LOVE, KRISTEN

In his forthcoming book Love, Kristen, Kirk Forbes combines his recollections of his daughter's fight against terminal cervical cancer with the journal entries and poetry Kristen wrote during her diagnosis and treatment. Kirk wants to share Kristen’s story with all the women who have fought or will one day face cervical cancer and hopes everyone who walks this path will look for the miracles that happen along the way.

July 16 – Monday

Transfer from Riverview Hospital to Indianapolis St. Vincent’s Hospital

As the EMTs were loading Kristen in the ambulance, we took photos. The EMTs must have thought we were nuts. They have never had anyone do that. Kristen waved and smiled for the camera as her gurney was put in the ambulance. In retrospect, I wonder if everyone at Riverview Hospital knew how serious this was . . . except us?

We followed the ambulance to St. Vincent’s Hospital and went up to the sixth floor. My heart sank as we rolled from the elevator to sixth floor south and went under a corridor sign that read Oncology. The potential reality was now sinking in. Everything inside me tightened up. None of us discussed it, but I felt like we were on a train going wherever it was headed with no say as to its destination.

July 17 – Tuesday

Yesterday, Dr. W and Dr. G came in and informed me that I have a large mass by my right ovary. They sent me to St. Vincent Hospital so a Gyn-oncologist can take a look. Dr. F (Oncologist) called and informed me why he made this move.

He wants a surgeon to take a look and see what it is. The VP Nursing and the CEO of the hospital came to visit me.

Today the Tylenol didn’t make the pain go away so nurse H called Dr. G and she suggested morphine which did nothing. So my new nurse J gave me Vicodin and the pain went away but I definitely feel a little weird!

Earlier I asked Dad, Mom and Meg to go check the hospital out because I needed some space.

July 18 – Wednesday

After biopsy surgery we all gathered together (except Kristen, who was sleeping a lot, recovering from the surgery) and were told that it was confirmed advanced cervical cancer. We all cried. It was expected, but still a horrible shock. Kristen was told the next day. She cried and asked us to leave the room so she could cry alone and absorb the diagnosis.

We went downstairs and stepped outside into the warm July afternoon and everyone had a major meltdown. Then Kristen sent us a text message for us to come back. The nursing staff was wonderful. Dr. F (the oncologist) took charge at this point.

I stepped into the hallway to talk to Dr. F and he asked how Brenda and I were doing. I told him we were praying for a healing miracle. Dr. F said we need to watch for the miracles along the way. He was right . . . we were about to embark on a tough but amazing journey.

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I survive

no regrets

--Kristen

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Kirk Forbes graduated from Purdue University in W. Lafayette, IN with an MBA and all his pilot ratings. He is a commercial jet pilot. He and Brenda, his wife of 36 years, reside in Noblesville, IN. Their oldest daughter, Megan, is a third grade teacher in Orlando, FL and son, Eric, is a senior in business at Purdue.

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To learn more about Kristen and her family, visit kristeneve.org.