Past Monthly News From 2005

DECEMBER 2005 UPDATE After a three week stay in the hospital in early December, I came home on the 17th. Brandon had a surprise birthday party for me the next day - it was great to see everyone again. We went to Pittsburgh to spend Christmas with my Mom's side of the family, which was really fun. New Years Day we went with another couple to Dillsburg for the "pickle drop." [Get it? DILLS-burg - - - PICKLE ! check out the link]. All I will say is it was different, and something we will probably not do again for a long while! As far as my hospital stay.... I was taken to Hershey Medical Center at first, and they were in touch with Pittsburgh. The two doctors decided it might be good to send me to Pittsburgh and so I went there on the 5 th, I believe. At Pittsburgh they did a heart catheterization - they put a small catheter through a vein in my neck that leads directly to the heart. This way they can measure certain pressures going into and out of the heart. My pressures were fine and so we decided to try a new medication. This one just became available in March of 2005 and works just like the pump that I had. Yes, I said “ had ” because we were able to take away the pump altogether!! With the pump I had a lot of pain, so I was on two very potent pain meds. So the doctors thought the combo of the pain meds and the pump was why I was getting sick all the time. This new med just replaces the pump, but I inhale it instead. The device almost looks like an inhaler, small and portable. I have to do a "treatment", as I call them, every two hours and have to do at least six and no more than nine treatments every day. While I was in the hospital in Pittsburgh I did some tests that needed updated for the transplant list. The results were worse than before, which is bad news for my health, but good to get me up there on the list. There are only three of us on the heart and lung list in Pittsburgh, which made me feel a little better. Maybe this will be the year!! No, THIS WILL BE THE YEAR !!!!!! Happy New Year to all, and may all our hopes, dreams and prayers be answered this year!! Thank you for all your prayers and financial support! Love, Karin! NOVEMBER 2005 UPDATE Sorry that this is late this month! I have not been doing well at all. Today (November 13th) is the first I have felt good and energetic in a very long time. First of all the Benefit Bash in Dillsboro in October went very well. Not as much turn out as we expected but we had tons of items and the fund raising went well, I feel. We still have a lot of prizes left over so look for another big benefit to be coming early next year. On the other hand, I was not feeling good that night; again with nausea and vomiting. It got worse overnight so I went to the hospital on Sunday. I was admitted and ended up staying until Saturday!! We got the sickness controlled, but then I ended up getting too much fluid, so I had trouble breathing. We got that under control and I started to get sick with the nausea and throwing up again. My cardiologist did a test and decided that maybe I was getting dehydrated from one of my medications. So they decreased that a little, but I ended up in the hospital two weeks later sick again. So this time we reduced the medication again and stopped two other ones completely. So far, I am doing okay. I was sick two days later after I got out of the hospital, but now I feel good. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of the episodes of recuring nausea and vomiting. Unfortunately while I was in the hospital this past week, I was supposed to be in Pittsburgh to be re-evaluated and update tests. So for the second time, I have to reschedule that! Otherwise everyone else is doing good. Brandon starts a new job after Thanksgiving with one of the school districts here. He will be a carpenter/maintenance man for them. I became an aunt again on the 10th of October! My brother Scott and his girlfriend Crystal had a boy, Hunter Scott, weighing in at 8 lbs 7-1/4 ounces (as I recall)! Of course he is adorable. I call him a pretty boy (cause I know that bugs his dad) and I call him "George" but Hunter doesn't seem to like that name; he cries!! Remember the cartoon character that said "I will love him, and squeeze him, and kiss him and I will call him 'George'!" Maybe it's the squeezing and kissing that he doesn't like!!! Till next time, love and prayers to all!!  Karin

