A Relentless Community

In all my years, which i know to some isn't many, I have never seen a community reach out their arms to families they don't even know, just for the shear fact of helping. The city of Bend is not one I grew up in, my husband and kids have, but it took a while for me to call this place home. Many of you do and always will and I'm slightly jealous :). There was a part of me honestly that took this city for granted. How many times do we really take a moment to admire the vastness of our scenery around us? The mountain scape is one that takes your breathe away. The rivers and rocks to climb are majestic. People coming from all over just to take in our beautiful city. We live in such a remarkably beautiful place.  After September 19th, the night of our fundraiser I began pondering on the right words to say to each and every one of you for your support of our family. That night, Bend Oregon became a part of me like no other. All of you became our "Relentless" family. I call this place my home. Each of you are now sucked into our crazy quirky life :) HOLD ON!! Just kidding. 

For those of you that donated time, effort, strength, energy, money, gifts, and heart to our fundraiser we want to say THANK YOU.  Two little words that carry so much meaning. Words that can be misused or overused, but I want everyone to know we mean every part of it. We were simply blown away by your generosity and that fact that it was the first time meeting most of you simply filled my heart with so much joy. 

Below I wanted to take some time and let you know who you gave to exactly and what it means to each of us and who my family is as i never ever want to take this for granted, or you for granted. 

Jayson, He is my husband. My Best Friend. My Rock. Hes steady when i am not. He keeps me grounded and reassures me even if he himself doesn't understand what I'm going through exactly, he tries and researches endlessly for me. Hes my biggest advocate to kick this in the butt. Hes been through it all with me and although we never thought that Cancer would have been a part of our marriage he has been with me through sickness and health. God truly blessed me with him. God is working all things new and we are thankful to stand in faith through it and fight relentlessly like Christ fought for us.

Isaac, he is our oldest. Hes 15 and starting high school at Mtn View. Hes a super outgoing and confident 15 yrs old. Deep down hes a sweet,kind, and gentle human being. His faith is strong and steady. Hes very protective of me and very helpful. His friends also have taken on tasks for me to be helpful so they can hang out :) Isaac has his own health struggles as a Type 1 Diabetic. I learn so much from him to never let things get you down and he is as Relentless as they come!!

Lexi, is our middle child who is 13 years old. Shes a strong girl who faces things with no fear. She is quiet, yet a relentless quiet. She has fought fights that you couldn't have imagined fighting as a 13 yrs old but she is trying her hardest to do it with grace and integrity. She too is Relentless. 

Hayden is our youngest who is 8 yrs old. He's rambunctious to say the least. Hes full of life and on top of that has the biggest heart and is very compassionate towards others. He wants to always take care of me or anyone when they are sick. Hes got this sense of humor that can turn your day around. He is also our prayer warrior for me and others and is very Relentless in His faith and his fight for his mom.

These people are who you helped as well as myself. They are who thank you as well. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for fighting this with us. Your support is untouchable and outstanding in the sense that I'm PROUD TO CALL BEND OREGON my home. Proud that YOU are just as RELENTLESS as we are in this fight against cancer!!!

Thank you Relentless FIGHTERS!!!!!!!!

