Exciting news i found out...

[Kelli West]

Hey guys, so I have to tell you all a story about my life this past weekend. lets just say two and a half weeks ago i got 2 moles removed. well on friday my husbands uncle (he is my dermatologist) called me to let me know that one of my moles is Melanoma (caner):(! And it was pretty deep. there are 5 levels of depth (5 being the worse) and i am at level 4. He said it was a miracle of how deep it was that it wasn't in the 5ht level! The mole that was Melanoma was on the right side of my chest. They are going to have to cut into me and remove a big section around it. and then they have to inject dye and raioactive material into me to check my lymphnodes. and if those have the cancer (we are hoping they don't) then they cut out a big part of my armpit! and if there is more cancer i might have to do Kemo therapy. exciting eh? well here is the fun part...my husband and i don't have insurance. he had switched jobs, and we had to wait. so tommorrow we are going to sign up for medicaid! hopfully we get excepted!! lets just hope when they cut the chunk out of me they don't find any cancer srrounding it. Melanoma spreds to the liver, lungs and brain. i got chest xrays, and my blood taken and all came back clean, so that is a very good sign. anyway, but i am doing good. my husband is having a harder time than i am with it. but i got a blessing from my husband and his dad:o. and from the beginning i have felt that everything is going to work out. lets just all hope for the best! :)

[April]

I kept reading hoping to get to the good part. I am sad to hear there isn't much good in your news but I'm proud of you having a good attitude. I hope you can give us good news soon. HUGS!

[Alyson]

Kelli, I"m so sorry to hear this. I will keep you in my prayers and hope for the best!!

[Kelli West]

thanks you guys!! I would appreciate that very much! it's been nice, cause everyone has been so supportive. my mother in law told all of her friends, and when we all went to the womens conference last night, they all were so sweet. One of them had a husband that had died from cancer, and she couldn't stop hugging me last night. it was cute. it really makes you feel blessed when you have so much support from everyone. and everything happens for a reason, and when this is all done, i know i will look back and see the many blessings that came from it. I know the Lord wouldn't give us anything we couldn't handle.

[Jill]

Kelli
I am saorry to hear you news! I love your positive attitude and I will keep you in my prayers and thoughts. Keep your chin up. ;)

[LucyLu]

Kelli,

you will be in our prayers

[Alishaw]

Kelli, your attitude makes all the difference! Have faith & know we are all thinking of you.

[Jamie Hamblin]

I was like April waiting for the good part! You'll be in our prayers.

[michelle_e]

Kelli, I have a friend that is fighting stage 4 melanoma also. She has the same amazing positive attitude as you do and I truley believe that you make the biggest difference in your healing process. She has a journal on a website specifically for cancer patients and if you'd ever like the address please PM me and I'll be happy to share it with you.

In the meantime, I'll also say a prayer for you and your family. God bless you and the strenght you have been given.

[Quinn]

oh, Kelli! I'm so sorry! You'll definitely be in my prayers! I love your positive attitude! On "The Secret" a woman that was diagnosed with cancer said she laughed away her disease by always watching funny movies & being with people who made her laugh. Your positive attitude (I.e. "exciting news" ha-ha) could be the factor that makes the biggest difference in your healing & recovery. Lots of love...xoxo
P.S. You inspire me!

[Kelli West]

thanks so much everyone for your kind words. I appreciate the prayers. my mother in law is the relief society pres., and she said that she told her women, "if we don't know whats going on in your lives, we can't pray for you." so thanks a million to you guys. i have not met many of you, but i can really feel the support, so thanks. And i will for sure "Laugh" this thing away. I really do love to laugh, and i love funny movies so that makes it easy...and thanks michelle, i will have to get that address from you. i am heading over to my Mother in laws and we are going to go through all of my options for insurance. One lady in my ward said yesterday, "there are always car washes and RC Willey fundraisers" so if anything, i have car washes and RC Willey! peace out for now laidies, Thanks again kelli

[Kim Hansen]

Dearest Kelli, just wanted to send a BIG HUG. I'm impressed with you, your attitude, faith and strength. I'm going to keep you in my prayers--the special lady on the Creative Memories website, that has inspired me. Heavenly Father will BLESS you-it's guarenteed! Love, Kim

[Kim Hansen]

Spelled guaranteed wrong earlier--thought it did look right, but now I get to send another HUG!!!! :) Keep us posted Kelli.

