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and then likely have surgery in April. Dr. Harb, the director of cancer services at IU Health Arnett, recommended Kix have her entire stomach removed. That approach is keeping with the aggressive treatment, not wanting to leave any cancer cells behind, he said. He knows it���s a treatment Kix responds to. ���Terry strikes me as a woman who is brave and loves life and is determined to help others,��� Harb said. ���She realizes we are dealing with a pushing serious situation, but she���s trying through her best to keep a positive attitude, Sitting in a private room on the and I think she���s doing very well hanthird floor inside the Unity Medical dling the situation. The early signs Pavillion, Kix is leaned back in a after we���ve been through two rounds recliner, cancer-killing chemotherof treatment are showing we have a apy drugs taking their turns pumpgood response to treatment, so that ing into her body through the port. was very encouraging and helped her This is the fourth of six infube more positive that we���re on the sions in a cycle that will cover five right track as far as eradicating the months. She comes in about 9 a.m., takes four ���pre-medications��� and Tom Campbell cancer in preparation for surgery.��� There���s a chance the surgeon will then sits through an intense nine Kix refuses to let her ���bad days��� show with Purdue���s players, wanting to remain an example of strength, inspiration and encouragement. Players insist she���s accomplished remove 80 percent of Kix���s stomach hours��� worth of treatment. that in full. instead of the entirety, but that won���t She���s opted for the ���aggressive��� continued to be that fireplug that she���s always be known until surgery is in progress, approach, a cocktail of four drugs, Kix said. It���s a major operation that likely will including an antibody called Herceptin that is de- been. I really just commend her for that.��� Kix has movies on her iPad, courtesy of broth- require a week���s hospital stay and a one-to-two signed to block a specific protein that promotes er Fred. month recovery. rapid growth in cancer cells. She has books, including a Bible given to her But Kix shows little fear. ���After that first treatment, (Dr. Wael Harb is) ���I love the treatment and I love surgery belike, ���Maybe we should lower the dosage��� because I by junior Courtney Moses who highlighted nine had a really rough time,��� said Kix, engaged during verses in James. The passage speaks to being cause I���m going to get better,��� she said. ���I might an interview despite the environment. ���I said ���Ab- joyful in the face of trial, that such tests cultivate not necessarily like the pain that comes afterward, solutely not.��� I���ll take the mouth sores or whatever. perseverance. It says that those in humble circum- but without pain, you don���t get better. It���s just part But I���m not backing off. Take me to my knees. Be- stances should take pride in their ���high position.��� of the process.��� That���s something Kix lives daily, especially on It���s a process that has only magnified Kix���s cause it beats the alternative. So we���re just going character, her strength and her mettle. The rehard-core, doing as much as we can. I���m going to Mondays at IU Health Arnett Cancer Services. Kix makes sure to spend time with fellow pa- solve only has wavered for the necessary somber do everything that gives me the best chance to tients with whom she���s formed genuine bonds, moments, absorbing the reality of the seriousness beat this.��� of the situation. Kix will never forget having her There���s not much in the stark room to distract forged by experience, not empathy. Some share elation of good news, that they���re head shaved after her hair had started to come out Kix from the reality of her situation. She���s constantly hooked up to a drip and only her recliner, on the road to remission. Some share fear of the in chunks and seeing herself in the mirror later, at two chairs for visitors and a small table ��� stacked future, looming surgeries or the threat of the de- that moment realizing, ���Oh my god, I���m a cancer patient.��� with Pringles, other snacks and letters ��� occupy mon returning to ravage. ���You get some people out there that are termiBut she doesn���t get consumed by those mothe 6-x-8 room. But Kix is a veteran now of filling the time on nally ill and it���s very sad, so you just try to make ments. She knows they���re not what does or will every day you see them better, give them a little define her. these Mondays. ���You have to allow yourself to go there, to be Versyp provides company until about noon. love and try to soothe them as much as you can,��� The pair does some work ��� Kix still is trying to Kix said. ���I try to be really uplifting and positive. honest,��� she said. ���For 90 percent of this, my stay involved with the team and attend to her du- I���m one of the younger ones that I see. So I really mindset has been positive, I���m going to beat this, ties ��� as well as chat. Then either mom Marie try to empower people and I know that they���re re- I���m going to do everything the doctors tell me to, but I have come to grips with my spiritual side. or sisters Debbie and Lorraine turns up to bring ally rooting for me, too.��� ���If I were to go tomorrow, I have no regrets. lunch and hang out. remember the fight I���ve lived a great life. I���ve touched a lot of people. I Other visitors pop in, too. Purdue players come The prayers, the positive attitude, the powerful just have so many wonderful people in my life that frequently, rotating each week. I would hate to leave any of them because they���re ���I���ve never seen Terry frown, not once,��� said drugs seem to be working. Before beginning her fifth infusion on Feb. 18, so dear to me. That���s the tough part for me. But sixth-year senior Drey Mingo, who visited Kix on her first day of treatment. ���Honestly, she could be Kix was told that the cancer is in remission with me, personally, I���ve lived a great life. I���ve accomhaving a pity party and just be negative and why no active growths. She���ll finish the final round of plished a lot. I hope people will always remember me, but she���s the complete opposite of that. She���s chemotherapy March 11, take a month or so off me for my fight.��� j was, once I knew what the game plan was, it was like, every time I come to chemo, it���s game day. When I have my sick days, it���s like, ���You���ve got to be tough and fight through it.��� That���s where being an athlete really helps. It���s a different challenge, but it���s very similar.��� Kix had a port inserted into her chest that same day and was scheduled to start chemotherapy one week later. GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com Gold & Black IllustrateD ��� volume 23, issue 4 ������ 55