Blessings,

Kate

No cancer is "Good" cancer

When I first found out i was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer a few things were said to me along the way that have struck a chord in me. Drs said to me over and over this is the "good" cancer to get. Even on the internet if you look it up, it can be referred to as the "good cancer." Frankly, and yes i will be frank whoever came up with that phrase needs to "kiss it" :) I toned it down for the PGRating. I really dont understand putting the words "good" and "cancer" in the same sentence. It doesn't even make sense. Tell that to my kids, husband, and myself.
Thyroid Cancer is a very rare cancer to develop however the risk of it and people being diagnosed is on the rise, more so than any other cancer. Yes MORE than any other cancer. It is the cancer with the fastest growing number of cases. Im shocked to hear this. Most people probably deal with the same symptoms i deal with daily without even realizing they have thyroid issues. Reason we don't hear these statistics is because the fatality rate is smaller than most other cancer diagnosis'  For that i can be grateful, but i want to stand with those who struggle with this cancer and disease that follows it. It doesnt end after being treated for cancer. We have to change the way you think of cancer. You have to stand up and demand research and demand information. Why is this on the rise? What can we do to change this? How can we make people aware?
Misdiagnosis' happen daily. Thyroid conditions mimic alot of other chronic diseases. Lymes, MS, Parkinson's. All things i was tested for. We have to be an advocate for our own health. I have several friends whom have these diseases and its heartbreaking to see, yet I understand. Tremors, numbness, loss/gain appetite, memory loss, speech issues, hot/cold flashes, insomnia, chronic fatigue, joint pain, inability to tolerate overly hot or cold temperatures, hoarse voice....list goes on and on.
Drs will check your TSH level on a regular blood test, but i encourage you if your symptoms continue ask to check total t4 and free t4 test.When its low with a high tsh level it indicates a hypothyroid. To put in perspective of what im dealing with and trying to reverse a normal range for tsh is 1.1-5.5, when diagnosed my tsh was 425. Yes you read that right. 425. A far cry from 5.5 i might say. So needlesstosay i was feeling pretty crappy and continue to do so, this was the start of the journey to diagnosis.
 May i remind you im not a doctor. Will not claim to be, just an advocate for my own health and want others to advocate for themselves.
The Thyroid is nothing to mess with. Its the central gear to your whole system. Every cell has receptors for thyroid hormone. These hormones are responsible for most of the bodys function. It controls metabolism, growth, body temperature, muscle strength, appetite, the health of your heart, your brain, your kidneys, and reproductive system. If your thyroid doesnt work properly, NEITHER DO YOU!!! Problems with your thyroid can lead to high cholesterol, heart disease, muscle weakness, and so on.
I encourage you to think twice and dont be afraid to ask your doctor questions. Its for you after all. We need to be RELENTLESS for ourselves and our families sake.

Blessings
Kate
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Relentless-Kate/1476153065991441
http://nashelle.com/relentless-identity-necklace
https://twitter.com/KateTuma

Relentless Fighters

Above is a photo that is precious to me. Its a photo of some of the most brave, loving, compassionate, Relentless fighters i know of. Id like to introduce my family.  To the left we have Isaac 15, Hayden 8, Jayson, Myself, and Lexi 13. Arent they a good looking bunch :) I could explain the two boys with casts, but thats a whole other post :) Lets just say its been an eventful week.

Where would i be without them? Absolutely nowhere, if you know us personally, which on some level you are getting there :) you would know that we are fighters even beyond cancer. Weve been through a lot as a family and we remain strong and steadfast in any fight that we face. These precious faces are who help me get up in the mornings. Make me breakfasts, smoothies, juices, get me dressed and remind me of what i have to live for. They are the reason for the word we chose "Relentless" and each of you as you can relate to us as we have been through what some could say...it all :)

When you are "relentless" about something, you mean BUSINESS!! You're not stopping until you get what you want. You don't take NO for an answer. People, hardship, finances, unforeseen circumstances, or Cancer might try to get in your way or steer you from your goal, but RELENTLESS FIGHTERS have their eye on the prize. Those things will need to get out of the way because they are coming through!! This is my family in a nutshell and the reason for our Necklace and word we chose to be on it. This is how Christ pursues us daily and what we want to stand for. We press on for the prize, God has given us this unrelenting fight in us because we serve a purpose. Each one of my kids will not go through this battle in vain, it serves a purpose. What is it you may ask? I honestly am unsure, but i know its going to be grand and marvelous for each one of them. My husband will not be put to the test of "in sickness and health" without reason, its for a purpose. And boy, do they stand strong in that. Their relationships in Christ grow daily and i see them walk in it "relentlessly" We grow weary at times, little battles try to change our course or path, yet we are reminded that we are here to serve a purpose far greater than ourselves.

 As a mom i want to protect them from any hurt this causes. When i hear our kids upset about me being sick, or unable to speak, i feel their pain. We've been able to find humor in the ugliness of cancer. We laugh instead of cry  because we choose to. Some days its more difficult but one thing i can count on with them is.....LAUGHTER!! We find laughter because we know we fight with purpose.

In your battle, whatever it may be, know this....Relentless fighters pursue the prize. I challenge you to fight your battle relentlessly for a purpose greater than yourself. BE RELENTLESS!!!

