Buckets of Hope Arrived

Third Book by Kat Crawford 

How exciting to receive the shipment of 

Buckets of Hope:

Recovery from Grief 

and Loss.

Yes, truly there is moving on after struggling with the changes in life. Not only the loss of my husband but the move from all I had known for twenty-four years, to a new residence in Oregon. Life has changed and you find many of those changes recorded in this, my third book. 

It is hard to believe that in 2009 I published my first book: 

Capsules of Hope: Survival Guide for Caregivers. 

My husband's journey through PMP (Pseudomyxoma Peritonei-cancer of the appendix) fueled the stories of his survival and my caregiving. Even today I wonder how we managed through those horrific days when doctors offered no treatment, no medication, and no hope. 

In 2017 I published:

Dew Drops of Hope: Help for Those Going Through Grief and Loss

My good friend Shirl Hart going through her own journey of grief after her husband of fifty-eights had died, encouraged me to write Dew Drops. I agreed to compile the book if she joined me, and she did. Together with other friends, we brought our stories of survival after a loss. 

All three books are available 

on Amazon.com 

Over the next few weeks, I will share stories of healing, of surviving, of finding hope while going through a major crisis. The stories are real-life glimpses into the lives of those who have been challenged and have witnessed the Hand of God at work in their lives. 

I remain Lionhearted in my everyday journey. 

Congratulations PMP Survivor Micheal Smith

A few days ago I posted a photo of Bob Peterson, our number one helper in finding Dr. Brian Loggie. Then I posted a photo of husband in his biking outfit: Dr. Loggie’s called husband his Poster Boy. (I did, too.) 

Before PMP I said to a friend, “My life is a box. I go to work and come home. Everything is routine.” She told me to read the Prayerof Jabez and ask God to broaden my ministry—I did.

Look what happened.

PMP patients, Dr. Loggie and Me 

In 2005 Sandy Smith from Seattle, Washington emailed me. After I shared husband’s journey she asked for information about the Hallelujah Acres Healthy Diet  (vegan diet) husband used before finding Dr. Loggie.

Michael Smith after surgery with nurse 2005

Sandy sent me the photo of Michael after surgery and now look at him nine years later. He's the picture of health. congratulations to Michael.

You look great Michael and you, too, wonderful caregiver Sandy. 

Sandy and Michael Smith, nine years after Michael's MOAS PMP surgery. 

More info on PMP and being a caregiver can be found in my book:   

Capsules of Hope: Survival Guide for Caregivers

Dr. Brian Loggie, MD 

The foreward is by Dr. Brian Loggie 

And yes, I'm Still the Lionhearted Kat 

Dr. Brian Loggie's PMP Poster Boy

Desperate for information about Psuedomyxoma Peritonei (PMP) in November 2003, I sent a desperate message to a website where the creator of the website had not posted since 1998. I hoped someone might read my post and respond.

Bob Peterson emailed me. He invited me to the PMPbellybuttons@yahoogroups.com. I was the 17^th person to sign up for the group and Bob became our encourager.

Sometime before husband’s surgery in 2004, Bob flew into Omaha for his checkup with Dr. Brian Loggie at Creighton Medical. Bob invited husband and me for dinner. Bless his heart, Bob didn’t know how financially strapped we were by then and he paid for the meal. 

A professional phot of Dr. Brian Loggie

Bob encouraged Gary (husband) to trust Dr. Loggie. He shared his own PMP journey with us. How he’d followed Dr. Loggie from one location to the next because of the doctor’s expertise. 

Gary did have surgery in February 2004, the week after our 43^rd wedding anniversary.

Two memorable incidents before husband’s surgery:

A sweet nurse rolled husband toward surgery. “Oh, Mr. Crawford, you have such pearly white teeth.”

Husband popped out his teeth and handed them toward her. “You wanna use them? I won’t need them for awhile.

The second, when husband looked at Dr. Loggie and said, “Doc, I do believe you will see a miracle today.”

When prepped for surgery we were told it would take somewhere  between 13-17 hours, but nine hours after they wheeled husband away, Dr. Loggie showed up. He grinned at me.

Dr. Loggie's poster boy, Gary Crawford

“Mrs. Crawford, I do believe I’ve seen a miracle—I believe we removed every bit of PMP cells.”  

More of this story is found on my "More Than a Caregiver" website and in my book Capsules of Hope: Survival Guide for Caregivers.\

Husband lived seven more years (to the day from the first time he told me he had a problem). He did not die of PMP. My dear hubby of almost 51 years died of a sudden heart attack. 

It's hard to believe November 25, 2009 will be five years since husband died.

I first set my cap for Gary L. Crawford at Bible School at age 10. That’s lots of years to love one of God’s chosen people.