Previous Postings.... September Update

Well, once again in September I had a stay in the hospital over the holiday weekend. I finally got a shot that we think will help stop the recurring sickness. I have noticed an improvement but I have to get another dose in October, and then I should be all better from this recurring drop in chemical levels in my body! Keep your prayers coming! Otherwise we went down to Dover, Delaware, for a NASCAR race. There were about 12 other people we camped with and we had a good time and great weather. Sunday we got to actually go out on the track before the race and see some of the cars up close and talk to some of the crewmen. Then we saw Rusty Wallace for about 10 minutes - we were hoping to get an autograph but he wouldn't do any because there were so many people. I went home the last week of September to my Mom and Dad's and helped do what I could to help them fix up a little house they are got to rent out to my brother and his girlfriend, who is due to give birth any day now. I had a good time and didn't want to leave! Talk to ya next month! Love Love to all!Karin

August Update August was a busy month. I got very sick the first week of the month, but got out of the hospital in time for my brother Brian’s wedding in Erie, PA. The wedding was great - we had a good time and enjoyed seeing everyone. Actually now that I sit back and think, August wasn't so busy after all!! It just flew by really fast. I am still continuing to go to pulmonary therapy and enjoying this awesome weather we have been having. I was telling Brandon the other day, this is the year of "news" for us three Marks kids. I will (hopefully) be getting my new heart and lungs before the end of the year; Brian began a new part of his life as a married man to Kelly, a great gal!!; and Scott and his girlfriend Crystal will be introducing a new baby boy to the family very soon. So I am going to celebrate all the "news" in the year 2005!! Love to all! Karin

July Update I know July is not over yet, but I figured I'd write this now because I don't get to the computer as often as I would like to anymore! July was pretty quiet for us. We went to "the fields" for the holiday weekend and had a good time there. We planned on doing more camping but things just didn't seem to work out.> We did get to spend a day with some of my friends from work that I haven't seen for a while. That was nice to just sit and talk and catch up on what's happening with co-workers and friends. I did have to be taken to the Emergency Room on Saturday, July 23rd again. I could not keep anything down for two days. They did not get to keep me this time though! I do have two appointments on the 27th and 28th in Hershey to see what we are going to do about this. We have concluded that it is hormonal and that I may have monthly migraines because of monthly hormone changes. I get headaches but we think they may not hurt as bad as normal migraines because I am on morphine, and that will deter some of the pain. Otherwise, I have nothing much else to report this month!! I appreciate very much everyone who has been praying for me and for Brandon, and we are praying God will bless back everyone who has been so generous and supportive by encouraging me and keeping my moral up and giving their hard earned dollars to the transplant fund. By God's grace and everyone's support, I will make it through this. Love to all! Karin

June Update June went by pretty smoothly.... until the end of the month. I was sick to the point that I couldn't keep anything down. So I spent a day and a half in the hospital and they gave me fluids and a whole bunch of potassium. Normal levels of potassium should be about 3.5; mine was 2.2! Otherwise we had a busy month. We were camping most every weekend and we had a wedding and, of course, a bridal shower in Erie, PA for my future sister-in-law, Kelly Wilson (my brother Brian is getting married in August). My dogs, Kola and Sunka, are good and so is Brandon . Sometimes I don't know what I would do without him, and I pity him for some of the things he has to go through with me.  I adore him for everything he is and for sticking with me through sickness and health! I love you, Brandon!! I also want to ask that you please keep Timbra in your prayers. She is the niece of a very dear friend, Donna. Timbra had colon cancer and recently had surgery. Donna's son, Troy, died from colon cancer but I know he is watching over the two of us along with the Lord. With them on our side we will make it through!! Love to all! Karin May Update First off, I am sorry it took so long for me to get out an update this month. I have not been feeling well lately. I have some trouble breathing because I am retaining water. I am taking an extra medication to try to get rid of the extra fluid and finally it seems to be working!! I have been struggling with the weight for almost 3 weeks now, I think. We went to the hospital in Pittsburgh to update some medical tests and they all turned out the same as the last time I took them. That's good because it means the meds are doing their job! The big event that happened in May was a very successful fundraiser at the Lewistown Wal-Mart on Mother's Day weekend. It was a real community event that involved the 4-H chapter, the Knights of Columbus, and local Masonic Lodge. I understand all the baked good were all sold out the first day. And the Wal-Mart store made a very generous contribution to my transplant fund, too. Thanks to everyone who pitched in and worked on the event. In May I did get to go to the beach for a weekend with my mom and my friend Jody and her mom. We have made this trip to the beach an annual event and I think this was the fourth year we did it. We always have so much fun, and I think our moms go home having heard more than they would care to know … and sometimes I do too!! Brandon and I celebrated our wedding anniversary on May 27th and we went camping that weekend. It was good to get away from things a little. At least it didn't rain cats and dogs like it did on our wedding day. Other than that, it was a quiet month. That's about it - talk to ya next month! Love to all! Karin

