Rich’s process.

Well… were almost there…we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Rich has 5 more lumbar punctures (chemo treatments). Then we need to book his surgery, so we are hoping for end of July or early August. Keep your fingers crossed.

CT Scan Results

We met with Rich’s surgeon last Tuesday for his CT Scan results. The Dr. said that everything looks normal, his bowels are a bit inflammed but he think that’s from all the trauma of his last surgery and that it will all clear up after he is put back together in a few months. So now…Rich’s oncologist in Vancouver is setting up 5 more lumbar punctures, which is just a precaution in case his disease has been hidding in his spine. The do inject chemotherapy into his spinal fluid but he doesn’t get any side effects from this procedure. After the chemo treatements are all finished we need to set up an appointment to meet with his surgeon in Vancouver to see when his surgery will be reversed and what the timing for recovery will be.

Thanks for all of your support!!!!

Rich and Katrina Smid.

Rich’s CT Scan

Rich had a CT Scan here at MSA on Sunday. We are just waiting for the results and I will keep you all updated with that next week.

Thanks so much for praying for us through this rough spot in both of our lives.

A Gala Under the Stars…

So…. who had fun on Friday?!? If we decide to have another Gala next year, would you come?!? What would you change?!?

(WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR IN PUT, and are very intested in how much fun you all had!!)

Well… We thought that it was ABSOLUTLY AMAZING. We had so much fun and were so glad to see so many of you out there supporting us and helping us raise money for the Leukemia/BMT Ward at VGH, where Rich spent 5or so months.

I just want to take some time and thank everyone for all of their hard work, time, donations and to anyone that helped out.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO…  Cinderella Slip-Ons + staff, the Rancho + staff, Jake’s Barbershop, Razor’s Edge Hair Gallery + staff, Bev Ellis, Abby Country Motors, Better Meals,Erin from Platinum Image, Twisters Gymnastics, GesCan, Clearbrook Dental Center, Red Robin, Paint by Numbr, Napa, The Ramada, Clearbrook Yamaha, Fraser Valley Duck and Goose Farm, Sun Rayz(Aldergrove), Audra’s Photography, Arbonne, Friessen Equipment(John Deer), Costco, Composition Floral, Curb-It, Watkins, Tupperware(Rachel Devine, Leenora Nivins), Reflex(Abbotsford), All Parts, Anne’s Hair Styling, Tim Hortons(Sumas), The Mad Butcher, Karl’s Meat Market, Caulder’s Wine Cellar, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, Blackwood Building Supplies, My Monkey Moo, De Dutch Pannekoek House, Accombined Wrecking, Maple Ridge Motor Sports, Lordco Auto Parts, Alpha Concrete Pumping, AMC Signs, Bobcat Country, After Thoughts, Perfect Tan, Save-On Foods, Giggle Dam Dinner Theatre, Chevron(Clearbrook), Cozy Home, Merle Norman, The Queen Bee Boutique, Starbucks (Sumas Way), Wayne Burnhart, the NEWS for coming and taking photos for the paper!!(Keep your eyes out for my bald little, round head this week!!!)

*Cupcakes made by Jenni of Sweet Retreat Wedding Cakes

*Cake and Cookies made by Cakes on Demand

*Angela Moore for Katrina’s Dress

* Knightsound Music

* A HUGE THANKS TO The Rancho Catering for the awesome meal!!!!

We also want to thank all of our friends, family and to every single person that was at the Rancho celebrating with us as well as those who couldn’t make it. Without all of you this woudn’t of been possible. We are so thankful for your support and help to pull of this amazing FUNDRAISER FOR CANCER.

Thanks to Joanne + Dave for buying the Texas Mikey and also selling tickets for the raffle, Shelley and Paul Jeffery for the 50/50 draw, Art and Tim Funk… Art: for making and donating the 50 pounds of Farmer Sausage, and to Tim for selling the tickets.

** A HUGE THANK YOU to Shelley + Paul Jeffery. This afternoon they organized a Partylite Auction, we all had a great time. Shelly put up 62 pieces of her Partylite for Auction, all the pieces starting at a $5 bid. Shelley has also said that if anyone wants to place an order SHE WILL DONATE HER COMISSION ON ALL THE SALES to the Gala Under the Stars, to help raise our total. The total of the auction this afternoon was $1030.00 which she is donating to our fundraiser as well. So… if you want to order Partylite and help us out!!! NOW IS YOUR CHANCE. Call Shelley at (604)859-0888 and let her know that you want your order to count towards the fundraiser!!!  Thanks in advance for your support on this.

So I know that you are all wanting to know the GRAND TOTAL, but I’m not going to tell you untill we have all of the donations in. As soon as we collect all of the money and get the very final total I will be sure to let you all know!!!

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO HELPED MAKE THIS FUNDRAISER POSSIBLE!!!

Rich and Katrina Smid

(if you wish to contact us, feel free… richandkatrina@gmail.com)

Sorry that it’s been so long.

Hey Everyone,

Sorry that it has been so long since I have written anything. But I guess you all have figured out that if I don’t write anything, Rich is doing well!!! I will try and keep you posted on his progress as we continue to truck our way through this journey.

Thanks so much!!!

back home from MSA

Rich is back home now. He does have a few more follow up appointments but hopefully they will remove the drain and the bag in 11 days. His CTScan is in 10 days so once they have seen the results from that they will decide on removing the tube from his abdomin. Just when he thought that he was going to come home with one less tube… they added another one.  Hopefully one day soon this will all be just a brutal memory.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

no more meds

Rich is still at MSA. He is now off of all the pain meds and is very depressed, now that he has time to reflect on how brutal this is for him. If you have some time and want to go visit he is on the 2nd floor at MSA hospital.

Thanks so much for thinking of us!

I have the strongest, bestest husband in the world!!

HE DID IT!!! He was strong enough and in control of his body today so his Dr. let him out on a Day Pass from the hospital so that he could be in Tim’s pictures. The beginning of the day (Pics at 1pm) were a bit rough. He sat out the ceremony and then had the strength to join the wedding party at the head table for the reception. He even asked me to dance for 1/2 a song before he had to go back. I am so happy that we had a great day together outside of the hospital and able to celebrate with his closest buds. Thanks for all the support and help today to everyone that was there with us. Congrats to TIM AND DANIELLE FUNK!!!

Rich’s surgery

Well…HE MADE IT!!!!! The surgery is over and he is still uncomfortable but stable (as they say). He has another tube coming out from his abdomin which is draining into his bag. They extracted 4 huge syringes of fluid from his stomach and it is still draining into the new bag. He is still in quite a bit of pain but they did the surgery under local anesthetic. Which means he was awake for the whole thing. They are trying to find a way to decrease his morphine but keep a handle on his pain, so they have switched him to subque morphine, which means that there is a little plastic needle into his arm that stays there and when he needs some they just insert it under his skin. They are hoping that this will work, they started it around 12:30pm so by tonight we should know if it is helping.

He is going to be at MSA for another week just so they can monitor then fluid some more. Depending on how he feels tomorrow they will give him a day pass for the wedding.

Thursday morning at MSA.

Rich is going in for his surgery this morning. They are putting in a drain tube for four days to drain the puss that has collected in his abdomin. So far they say that Friday is a no go for the wedding.