Nicki Leach Foundation

Update on me: I am still in remission! I have had clear MRI's ever 4-6 months since June 2011. I am happy and healthy! Thank you for your support!

When I was diagnosed with cancer, it was very scary. I wasn't sure what to do, or say, or how to go on with my life. When I was down and lost and afraid, I came across the Nicki Leach Foundation. They gave me a scholarship to help me get back on my feet, and back in school. I have always wanted to have a purpose in my life, and after having cancer, and discovering this foundation, I knew there was something I could do. Recently I have chosen to help the Nicki Leach Foundation raise money to fund additional scholarships for young adults with myself. The foundation gives scholarships/money to as many young adults as they can to give them a better life.

Nicki battled cancer for two and a half years, and wanted to give back. She didn't make it, but her legacy lives on. And because I was blessed to live, I want to give back as well.

http://www.razoo.com/story/Smile-Because-It-Happened

This fundraiser was created by me to raise money for the Nicki Leach Foundation. My goal is to raise 75,000 dollars by the end of 2013.

YOU can help. YOU can change a life. YOU can make a difference.

Please take the time to look at http://www.nickileach.org and then, if you so desire, please donate to the cause.

Every dollar makes a difference.

THANK YOU!

Jenna Baker

One More MRI

 

Yesterday I had an MRI. The MRI was to determine whether or not I would continue with 6 more months of chemotherapy.

Today I met with my Oncologist, Dr. Patel, to go over the MRI. She went over the results and let me know that my MRI was clean, and that I am officially in remission!

Now, for probably the rest of my life, I will have scans every 3-6 months to monitor my brain activity. But, for now that's all I'll have to do.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this time.
I am officially a cancer survivor!

Jenna's Update: How Sick I've Been

Since I last blogged about chemo, a LOT has changed. Last time I blogged I thought I was sick. But let me tell you--I got a LOT sicker than that!

I went to Utah for 2 weeks to visit friends and family and to just get a break from the whole chemo thing. Unfortunately, the whole time I was there, I had to wear a mask. And ladies, and gentleman, it's not attractive. Take a look for yourself:

See?! It ruins ever perfect outfit. But I wore it with pride and totally pulled it off. :) (I'm supposed to wear a mask whenever I'm around groups of people because I don't know who's sick and can't risk getting the germs.)

Unfortunately, on this trip I got really sick. I weighed myself, and I was down to 111 pounds, which is underweight on the BMI scale and really scary for someone who is already skinny enough. I got so sick that I was constantly nauseous and had zero appetite. Nothing sounded good. Everything made me sick--so sick, in fact, that I stopped eating all together. That was bad news. I started getting very very weak and felt like I was gonna faint. I called my mom and explained what was going on. She told me that if I didn't get liquid and some food in my system, I was going to have to be hospitalized to get the nutrients I needed. I was totally bummed out. My aunt Carol stopped by and told me I had a fever and that I did not look well. She told me to pack my bags and that I was going to stay with her. So, I stayed at her house for a week where I had vitamin water, oranges, bananas, applesauce, bread, and other good foods like tomatoes :) My aunt made sure I ate 3 meals a day and made sure I was getting protein (peanut butter goodness), and after a week, I started feeling better. Not great, but better.

I am now home and on day 5 of the next round of chemo, and so far, I'm feeling the best I have in a long time, buuuuut, we both know that it's just about to get worse. So, keep me in your prayers because I sure need them. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!

Jenna's Update on Round 2 of Chemo

Today is the fourth day of round 2 of chemo. Surprisingly, I have been feeling pretty good, all considering.

I have had my ups and downs though. The downs are me feeling completely awful and nauseous. Pretty much it feels like I'm being punched in the stomach with a fist covered in acid. Sounds weird, but it's not very fun. I also feel super worn down and exhausted most of the time. The ups have been going out to breakfast with Amy and Keva, going to lunch with Matthew and Heidi, attending quilt group, and making a Dr. Seuss quilt! The quilt has been a lot of hard work, and maybe my focus on that has kept my mind off of feeling so sick.

Overall, I have been feeling a lot better than I did the first round of chemo, which I find strange because usually the more chemotherapy you have, the worse you feel. I call myself uber lucky. Actually I thank God for lightening my burden so that I don't have to feel so crappy all the time. He sure is a merciful God. I can say that with 100% confidence.

Jenna's Update on First Round of Chemo

My first week of chemotherapy was very... scheduled. My mom typed up a schedule and taped it to my computer so that when I woke up in the morning, I could follow it.

1. Wake up on empty stomach
2. Take Kytril (anti-nausea med)
3. Wait or go back to sleep for 30 minutes
4. Take Tremodar (chemo med)
5. Wait or go back to sleep for 1 hour
6. Eat, take other medications, etc.

Surprisingly, I was very good at remembering the schedule every morning. And yes, I was lucky and somehow managed to get pill chemo. And hey- if you have to have chemo, this is the way to go.

Days 1 - 3 were easy-peasy. I spent most of my time at the Ray (family)'s house hanging out with the kids in the family. Their daughter Kristina was about to head back to college, so I spent as much time as possible there. They thought it was funny how good I was feeling and they would make jokes, but I was thinking "Hey... I lucked out! Pill chemo, and no side effects?! Holla!"

Then I woke up morning of Day 4, and I felt like crap. I was nauseous and tired and just felt awful. I felt sick all day, and that continued day 5. Those side effects even carried over to the first day after chemo. It was no fun because I was hungry, but I couldn't really eat anything.

Since then, I have been feeling pretty good, just hungry. As I try to explain it, it's like you literally feel full but you're starving. Confusing? Welcome to my life.

Start of Chemotherapy

Jenna started chemotherapy on Wednesday, so she is now on day 2 (of 5 days of chemo before taking a 3 week break). It is a pill form, which is nice because she can be at home. The side effects have been minimal so far, so Jenna is feeling well.

Jenna's Summary of Initial Surgeries

10/20/2010 - Brain Tumor Diagnosed
On 10/20/2010, after heading to the doctor complaining of bad headaches for the past couple days, I was sent to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center for some tests. After two CT scans and an MRI, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

10/26/2010 - Brain Tumor Confirmed; Immediate Biopsy Needed
On 10/26/2010, I met with Dr. Howard R. Reichman, a well-known neurosurgeon in Utah. He reviewed my MRI. films and moved up the time table. I was told that I would need to get a brain biopsy within the week with a 3-day recovery in the hospital. My family and I decided to have me move home November 5th to get treatment as soon as possible.

11/1/2010 - Brain Biopsy/Surgery
On 11/1/2010, I had my first brain surgery at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center where a big portion of the tumor was removed by Dr. Reichman. He did an excellent job, and we really, really liked him.


11/29/2010 - Brain Surgery
On 11/29/2010, I had a surgery in Virginia by my new neurosurgeon, Dr. Joseph C. Watson, another good surgeon, and the remaining part of the tumor was removed. It was a rougher recovery than the first surgery.