Kaite Rideout Benefit Dance

Katie Rideout Benefit Dance
Music, Dancing, Basket Raffle & Silent Auction
Saturday, July 11, 2009 7:00-11:00 p.m.
Epiphany of Our Lord
3146 Ivanhoe, St. Louis, MO 63139
In October, 2008, Katie Rideout was diagnosed with a very rare disease called CNS Vasculitis-- meaning inflammation of the blood vessels confined to the brain, the spinal cord and its covering. Katie was a normal, healthy 10-year old girl playing in her volleyball game one day who was not able to move her left arm and leg the next day. Her face and mouth were damaged, as well, affecting her ability to eat and drink. The signs and symptoms of CNSVasculitis are similar to those of a stroke because they result from a reduction or sudden stoppage of blood flow to the brain. Katie has been undergoing chemotherapy and steroid treatments in an attempt to “open” these brain vessels to get blood flowing back to her brain tissues. Treatment has slowed the progression of the disease, but no definite, long-term prognosis has been confirmed.
On Saturday, July 11 at 7:00 p.m., Katie’s family is proud to host “Katie Bug’s Journey”, a Benefit Dance, Basket Raffle and Silent Auction. All proceeds will be used for a Trust Fund established in Katie Rideout’s name. We hope you enjoy this event which will help support Katie on her journey to a cure for her disease.
• Donation of $20 per person includes admission and participation in FUN-RAISIN’ challenges:
- Chuck-a-Luck
- 50/50
- Heads or Tails
- Liquor walk
• Cash Bar available all night!
• Hot dogs and other snacks available for purchase
• Door Prizes…just for attending!
• Silent Auction ... with the winners announced that night!
• Incredible Raffle Baskets will also be available
Print Name ________________________________________________________________________
Street Address ____________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip ____________________________________________________________________
Primary Phone ________________________ E-mail address________________________
Send this form along with payment by June 25, 2009, to:
Katie Bug’s Journey, 31 Willmore Rd. St. Louis, MO 63109
Number of tickets _____ x $20 each = $______________ TOTAL ENCLOSED
Reservations are limited! Please complete form and mail by July 1, 2009 and tickets will be mailed to you.

MRI results

Katie's MRI results are good. There are no new lesions on her liver and the ones there have not increased in size. This is great news as Katie's medication has been cut down or cut out. Next MRI is not for 6 months. yahoo!


God is great!

YaHOOOOOO

Katie's liver enzymes are back to normal! Wow She is due for an MRI this Friday 5/15 so let's say a loud prayer that it shows no changes for the worse. She is in the last 2 weeks of 5th grade and next year she will be a middle schooler. Even with everything she has gone through this year, she has managed to keep up. There as still many hurdles to overcome. Last week when she went to a birthday party that was held at a rock climbing facility she had a really hard time not being able to scamper up the ropes. Her scout troop took a really long hike to earn their hiking badge at Powder Valley. Katie came through it with flying colors. She helped distribute April Showers (Girl Scouts) bags too. She has such a can-do attitude

But those who wait on Yahweh, will renew their strength.....Isaiah 40 vs 31

Which way to go?

More bad labs for Katie. Her liver lab work is not looking good. The Doctors believe that maybe the chemotherapy drug Cytoxin is causing liver damage. They have decided to stop it for a week and see if that improves the liver labs. Trouble is, that is the drug they are using to keep the vasculitis in check. This is truly a balancing act with no clear guidelines. If we stop the cytoxin, does the vasculitis return? If we don't stop the cytoxin, does it cause irreparable liver damage? since this is so rare, it is not like there are other cases the Doctors can refer back to and say...well when we did this, we got this result.

We need to pray for God to guide the Doctor's decision making and to give peace to Kelly and Katie. also some miraculous liver regeneration would be great!

Trust in the Lord always

Lab work again

Katie has to have lab work about every 4-6 wks. 6 weeks if it is good and 4 weeks if it is bad! Last time it was bad, so Katie just got lab work again. The results were not good. Last time we hoped that the bad results were because Katie had the stomach flu and wasn't able to keep her medicines down. The results this time show that wasn't the case and the trend is not what was hoped for. The MD's decreased some of her medications thinking that maybe that will help but they are not sure. The next lab work is 4 weeks and if the trend is still in the wrong directions, she will have to revisit some of her doctors to come up with another plan for treatment. Katie continues to do awsome in her physical therapy and has caught up at school. this new lab trend is the only dark cloud on the horizon so far, it affects Katie's liver and needs to stop! Get on your prayer hats and let's continue to lift her up to our gracious Lord!

Prayers!

Katie's latest test showed some lesions on her liver. Her rhuematologist thinks that it maybe due to the fact that last week Katie had the flu and wasn't able to keep her medication down. She will have new test in about a week and see if they are gone. We need your prayers!

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deut 31:6

Rats!

Rats! Katie missed her appointment with the head honcho MD of rehab. A snafu with the dates was to blame so she is rescheduled in Feb.

The game with the St Louis University Bilikens was awsome. Kelly says they were treated like royalty! Ask her about it when you see her!

Katie helped out at the Sausage supper and next month she is helping her Mom with the Girl Scout meetings. Little by little, step by step, Katie is recovering.

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Katie turns 11!

Sorry for the big gap in posting. The holidays just got crazy!

Lots of great stuff is happening with the Rideout girls. Katie turned 11! Now that is something to celebrate normally but this year it is something to fall on your knees and thank God for. This past October, it was in real doubt that Katie would reach her 11th birthday. She is such a miracle! She had a wonderful party, held at the Youth room so all her family and friends could celebrate with her. A great time was had by all.

This past weekend Katie was named the Captain of the Bilikens basket ball team at St Louis University. She got to sit with the team and do all kinds of neat stuff. It was broadcast on 101.1 radio. How cool is that?

She has an appointment coming up this Thursday 1/22 to see the head honcho of rehab at Cardinal Glennon. Her therapist thinks Katie will blow him out of the water with how great she is doing! Way to go!

Katie is back at school most days and has caught up with the other students. She brightens up every ones day. Kelly says she see some of the happy go lucky Katie she once was peeking through.

We are so thankful to God for Katie and just lift her and her Mom/sisters up in prayer.

Trust in the Lord always