November 2015.
Krista and I arrive in Germany and are instantly surrounded by love. Chris and Christine welcome us at the airport and take us to their home for the night. We are exhausted from travelling and are quick to get to bed. We need to rest up for our first week at the Klinik. I wake up on Sunday morning to Christine laughing and talking. She has one of those sing-songy voices that always sounds happy. The sun is shining and the family is getting ready to attend a local festival that celebrates Saint Leonhard who is the patron saint of horses. I have a good feeling. We are exactly where we should be.
That night, we head over to our new home for the next three weeks. Krista’s cousin, Andreas and Lina, give us a large basket of fresh goodies from their garden, fresh squeezed apple juice (from their own apples) and a car to use. Seriously? Amazingly generous. Christine hands over her Thermamix (aka Germany’s version of the Vitamix) for us to make our smoothies and a handful of groceries that she has bought for us. We are all set. Chris drives us over to the farmhouse where we meet the Obermaier’s and they help us get settled in.
The next morning, we make the three minute drive to the Klinik. See our route here. Talk about being in a place made to heal the body. We are both excited and happy to be on this journey. It just feels right. Our first meeting is with Dr. Weber. As Krista and I wait outside his office, we start to giggle and cannot stop ourselves. We are hysterical and I am pretty sure we are going to get thrown out. I mean, cancer is serious business, right? We finally meet with the doctor and he outlines a plan for me and with German precision, we get right to it. Within the hour, I am hooked up to an IV getting my first ozone blood drip. Krista is right there beside me being the strength that I cannot be at this moment. In Krista’s momma-bear way, she is navigating the path for me. Asking questions and most importantly getting answers. As my super-charged blood is flowing back into my body, the lady in the next bed starts chatting with us. After the initial “what are you in for”, she introduces herself to me. “Hi, name is Kelly”. Unbelievable! I almost fall off my bed. If I needed a sign that I am in the right place, here it is. Serendipitous!
The week is intense and full on. The German’s know how to make things happen and there is no question why they are the best at everything. I love watching the nurses execute Dr. Weber’s plan with efficiency and ease. They always know where I am supposed to be and what I am scheduled to do. The best part is that there are no nasty side effects to any of the treatments that I am doing. I could get used to this. Every person at the Klinik is vital and healthy. Most interesting was the fact that I am the ONLY person there who has done chemo and radiation. Every other patient declined them and came to Germany. It never occurred to me to say no my first go- round.
We meet a number of wonderful people who are also in treatment. Eva from Estonia. Summer from Australia. Susan from Barbados. Katarina from New York. Doug from the UK. Terry from Texas. Michael from California. Michael from Tazmania. All beautiful souls inside and out. I won’t mention the ones that asked if I am Krista’s mom. Ugh! I’m not sure that I will ever recover from that one.
It has been a great first week. I feel vital and healthy. I have met the most amazing people and shared stories and things that we have all heard about or are doing. I am so happy to be here. Dr. Weber and his team are wonderful and Kelly has sent me a message that she is here with me too. My blood results show a decrease in my tumour markers after only one week. Things are looking up!
- Kim
Tumour Marker CA-15-3 = 77.7
Tumour Marker CEA = 9.0
photo: Krista McKeachie