My name is Kari Norick, and this is the story of my battle with brain cancer.
In the Beginning:
The fall of ’04 brought many exciting changes in my life. I was having my kitchen remodeled, getting ready to start a new job, and planning a wedding for the following summer. The kitchen remodel was both exciting and stressful. I was fortunate enough to have my father and future father-in-law to help out with much of the labor.
I had been a pharmacist for a little over 5 years by then, working in a long term care pharmacy environment. I was finally ready to branch out and take on a new challenge of hospital pharmacy. Although my past hospital experience was limited to a six week clerkship required for pharmacy school six years earlier, I was selected to work nights at Southwest Washington Medical Center (SWMC). I had been working nights for the past 4 ½ years, and the schedule was perfect as far as I was concerned. I worked 7 nights and had 7 off. I loved knowing my schedule ahead of time, and planning “vacations” without taking vacation time. I couldn’t ever see myself doing anything else.
My job at SWMC began on Monday, November 1st, 2004. It was the Monday before the presidential election day. Because I had very little hospital pharmacy experience, the department was allowing me 3 months of training. I remember Jennifer Edwards, our pharmacy manager at the time, handing me a huge orientation notebook. It was about 3 inches thick with papers on policy/procedure type things specific to SWMC pharmacy. I thought to myself, just a little light reading.
I’m not sure how much it showed, but I was very nervous to work nights in hospital. It was the complete opposite of long term care. I also had to get certified in ACLS, as I was required to respond to codes at night. I had only been at one code in my limited hospital experience. This was going to be the most challenging part of my new job. I felt ready, though. I was stagnating at my old job, and I felt ready to dive in and learn new things. I was 28 years old, young and vibrant, full of life and energy…
It was at this time I started having visual and hearing disturbances. The best way to explain is there were holes in my vision. When I’d lie down, there was a constant “whooshing” in my ears. Eventually, my vision would completely go black when I’d stand up. Then whoosh, whoosh whoosh and it would come back.
I knew something was wrong, but nothing could have prepared me for the diagnosis I would eventually be labeled with. But first, I would have to run through a maze like a mouse trying to find a piece of cheese. The maze being the medical system, complete with it’s referrals and tests, the cheese being my “prize,” the diagnosis and the plan and the outcome of my dreaded situation.
karinorick 
Looking forward to the next read…
Beth, you might appreciate the long awaited diagnosis, being that you are in the same health care field as I am. 🙂 Thanks for the comment.
https://karinorick.com/the-long-awaited-diagnosis/
As an avid reader, I am anxiously awaiting the continuation of this life novel. Love to you my healing friend
Dearest Beth-
You, Skip, Lori and others were such a blessing at that time. I hope I said ‘thank you’. I recall the day we were told, ‘this is it….’ I called the church and everyone there was available to help with the babies so I could have some precious time with Kari. THANK YOU WITH ALL MY HEART that you were all there for us on so many levels.
It is a miracle that Kari pulled through. We know that the glory is all His…our God is responsible for such miracles. He is good.
Kari. You are a miracle. Thank you for writing. It is good to recall that time in our lives. People go through life filling themselves with all kinds of commitments….running here & there, but I remember when our family’s life was directed completly by your ups and downs.
It is good to remember the prayers that were poured out and the miracle that was a result. To God be the glory. You have more work to do here and you are doing it well.
I love you and am so glad we get to be sisters.
Steph
You are so brave. Thanks for sharing
Kari,
This was an amazing read. You write so well and clearly and I gobbled up each entry and now I want more! You should write this into a novel. I’m so very amazed at your strength at having endured so much and at your sense of humor that seems to have been unaffected.
Aww. Thanks, Caitlin. I have more coming, I promise!
Wow! I am so glad to read your journey. I’ve only gotten bits and pieces. Thank you for sharing xoxo Trisha
*This is great you can tell us.. and to have family,friends,husband by your side! I just had to keep peaking up on ya but knew we never met up..but saw on your sister sight. God bless and keep strong..I infact had tears lil..hold them I kept saying, it was like a book.
Love and strength. No better combination. I’ve never known anyone stronger. Thanks Kari, for adding hope to me.
Any time. 🙂 Sometimes hope is all we have.
I’ve lost a bunch in my life. My memory is gone from most of what I’ve experienced. Many of my friends are gone. I only hear of them and while familiar, I’m still cloudy on their presence. But that’s not true for you. Just the thought of you strengthens me. I know you. No person shares their strength, the way you do. You always made me feel like King of the World. I can never thank you enough. All I can suggest is that you realize who you truly are. Your true strength can battle any obstacle that crosses your path. Honestly, you know this. Just thought I’d chime in. Live in love warrior.
Thank you, Jay Bird. I’m so happy to hear you have good memories of me. I’ve got some of those, too. Our brains are amazing at healing. I feel like my memory is stronger than ever. Strange. Hang in there, my friend.
Special K, obviously you saw me leave early today. I was having an incredibly difficult morning (not to mention couple of years). I just had to leave.
One of the things I first noticed about you when I started working with you was your optimism. No one (at least not me) would have ever guessed what you have travailed through.
Thank you for giving me this blog at a time in my life when I needed and need it the most. Today was the first day I started reading it.
Thanks, BP. Something that I strive for is to love life every day that I have. I never want the novelty of being alive to wear off. It has been more difficult lately, but I’m working on it. Things could be a lot worse. Please let me know if I can help you in any way. “And when you’ve been down for the very last time There is nothing anyone can do to hurt you.” Cheers to life!