x marks the spot

three zaps are in!  wednesday afternoon ginny began her radiation treatments.  she will complete 25 rounds over the coming weeks.  we are so very grateful for a handful of wonderful friends and supporters who have agreed to help with transportation support.

in keeping with gin, her "documenting" spirit and her appreciation for a photo, we thought we would share a pic...

we continue to ask for prayer and good thoughts.  specifically for the laser precision of the radiation team and ginny's stamina.

kir&gin

zapping the damn thing

It has been a crazy week.  Ginny is doing amazingly well.  She has been working at getting symptoms under control and managing the list of "things to do" to finalize her mother's estate and get arrangements made.

2/18/15

Today we went to Mayo Clinic as a follow-up to last week's news that Ginny's tumor is growing.  Last week we were presented with the hope that radiation may be an option.

We learned today that Ginny can indeed do radiation.  How much is still not clear (doses will be determined in coming days).   We do know that Ginny will begin 5-6 weeks of treatment (5 days a week) starting next Wednesday (2/25).  We will return to Mayo tomorrow (2/19) for CT scan and the mapping of the radiation plan.

While all this is exciting, we also learned that this is going to be more challenging than we thought.  Ginny's tiny stature, age and the impact of years of treating her cancer make this not as straightforward as we thought.  Other systems are going to be impacted by the radiation.  Specifically her bowels.  Ginny has a considerable history with bowel obstructions and extensive scar tissue as a result  of previous radiation.   This course of treatment will generate more scar tissue and increase odds of future obstructions.  The flip side is that the tumor, if left to grow, will do the same.  Radiation is the better option at this point.

We will update you as we go.  We are asking for good thoughts and prayer, specifically for the effectiveness of the radiation, the radiation team's precision and Ginny's stamina.

Kir&Gin

mama virginia - at rest

2/16/15

 (Mary) Virginia Larsen, 90, of Austin and formerly of Bismarck, ND, died Monday, February 16, 2015, at Our House Memory Care in Austin.  She was born September 18, 1924, in Carpio, ND, to Amund and Leonora (Rinde) Halvorsen.  After graduating from Carpio High School, she received a degree in music education from Minot State Teachers College.  She was the elementary school music teacher in Kenmare, ND, for one year. 

On June 8, 1948, Virginia married Bernard Larsen at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Kenmare.  Her husband was a widower and father of two children, Virginia, and Larry.  Three more sons, Daniel, John and Richard, were born into the family. The Larsens moved from Kenmare to Minot, ND, in 1952, and from there to Bismarck in 1955.  Virginia and her husband were founding members of the Lutheran Church of the Cross in Bismarck.  After his death in 1972, Virginia obtained a degree in special education and taught until her retirement at age 65.  Music was Virginia’s sustaining joy.  She served as organist in many churches and accompanist at countless weddings, funerals and community gatherings. Virginia also gave piano and organ lessons for many years.  Because of advancing Alzheimer’s disease, she moved to Austin in 2004 to be near her daughter. She was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Austin.

Virginia is survived by her daughter Virginia Larsen and daughter-in-law Kirsten Lindbloom of Austin, son Daniel Larsen of Roanoke, VA; son John and daughter-in-law Debbie Larsen of Moorpark, CA; daughter-in-law Carol Larsen of Baltimore, MD; two grandchildren, Maren (Dan) Townsend and Jason (Michele) Larsen, and seven great-grandchildren, all living in the Baltimore area. She was preceded in death by her husband Bernard and sons Larry and Richard. 

A memorial service will be held in Bismarck at a later date, with interment of her ashes in Lakeview Cemetery, Kenmare.  The family has no specific memorial wishes.  Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin.  Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.

bastard tumor is back

2/13/15

okay...here is the deal...gin has asked that I share the "basics" so that friends and loved one can send positive thoughts, prayer and energy our way. three months ago we had our standard (every three months) oncology visit and learned that ginny's body needed a chemo holiday. after four and a half years of actively treating the disease the symptoms from that treatment were taking its toll. So in december we stopped treatment. yesterday we returned to mayo. ginny had been experiencing new symptoms in the past weeks and we figured something was up. we were right (unfortunately). ginnys cancer is once again growing. the tumor is pressing on other "systems" and we need to respond. chemo is a slower route and we (docs) are not sure about its effectiveness. so, tuesday we will meet with a doctor in the radiation department to see if ginny is a candidate for radiation. i learned yesterday that there is a lifetime limit on the amount of radiation they will expose patients to and ginny had been treated quite aggressively in previous occurrences with her cancer. so, If she is able, we will start with radiation next week. the hope is that it will shrink the bastard tumor and that the pressure on other organs and systems will be relieved. if she is not a candidate we will hit chemo aggressively (i think). we are optimistic. we are not panicking. we will update as we go. KNOW that she feels good in many ways. she is still very active and busy being gin. Post Script: Ginny's mother has started with Hospice care. Has fallen several times and has a broken pelvis.