[Kim Hansen]

Kelli, just looked at your member's view; I just had to learn more about you. What a beautiful couple you and your husband are. I loved your wedding picture--you will be blessed; keep smiling. Love, Kim

[Jenny McDonald]

I hope everything goes well. Like everyone has said I'll keep you in my prayers and thoughts. Best of luck!

[Kelli West]

ok, so here is the update on everything!! i had an appointment today, i met with the doc, he said it looks like i am in the 80% (which is good) that the cancer hasnt hit my lymhnodes, they will inject a dye and radioactive proteins to make sure it didnt spread. but he did a full body check on me and said everything felt good. i go in for surgery on october 12th!! the day before i go up and they inject the dye into me, and then the next day during the surgery they will follow the dye and radioactive protiens. i am feeling good (a little hungry right now..costa vida sounds good..hehe) and the hospital said they would work with us on a payment plan. my husband is still going to try and fing a different job for insurance. but it has to be with a bigger business (like provo city, orem city...some big place) cause they can't reject you when you come on. so we will see how that goes. thanks once again for your prayers. i showed my husband all the nice things you guys have said, and he thinks it is great!! and it helps me out a lot. i am now going to leave for a minute and get me some food...mmmm..fooooood...anyway, talk to you all a little later.

[michelle_e]

God bless Kelli! I am glad to hear you got some positive news and hope you enjoy your dinner! :D Thanks for the update!

[Kelli West]

thanks michelle. i apprectiate that. costa vida....that is enjoyment

[DeborahMomof2]

Wow - I'll be keeping you and your family in my prayers :)

[A-to-Z]

Hope things turn out ok Kelli! Have faith and you will be in our prayers!

[Kelli West]

ok, so dinner was mmm, mmm goood!! if you guys have never had costa vida i suggest you try it. get the burrito, with the sweet pork. i am usually a chicken girl, but this sweet pork rocks!!! Thanks again guys!!

[Misty]

Stay positive, Kelli. It's amazing how a positive attitude helps in healing. Good luck to you!!!!

[Bverly]

Good Luck Kelli, the good news is that you found it. My BIL had a stage 4 taken off last year. Once he healed from the surgery it has been fine. They were able to get it all and it had not spread to the lymph glands. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

[crystalclark87]

It really is amazing how blessed we are to have the ability to get blessings. I'm sure with them, and all the prayers, everything will work out in the best possible way for you! I love this forum because everyone truely cares and is really supportive! You just joined a little bit ago, it is just amazing to me that everyone is so genuinely caring! I wish you the best and will keep you in my prayers as well! Good luck!

ps I LOVE the chicken taco salad with black beans and no rice at Costa Vida! yummm!

[Misty]

I keep hearing how good Costa Vida is, but have never been there. I just noticed yesterday that they are building one close to my house. I can't wait to try it! Is it like Cafe Rio?

[LucyLu]

it is like Cafe Rio... I like Cafe Rio much better..

[Kelli West]

thanks crystal! by the way, you do cute pages. :) i agree on how everyone has been so nice to me even though i just joined not too long ago. you all rock!! everything is good so far, just waiting till surgery on friday the 12th. alas though i must go for now cause it is my Mother in law bday, and i am making the cake!!

[crystalclark87]

Thanks for the compliment Kelli. Have you posted any of your pages yet? I think so, but I tend to not remember who did what page... ehh.. probably shouldn't admit that, but everyone does great pages...

The Cafe Rio and the Costa Vida owner used to be partners when Cafe Rio opened. They got in a tiff and the co owners split and the guy who left opened Costa Vida... So, he uses all the same recipes.. only a small amount of changes.. Like, on the taco salad, Cafe Rio melts a small amount of cheese on the tortilla before putting the fillings on, and Costa Vida does not..

[Kelli West]

sad to say crystal, i have not posted any, cause i ahve not made any! the one that i was almost done with got erased when my photoshop just quit. and i havnt had time tio do any more. things in my life have been crazy!

[crystalclark87]

Well, I have seen the ones you have recently posted, since this last post, and they are great! You are awesome at them!

[Kelli West]

thanks! i just look at what you and everyone else does!!!