Things Can Move Fast in a Hospital - 06/03/2008

Recap - Robin had Chemo on Tuesday (5/27), and went to work on Wednesday with no problems. On Thursday, she threw up before we left for work, so she stayed home that day. Friday, she didn't get any better and was not able to keep anything down, including medicines or water. The fact that she was not able to take her Meds probably contributed to her illness, and certainly to her pain. Because she was not doing well, we went to see her doctor on Friday 5/30, about noon, and they gave her fluids and anti-nausea meds by IV. She still didn't feel any better, so they sent her to the hospital, where they ran some tests. She gradually improved and was eating normal food by Sunday evening. Robin's doctor wanted her to get an MRI of her spine to find out why she has lost feeling in part of her body, but she could not handle being in the MRI tube, so they had to wait until an anesthesiologist could knock her out (and anesthesiologists don't work on weekends).

To make a long story short, Robin finally got her MRI on Monday morning, and the news was good and bad. The good news was that they didn't use the "M" word ("Metastasis"); meaning that it didn't look like there was cancer in the other vertebrae (at least, that's how we understood it). The bad news was that the T11 vertebra had disintegrated. The remnants were pressing the spinal cord, causing fluid buildup and other problems. This was the likely cause of her neuropathy.

The doctors ordered additional CT scans for Tuesday. All Tuesday long, they were doing pre-Op sorts of tests (EKG, blood tests, chest x-rays, etc.). The doctors finally came to talk to us at about 5:00 pm. They said there was a need for major back surgery to eliminate the pressure on the spinal cord. The explained the procedures, options, risks, expectations, and consequences of not doing the procedure. We definitely felt like we were in good hands. The surgery is very invasive. The thoracic surgeon will be going through the ribs in the side, moving internal organs to provide access to the spine for the neurosurgeon. The neurosurgeon will remove the T11 and disks, replace them by cadaver bone and metal plates, then they will reverse their way out. The surgery will take most of the day; the neurosurgeon's part will alone take 2-5 hours. After surgery, Robin will be in ICU, where visitation is limited, for one or two days. Then 3-5 more days in the hospital, if all goes well.

It is getting late, so I'll add more tomorrow, while Robin is under the knife.

Please continue to keep Robin in your thoughts and prayers. She will need it more than ever for the next few days.

Our love to you all. God bless you!

                  Larry and Robin (and John)