The Krizman family would like to thank everyone for their support and extend an invitation to the Wed celebration of Andrea’s life.  They again welcome everyone’s support at all the events including the friends of Andrea’s children. 
 
8:30-10:00 Visitation at Church of the Ascension 9510 W 127th Street, Overland Park KS
10:00 Funeral mass with inurnment at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, KS.
Immediately following the inurnment will be a luncheon in the basement of the church. 
 
 
A copy of the obituary from the Kansas City Star can be found here:
 
www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?n=Andrea-Husong-Krizman&pid=125803836

Andrea has gone home

It is with a huge heart, that I give you this update.  This morning, our beautiful Andrea finally went home.  Today she took her last breath, and peacefully went to meet our father.  I am sure he has his arms open wide welcoming her in to heaven.  This moment is hard for the family, but at the same time there is some rejoicing that she is free from her pain, cancer and all of her treatments.  She is with her husband once again.  She is a special angel that God allowed all of us to know and love and now it is time for him to have her with him once again.  She was so giving on earth and now she can bless all of us from heaven.

Andrea and her family will forever be grateful to all of the prayer warriors and friends who have been there along the way.  Thank you to all the incredible doctors, nurses, counselors, hospice workers in every facility and state that have comforted her and helped her.  She fought a great fight!  Thank you to everyone who donated meals, flights, and most of all prayers for peace, some without even knowing her. 

Please continue to pray for her children, her brother and sister in law as they watch over her most precious gifts.  I know she loved them so much and was so thankful for the time she had with them since moving in her new home.  She was always so grateful for their good friends and stated on more than one occasion that they were all blessed with beautiful and giving friends and family.

Please also pray for her parents.  I can only imagine what it is like to watch this kind of suffering.  Andrea’s mother was with her for almost every treatment, all while fighting her own battle.  Andrea was always so loving and grateful when speaking of her mom who was dealing with her own trials and tribulations.  Darlene continues to improve daily and it looks like she is going to be just fine and that gave Andrea such peace.  As Andrea said in her last email to me just days ago, “One piece of good news makes us happy!”  In pure Andrea fashion, she was always putting others first. 

Andrea is now with our father.  He has a great place ready for her.  I remember a homily once given by Father Tom.  He was talking about a man who had died and went to heaven.  He passed all these glorious houses and mansions and wanted to know where his was.  When they got to his house, the man was disappointed because it was not what he expected.  The moral to the story is that when you are on earth you are building your heavenly home.  This man had not given much on earth or done much for people.  I can tell you that is not the case with our dear Andrea.  She had given so much to so many with her life.  I am sure she will not be disappointed with the “new home” she has- it is surely a mansion built for a saint! 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14: 1-3

A visitation is scheduled for Wednesday morning at Ascension from 8:30-10:00.  A mass of celebration will take place starting at 10 am.  

Please feel free to leave any messages to the family on here.  I know that they have all gotten a lot of peace from everyone’s words.  

Until we meet again……God Bless you Andrea!  Heather

Moving day!

Andrea is so excited to be out of the hospital and in to a new home.  Andrea’s new home is the KC Hospice House.   It is a great location for the girls to visit and Jack has been there often- everyone loves seeing the kids.  The location is a lot closer and convenient for the kids and the accomodations are great! Andrea had a slumber party with some friends this past weekend and then the night after had a sleep over with the girls.  She said it was great to have them spend the night and be able to “catch up” and gab for so long in a place that was more like a home versus a hospital.   She loved KU Med but is very excited about her new home and how far out of their way everyone seems to be going to make the “family” feel welcome.  They have taken a real interest in the kids and their interests, which makes them feel more like they are home and a family.

