A change in the tide: The PET scan results are in...
- Alisha (Kara’s Sis)
- May 23
- 3 min read
The burden we’ve been carrying has been so incredibly heavy. As the date got closer for Kara’s PET scan, I felt my chest tightening, my eyes aching with exhaustion, and my brain thick with static. I started to wonder if my own body was shutting down from the stress.
Earlier in the week, I told my mom I was hoping for good news but I wasn’t even sure what good news could actually be. It was hard to place any expectation at all. I held tight to faith, to hope, and reminded myself that no matter what we learned, the outcome was the same: we would keep taking each day as it comes.
Kara woke up this morning with no qualms about the day. In many ways, the greatest gift has been her spirit and her inability to fully grasp the seriousness of her diagnosis. She’s been mostly shielded from the emotional toll. And despite everything she’s endured, she still lights up at the sight of medical staff. She is, without question, an inspiration.
She had already made lunch plans with friends after the scan. So while we were at her favorite burger spot (Armored Gardens, of course) I got a text from Mom: our prayers have been answered. I read it aloud to our friends, and we cried together over the good news. Kara barely noticed. She went right back to being her inquisitive self, asking what Marcy was doing the rest of the day. Meanwhile, I just stood there completely stunned. I didn’t know how to process good news. It felt surreal.
Here’s what the report said:
The liver, which previously showed abnormal uptake (indicating active cancer), now shows no signs of abnormal activity.
The bones, where the cancer had spread to her spine, pelvis, and ribs, are showing near complete resolution of activity. In PET scan terms, that means those areas are no longer lighting up the way they did before.
Her lymph nodes have improved, too. Most are stable or no longer showing signs of disease. There are still a few small nodes under her arm with low-grade uptake.
The sternum is the one area still showing strong activity, with a high uptake score.
It’s important to say this: Kara is not considered “cancer-free.” There is still disease present, and we are very much still in this fight. But compared to where we started? This is progress we didn’t think we’d get to claim. To see the words "significantly improved" throughout the report is absolutely unbelievable.
We meet with our oncologist on Tuesday and I’ll report back with next steps. For now, we’re letting this moment be what it is: a win. We’re celebrating it. We’re holding it close. And I will never take it for granted, knowing how many hope, wish, and pray for this kind of news. It's a privilege to be able to keep fighting this battle.
We are so incredibly grateful. God is SO good. And we are so blessed to have all of you in our corner. Thank you for your continued prayers and all your love!
If You're New Here
Hi, I’m Alisha, Kara’s sister and biggest advocate. Kara was diagnosed with Stage 4 Triple-Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (TNBC) in December 2024. Her cancer has spread to her bones, liver, and other areas, making this an incredibly difficult and uncertain journey.
Despite it all, Kara’s light still shines so brightly—she’s full of love, giggles, and endless positivity. This blog is where I share updates on her fight, the highs and lows, and the incredible community rallying around her.
Thank you for being here, for your love, support, and prayers. We need them more than ever. 💛 And of course, Go Hawks!
Team Kara Support Fund
Your gift helps cover travel, caregiving, and comfort-related expenses for Kara’s support team. While Kara cannot receive funds directly, your generosity provides the relief and resources we need to keep showing up with love.
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