Karin snuggles beneath a "Prayer Quilt" made by the Quilt Guild of the Hicks Memorial United Methodist Church. The women prayed for Karin as they worked on making the quilt.

Previous April Update There really isn't much to report this month. Well, I take that back...the benefit on the 16th in Milroy was a huge success!! We had a great turnout of over 110 people and I think a lot of fun was had by all, or so I am told, because I was not feeling well that weekend and ended up sleeping in the van much of the time! Sorry to those that I missed! We raised about $17,000, if I remember correctly!! That is great!! Have you taken a look at the pictures on the web site? The Turkeyshoot at Blue Rock was another family fun time and a very good fundraiser. And we had a calendar party on May 1st and that was a hit, too. Thanks to Amanda Bodtorf who organized it and everyone who sponsored tables and to those that participated! I had a great time and a great big thanks to Chris Ruble for putting on quite a show for us!! Other than that I had a relatively uneventful month health-wise, which is a good report!! Talk to ya’ next month!!! Love to all and God bless! Karin

---

Karin and Kola pose on the new scooter lift on the back of her van. The lift and scooter, supported by an NTAF grant, extend Karin's range and allow her to shop and do things that would otherwise exhaust her abilites to walk.

Karin with two LMS teachers who refereed! Previous postings....... March Update March went pretty smooth. I went to my local cardiologist to express my thoughts on why I was getting sick and he expressed his opinion. We both agreed on his opinion; to cut down on the amount of the medication that I am on the pump for. We consulted the doctors in Pittsburgh and they agreed we could try that and viola! I quit getting sick (knock on wood). It has been almost two weeks since we did that so I am keeping my fingers crossed, but I feel confident that was the source!! The basketball tournament in my honor went very well. (click on the "Event Photos" button to see more pictures). I was glad to be able to attend and gave a short “thank you” speech and everyone in my family was very surprised that I did so well!
Actually I surprised myself! But to see all those kids there participating was again overwhelming. I find myself saying that word a lot, but it is still true; no matter what people do for me I will continue to feel an overwhelming amount of gratitude. They raised about $550; great job guys!! We are looking forward to the auction coming up on April 16th. When I was home for Easter mom and dad were making a list of things that were donated. Wow! What a list it is. There are some nice prints, a quilt, afghan, a very, very nice blanket chest, some signed items from Steelers and Hershey Bears, tickets to theme parks, some NASCAR memorabilia, sunglasses, a huge, huge teddy bear, and some Penn State stuff. I could go on and on but I think you should just come on out that night and check it out for yourselves!! And finally I did an interview with a newspaper back home, the County Observer. It will be in April 6th's edition, so keep an eye out for that! And for those of you that can't, I am sure we will try our best to post it here on the web site! Hope to see a lot of friends and family in Milroy on April 16th!! Until next month! Much love, Karin
Karin's February Update February went by fast but not without some excitement. I was in the hospital for two and a half days. I could not keep anything down for about a week so I was admitted and started on intravenous fluids. They also gave me I.V. meds to calm my stomach. They did tests and took lots of blood, initially looking for bacteria or some kind of infection. Nothing was found so we chalked it up to a stomach bug. I am back home in Mechanicsburg , PA right now and I think I will be here for good. Since I came home I have felt 90% better... I think I was homesick while I was in Pittsburgh and that added to my being sick. I will continue pulmonary rehab here also. Hugs help Karin and Kola get over the homesickness! As many of you have seen and heard, our basket bingo was a huge success! I want to thank again the firehouse and everyone who donated baskets and their help. (click on the "Event Photos" button to see pictures). I especially want to thank my super Mom for making it possible... I know she put a lot of time and energy into this and I love you all the more for that, Mom! Karin Karin's January Update I am living in Pittsburgh right now, staying at my cousin's house. He and Brandon remodeled the garage