Thank you for all of the prayers for Andrea.  She is feeling good, has stopped all treatments for now but still has pain on and off so the prayers are comforting.   She now waits to see what the Lord has in his plan for her.  There also is a 24 hour prayer vigil set up on Tuesdays.  If you feel like this is something you would like to do, feel free to follow this link and sign up. Prayer can happen anywhere, it does not have to be done in the adoration chapel or church.  http://www1.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=andreahusongprayervigil

 The girls and Jack moved this past week as well.  They are now living with Mary and Joe (Andrea’s brother) Krizman.  If you have signed up to bring a meal, please deliver it to their home from now on.  Their address is listed below as well and not far from where Andrea’s parents home is.  They are all adjusting great and the food has been such a blessing.  We have extended the food sign ups through October, so please let friends know the meals are open again.

Andrea’s mom Darlene’s surgery went well and she continues to recover. Please continue to keep her and her husband Joe in your prayers as they take care of Darlene, continue her recovery and help Andrea.  

That is it for now, please feel free to leave a message on the blog, email Andrea personally or send her a card, the well wishes are always welcome and so uplifting.

Heather Harper

 

Andrea’s new home

KC Hospice Home

12000 Wornall Road

KC MO 64145

 

Joe and Mary Krizman

9719 W 144th Terrace

directions to their home are listed on the meal signup

Prayers for Strength

Please pray for Andrea as she is back in the hospital.

Please also keep Andrea’s mom in your prayers, her surgery is scheduled for the 10th of March.

SO THANKFUL

Andrea cannot even start to express how thankful she is for all the prayers, thoughts, food for her family, watching out for her kids, letters…everything!!!!  She has been inundated with a LOT of love.  She reads the messages on the blog and all the notes that are sent and they have truely been uplifting.  Although she is trying to stay caught up on thank you notes, she is a little behind and feeling bad about it:)  so please take this as a formal THANK YOU!!!

An update on Andrea.  She is going to be at KU Med for a couple more days trying to figure out a plan for when she gets home.  She has a new doctor that she loves (Someone asked if he is hot like the doctor in CA, and I have no idea).  The doctors at KU have been great, Monsignor Tom has been a huge comfort to all of them and  Andrea is looking forward to being back at home with her kids and family.  Andrea has had three surgeries this month, each one has been successful for what they were targeting.  Who knows what the future is going to hold, but she is putting it all in Gods hands.  

Please continue to pass on stories of things you have seen her kids doing or inspirational stories you hear.  Several people have asked me what they can do.  Please continue to pray, if you are thinking of her, leave a message on the blog and let her know.  All the positive thinking does wonders and she loves hearing what the kids are up to!

Some may know that Andrea’s mom Darlene had breasst cancer 18 years ago.  The treatment was very succesful and she has had a clean bill of health ever since then.  Darlene’s cancer is back now in the breast.  We are sure that everything will turn out well and are sending lots of good thoughts her way.  Once we know when she will have surgery, we will post it so you can say some extra prayers for her that day.  

On a positive note, Andrea’s brother Joe and sister-in-law Mary are expecting.  Currently they have  two sons ages 3.5 and 6 and make great playmates for Andrea’s son Jack!  Now it is the girls turn to welcome a baby girl!  All the women are very excited while Britney and Ashley are thrilled to be able to go shopping soon for lots of new pink items!  Andrea better guard the checkbook, we know how fun it is to baby shop for dresses and cute pink clothes!!  

There is no way that anyone in the family could remain so positive and keep things going without all the help and prayers they have received.  They are humbled by all of it!  Please continue to send your prayers their way and pray that a blanket of love and peace cover them all in the weeks ahead.

Tomorrow’s surgery

Please keep Andrea in your thoughts and prayers.  She is scheduled to have surgery on Thursday and could use some peace in her heart.  May God wrap his loving arms around her and allow peace to settle within her.  

Heather Harper

Merry Christmas

Andrea would like to thank everyone for their continued prayers, as she is so grateful for all of them.  Please continue to keep Andrea and her family in your prayers as she battles increased pain.  She wishes everyone a Merry Christmas spent with family and loved ones.

I know it has been so long……

I know it has been so long since I have written and updated my blog.  I am sorry for this because I have had such a faithfull following of support.  I am so blessed for this.

