This is is the family blog of Rachel, Kevin, Jude and Evie Hill. Kevin is an IT Infrastructure Engineer at Esquire Solutions and Rachel is a stay-at-home mom and freelance photographer. We live in the Atlanta area with our four year old son Jude and our 2 and 1/2 year old daughter Evie.
In October of 2011, Kevin was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma and has undergone three surgeries, six and a half weeks of radiation and a month of high dose interferon in an attempt to keep the cancer from coming back. After another two months of low dose interferon, we were crushed to find out that the cancer had recurred as stage 4 metastatic melanoma in June of 2012. Kevin then completed half of a three month interleukin-2 regimen, which required grueling week-long inpatient therapy and brought us to our knees. At the end of August, 2012, we learned that the treatment did not work, so we flew every 3 weeks to UCLA for the Anti-PD1 (MK3475) clinical trial. After 4 months and several sets of CT scans we learned that it too was not working. After that we made a valiant, but ultimately doomed attempt at getting on the BRIM-7 Vemurafenib + MEK Inhibitor trial with a transfer to Vanderbilt. After that we started on Vemurafenib at Emory, which worked fabulously well, but is not long lasting. After that we did TIL IL-12 at the NIH. …
Who knows where the journey will lead us next? We are hurting and scared and cling tightly to each other, to our children, to our God.
Hi, guys.
Kevin, I just sent you a friend request on a professional FB page I set up for my students and work colleagues. I don’t get into anything political on that page, nor would I use it to make political comments. I’d really like to stay in touch as you go through all of this.
Either way, though, you are in my thoughts a lot, and I truly wish the best for you.
Thanks for the blog, Rachel. It is in my RSS feed, and I read every post.
Best wishes.
I’m a Breast Cancer Survivor,and I had a chance to meet you Rachel in the Big Lots….It’s all for the reason to tell I feel your pain…You and your family will get through this : ) : ) God Bless The Hill Family : )!!!! Love n’ Peace, Lady Khadijah…Smooches
Hi Rachel! I met you today at Emory and your story of strength and perserverance really touched me!! Just looking at you smiling and upbeat, I would have never guessed you were going through so much! I pray that God will comfort and keep you like only HE can! You, Kevin and your children are in my prayers! It was such a joy to meet you! Take care and God bless.
~Rochelle
Hi Rachael,
We met in the airplane on the way from LA to Miami. I can’t get you and your family off my mind. I am praying for you and have asked my community to do the same. You are an inspiration and caused me to pause and reflect on what is important in this life. I will be thinking of you and Kevin daily and keeping up with your progress through your blog. It was a pleasure to meet you and Jude.
Ann
Hoping things turn around with Kevin very soon! Melanoma sucks! I am stage 4 and have been blessed with NED for 3 years and nearly 4 months. It was in June 2009 I was diagnosed with Stage 4. Went through garbage to get to here. I just finished a immunotherapy trial in April using BMS’s Anti PD-1 at Moffitt in Tampa. Dr. Weber is my oncologist. It was 30 months long and last Friday I was told my next scans , lab work and visit is 6 months away!! No more living in 3 month increments! I would like to share a link to your webpage if you don’t mind. Prayers for you all and the family!
I think I understood Kara say that you are staying in Burbank while Kevin gets treatment. We live close to Burbank and attend church in Burbank. If you have any needs for your temporary home or would like to find a church home for this period of time, we would love to try to meet your needs and/or take you to church if your schedule and energy permits. Please let us know. We are praying for you.
Hi Hill Family, what is your current address? are you still in Burbank?
Hello Rachel, I am Sharon in California, I met you at the Starbucks in Burbank near the airport. Thanks for sharing your story and struggle, I and my church family are praying for spontaneous regeneration (you know). Prayers and Love. Sharon
Hi Kevin,
This is Noelle from Village– you know, Brooke’s tag-along younger sister 🙂 I have the funniest memory of us at a coffee shop in Old Town Pasadena and me giving you a hard time for wearing a Beavis and Butthead t-shirt. I had a hard time having fun back then 🙂
Just wanted to leave you a note letting you know that our family is praying for you and your family. I live just up the road from you in Louisville, KY with my husband and two kids.
I get updates on you and other friends from time to time from Lorrie, who I still see on occasion and keep in touch with.
Per the request made on the last blog post, I’m wondering if I can give blood in Louisville and designate it for you down in Atlanta. If someone can let me know, I’d be happy to do it.
Our love and prayers and being sent your way, Kevin.
Much love,
Noelle
Just read some of the other comments and I see that you are maybe in Burbank right now. I’ll be out there later this month and will make an appointment to donate then.
Hi Noelle, thank you so much! I read Kevin your comments, and hope we can get a chance to see you when you all are in town! We are staying in a rental house in Burbank. Donate blood or platelets anywhere, we don’t need anything donated specifically for Kevin, as they will always give him what we need (thank God they don’t ration them out anymore) but there are always shortages, and Kevin’s definitely needed (and will continue to need) a lot, so any you give you can consider added to the pot from which Kevin is needing to draw! Thank you and give us a call when you get into town!
Thanks Noelle! Lorrie knows how to get in touch with us, so hook up with us once you’re in town, Kevin would love to see you! -Rachel
Hi Hill family,
I am praying for you. I know how difficult this is as my brother has been Stage 4 Melanoma for 7.5 yrs. now. Many treatments, immunotherapy,cyber knife (mets to brain, lung and kidney) and God has put him and you in this position for a special reason that we can not fathom. I pray God’s love, mercy and blessings upon you all. I also live near Burbank and would be willing to help if I can. Even if it is something you would not want to ask for. I am a mother of 6 and grandmother of 7.5 so I know just how special each moment is. Just stay in God’s will for peace and comfort.
If you are open to alternative treatment options, all I ask is that you visit http://www.phoenixtears.ca and watch the videos. Please consider taking the time to do the research.
God Bless…