into a room for me to stay here. This way I can be close to the hospital in case my transplant beeper goes off and I have to get to the hospital as quickly as possible. It is only 30 minutes away from here, but would be several hours by car if I was living at home in Mechanicsburg, PA. I miss Brandon a lot during the week, and my dachsund dog, “Kola", too, "Kola" doing her gopher impression when she wants attention (Cikala Kola means "small friend" in Lakota) Brandon's dog, "Sunka Luta", shows she can pose for the camera, too (Shunk'-ka Loo'-ta means "dog-red" in Lakota) but being close to the hospital is best. Especially during the winter weather when getting over the Pennsylvania mountains could be a problem. The good news right now is that I have been able to go back to pulmonary rehab while here in Pittsburgh, and so far that is going good. I need to keep up exercises to build up body strength to do well in the operation and so my body can handle a fully functioning heart and lungs – it's never had to do that before, so I have to get it in shape. Actually I like the program here a lot more than the one back home. In this program you do some warm-ups sitting in a chair. That takes like 10-15 minutes. Then we go and do our exercises on the equipment. I walk on the treadmill for 15 minutes and then go and ride a recumbent bike. Then I “cool down” by walking around for about 5 minutes. Lastly I do some stretches and I am finally done. I am at the rehab unit for a good hour and a half here, whereas the back home I was there for 45 minutes. I appreciate all the good wishes and support from everyone, and am enjoying each day as much as I can. Having such a supportive family and friends, and encouragement from people I don't even know really keeps me going. Thanks and God bless you all, Karin Karin's December Update Boy, what a year it has been!! As you hopefully remember, I am on a heart/lung transplant list. In December of 2003, I quit work and went on disability, per doctor's orders. Throughout the year I have been in the hospital numerous times because I retain water and I have a lot of trouble breathing then. I am still on the medication that is a 24-hour continuous pump, similar to an insulin pump. I was doing pulmonary rehab until recently, because the doc's think that it might be too much activity for me now too. I don't think that is the case. All that I do there is a half an hour's worth of exercise...I don't think it is very strenuous stuff, but friends that have gone with me would say differently. In September I returned to Pittsburgh for an evaluation and was moved to the “actively looking” list. What that means is, hopefully within the year I will get the transplants. So now I have a beeper and pray everyday that today is the day! The transplant team suggested I move to Pittsburgh over the winter months, which we were thinking, too, so I will be staying with my cousin out there. If nothing happens during that time, I will move back home in March or April. I then have a pilot on standby that will be available to fly me out to Pittsburgh. We now have a fund set up through the National Transplant Assistance Fund (NTAF). That is there for any medical bills or necessities that aren't covered by the insurance company. For example, I have a scooter that I cannot lift so we are going to get a lift installed in our mini van. The lift is $2700 and is not covered by insurance. So thanks to the fund we will be purchasing that in the near future. If you would like to make a donation, there is a link to NTAF on this web site. Donations are tax deductible and should be made out to the NTAF, and be sure to put my name in the memo line. As for Brandon, he is enjoying being a business owner. They are busy, busy, busy! It is just him and his partner right now so they work on their projects during the day, come home for dinner and then go to the office to catch up on paperwork. He is so excited because they also do snow removal and they got quite a few new places this year. So he is just itching for it to snow again soon! Thanks for your donation and to all who have sent cards and wishes especially to our friends and families for their tremendous support! Sometimes we forget how much our friends and families mean to us until we are sick or grieving, or until they are gone. Take advantage of the time you have together, that is one thing I have learned from all of this. Karin
Christmas in Pittsburgh at Chris & Jan's house as Karin takes Hunter's new tractor for a ride around the tree. Brandon says he thinks Karin on a tractor is "sexy!"