Blessings,

Kate
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Relentless-Kate/1476153065991441?ref=bookmarks
http://nashelle.com/relentless-identity-necklace

My Diagnosis Story

April 14^th, 2014….D day in our house. The day I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer. Ill never forget hearing the words “you have cancer ” coming from my doctors mouth as he explained what was to follow after many tests came back positive for cancer. I became numb, unsure how to respond. My husband and I sat there confused and then reality set in….we have to tell the kids. We have 3 wonderful, full of life kids and this was the hardest part of it all. I didn’t want them to feel upset, pain, or feel helpless which I knew was going to happen, but I also knew God would take care of them and their hearts. How much do we tell them? Where do we begin? How will they react? All questions my husband and I pondered and prayed over.

 It was shocking in the sense that I didn’t go in for anything huge. I went in for a random doctor checkup and the week that followed was a whirlwind of events that meant one test after another. Some were  very invasive and painful, others fairly simple. Don’t ever let a doctor tell you that biopsies are painless, they are NOT.

It had been years of not feeling “normal” A year prior to my diagnosis I was having tremors in my hands and face, unable to speak and numbness and tingling in my extremities. With all the tests ran and MRI’s I never found the problem. MRI’s were only focused on brain scans so the idea of any Thyroid issue seemed to be nonexistent. OR was it?

I could go back and be angry that the doctors at that time missed several key components that I later found out could have helped diagnosis me earlier. However, that isn’t going to help me now. All I can do now is be my own advocate for my own health care.

Going back to the day I was diagnosed I began racking my brain and thinking back on signs and symptoms that I was having and continue to have on a daily basis. What most don’t understand is that Thyroid Cancer is rare, therefore the research and information on it isn’t easy to find and “thyroid specialists” are hard to come by so to get answers to my questions my husband and I had, we had to be our own advocates in research in a sense to help find the best plan for me and treatment.  I struggle daily with little to no sleep, swelling of my neck and throat due to the large tumor on my thyroid, I loose my voice occasionally, tremors in my hands, tingling or numbness in my legs hands and feet. I have hardly any energy for simple tasks such as getting dressed or showering. It takes a lot of will power to get up each day because my body is saying “NO” and my mind is saying “Yes.” I get sick during the night that can extend to the rest of the following day, due to lack of hormones. My hair fell out even without treatment. And all these symptoms I feel daily.  Not only did I have cancer in my thyroid but it had spread to some lymphnodes. Overall, I had a sense of peace during the early stages of figuring this out. I knew it was going to be a battle but I also knew that the Lord had a plan. What could have been a huge set back, and in some ways are…financially, etc, has turned into a huge outreach to others that struggle with cancer, disease, or daily battles. It has given me a new perspective as most cancer patients have happen. But more than that. I see my husband and children in different ways. My faith is real and I see real miracles every day as my family and I battle this. The way they stepped up to help me and encourage me to get up out of bed is incredible. I will be sharing more about “Our story” and life living with Thyroid Cancer as I believe it needs to be talked about. I also want to encourage those that are in a cancer battle of their own or chronic disease, and even just a daily battle of life circumstances. Lean on the Lord. Give it to HIM, BE RELENTLESS in your fight!!

Blessings,

Kate Tuma

 http://instagram.com/relentlesskate

 www.facebook.com/relentlesskate

Our Story

'We are truly overwhelmed with gratefulness as this is a huge blessing to us and our family. We designed the necklace below with Heather Nashelle Straw for Nashelle designs to help raise money for medical funds and to raise awareness for Thyroid Cancer.

We chose the word "Relentless" for many reasons. We relentlessly pursue our faith in Christ and He pursues us relentlessly. He never has given up on our little family. We "relentlessly" love each of you and so many who are affected by cancer or any other disease, and want to reach out. We are "Relentless"in his fight against cancer or anything in our daily lives.

We chose not to be broken down but to press on and for that our family chose this necklace to represent so many parts of our lives and in hopes that it will bless others as we walk through this chapter with all of you. It's an honor to be chosen and I do not take it for granted. I'm so blown away by our community in this help for our family. Our kids, my husband, and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.' ~Katie

Blessings,

Kate Tuma