I got home from California mid-November after having 4 weeks of treatment and I ended up one week in the hospital out there.  I had a blood clot in my leg so I had to have a filter put in.  Then I had some extra testing done while out there.  I had a spinal tap to see how extensive the tumor is around the spine.  I also had a new port put in for my chemo. 

I had a doctor’s appt.  down at KU med last week.  I met with Dr. Doolittle and thought he was awesome.  He had some new info.  for me which was enlightning.  He wanted me to go back to California if the treatment is working but had some back-up if not.  I will be able to be scanned here and then compare the 2 scans to see if I should go back or not.  I should know this week what is going on there.

I am not walking very well right now so I am not able to get out at all.   I long for my days of hopping in the car and going anywhere with the kids.  I took so much for granted when I was able to get around.  I know we all do.  I pray every day for strength and mobility.   As I sit here,  I wish I could let everyone know not to take one minute of strength and mobility for granted.  Being able to be with your kids is a gift I never knew I would miss so much.  I miss just being able to run up the stairs and tucking them all in and saying prayers every night.  Don’t miss a night if you can!

Thank you all so much for  the support  you have given me and my family.  Whether it is telling me a story about one of my kids, bringing us a meal or just sending me a card out of the blue I am forever grateful!!  It is taking a village to get us through this! 

I will update hopefully this week and let you all know what is going on with my treatment!

My you all be blessed this Holiday Season!

Half-way through!

I am half-way through this cycle!  It seems  hard to believe but it is true.  My aunt Barb left last Saturday so it has been my mom and I this week.  We have managed fine.  I was worried about my mom driving in Los Angeles but she has done fine.  My eyes are sitting right next to her though watching every driving move she makes! 

This second cycle has been pretty uneventful.  I have gone in my 3 times a week and had my 15 minute treatments.  The medicine does go right to the tumor sight and inflames the area.   This does cause pain in the area and there is not much I can do about it.  I have had my pain pump turned up and it does not seem to help that pain.

I did have to have a new port put in last Monday.  I went to the Ronald Regan building at the U.C.L.A hospital in Los Angles.  This is a teaching hospital so I had a regular doctor and then a very young doctor who was “practicing” on me.  No fun!!  I could hear them talking and him asking questions.  It really did not make me feel too good that he did not know what he was doing!  Oh well, it is over and the port works great for my medicine.

I also had to go to Cedars-Sinai in Los Angles to have a blood transfusion.  That was a very interesting hospital.  It is the “hospital to the stars”!  But of course we did not see any stars having any babies or anything interesting!  They did have a harp and player in the area I was in.  It was very soothing while getting my transfusion.

I guess this trip has been a little more exciting than I thought.   I have 5 more treatments left this cycle.  Next week and then half of the next.  I will then be scanned and fly home.  At that time my doctor will see if there is any change in size and let me know what is going on.  Please pray for

We are back in California!

Hi everyone!

My mom, my aunt Barb and I arrived in California early last night.  We flew Southwest of course and it was the first time I flew with the wheel chair.  It really was a nice flight and everyone was very accommodating to us. 

We got our luggage with the help of a Southwest girl who pushed me and grabbed our luggage off the carousel.  She then got us to the Budget bus where the driver lifted me (and my wheel chair) up on the ramp and I rolled on into the bus.  We got the car and off we went to the apartment complex.  California had not had rain in 90 days until we needed to bring our luggage in our room!  Oh well, our first challenge of the day!  It finally let up and my 2 roommates were able to bring in our luggage.   

We freshened up and then went to dinner.  We went to a new place down the street that wasn’t here before.  It was really good and a fun place to go!  We got back to the apartment around 8:30 just in time for bed, we were beat!

All in all it was a very good day yesterday!!  It is beautiful here today so we will get out to do something a little later.   My doctors appointment is tomorrow at one.  If anyone has some time to say a prayer for me on Monday I would really appreciate it!!  I need peace and tranquility in my day tomorrow!  And of course some good news would be nice!

I am blessed to have all of you avid readers by my side!