 1st. Please insert louder cheers and applauds here.
Though the immediate side effects from radiation have been a little more server on this round of radiation than the last, overall I am very fortunate in the way my body has handled the treatment. I have a few radiation burns, a few bald spots in my hair, and swallowing continues to be difficult. I also have a general lack on energy reserve so I need to eat and nap frequently. But now that I have finished treatment (you can still cheer and applaud if you would like) all these things should improve. With radiation, particularly with two treatment regimes in the same location, there is an increased chance of long term complications from therapy. These however, may not present themselves for many months, to years into the future.
I will continue my current oral chemotherapy for another week. My oncologist hopes to then place me in a trail of another oral chemotherapy for the stabilization of bone tumors. He did not have a lot of information on the medication at the time of our last appointment, and I will keep you up to date as I know more about it.
My radiation oncologist is adamant that doing any scans of the tumor now would be next to useless, due to the amount of inflammation that radiation causes. She will not order another scan for 6 to 8 week. This thought is rather anxiety provoking given in August and September I received such frequent scans many showing the tumors growth at a frightening rate. However, I believe at this point, how I am doing clinically may be more reliable than a scan can be. To be blunt, there is really no place for the tumor to grow without me showing additional symptoms. Furthermore in between the last two scans, several more nerves were affected by the tumors growth, but the area is so small that the scans could not see any change. As such, since my symptoms have stayed the same since the beginning of treatment in early October, I am very optimistic that there has been no progression.
David and I continue to be thankful for everyone’s endless support and love. You all continue to uplift us on even the most difficult days. We are so eager to get home and see everyone. Love you all and see you in the near future.
Katherine
Monday, October 19, 2009
More Suport from the staff at Pitt Memorial's Family Medicine Program.
The fabulous people at Pitt Memorial Hospital’s Family Medicine Residency Program are selling wristbands (with “Always Believe” and “Never Back Down” written on either side) in effort to support their fellow comrade in arms during medical treatment. Each wristband is $5 and all proceeds go to aforementioned good cause. “We are thankful to any and all who buy these wristbands and wear them in support.” All interested individuals should contact Dr. Daniel Becerra (family medicine intern) at becerrag@ecu.edu.
This is not a request and no one need feel obligated to do anything. Support is given in many different heartfelt ways and is received, loved, and appreciated all the same.
This is not a request and no one need feel obligated to do anything. Support is given in many different heartfelt ways and is received, loved, and appreciated all the same.
Cheers to the family medicine program for their efforts in support of the cause.
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