Kim dealt with back pain for years after giving birth to her daughter in 2013. She tried yoga, physical therapy, the works. Nothing helped. Finally in 2019, she got an MRI. We all assumed it would show a herniated disc and that she might end up needing outpatient surgery. Boy, were we in for a surprise.

On October 16, 2019, we met with a specialist to review the results of Kim's MRI. CANCER. Not just any cancer -- one we didn't even know was a thing because hardly anyone is diagnosed with it (0.5% of all soft tissue sarcomas) -- leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava. For those who feel the urge Google this like I did, I'll save you the time. The inferior vena cava is your body's largest vein, carrying blood back to your heart from your lower body. So we were looking at a super rare cancer, with limited research and funding behind it, that happened to be lodged in a place where it could pass directly into her heart and kill her instantly.

At that moment, while the rest of us were still trying to grasp the overwhelm of this shocking  information, Kim put on her armor, and she went to war. Kim had emergency surgery on Halloween of 2019 to remove the tumor. It was an incredibly dangerous 7-hour surgery, but Kim made it through. And the best news -- clear margins! We thought we had dodged an M16 headed straight for us.

But one year later we learned that the cancer had spread. It was everywhere: at the surgery site, multiple bone tumors, and in her liver. Her oncologist apologized, stamped a 2-year max expiration date on her forehead, and sent her home. And so Kim did what she had done before: she prepared for battle.

With Mom's help, Kim found an amazing sarcoma specialist at KU Med and began treatment. Her second line of treatment gave us almost a year of no new growth! We rejoiced! But the cancer wasn't through. It learned, adapted, and fought back.

Kim went to Siteman for additional options and began a clinical trial early in 2022. Unfortunately the trial was unsuccessful, so Kim went back to KU. She navigated through three more treatment options before the cancer took her on February 15, 2023.

Now Kim is finally at peace and cancer free. Cancer won the battles, but Kim won the war. Kim fought so hard and had limited options because of the rarity of leiomyosarcoma.

This cancer is absolutely brutal. It is aggressive and it is smart. We need more research in this space. If together we can give even one person one more year with their loved ones through our donations, that will be a blessing and an amazing testament to Kim's life. Thank you all so much for your support!

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