Another Bump in the Road (Irene’s Fall)

The week of May 13 started off great with the end of school year presentations and concerts featuring our grandchildren that we were able to attend.  Other than needing to send her hearing aids away for refurbishing it was a looking like a great week. 

On Wednesday she went in for the simulation for the Stereotactic Radiosurgery which, “involves the delivery of a dose of X-ray treatment precisely focused on a target within the brain. The use of stereotactic methods allows delivery of a high target dose with significantly lower dose to the brain tissue in the immediately surrounding region.” 

A nurse is holding both the front and back parts of the mask

 

A two piece mask of her face and the back of her head was formed.  This will be used to attach her head to a table and will keep her head from moving at all during the procedure.  When the mask is completed it is hard plastic as seen in the photo.  A new more refined MRI with one millimeter images rather than the normal five millimeter space between in the images was taken to aid in the precise radiation treatment to destroy the tumors in her brain. 

On Thursday Irene attended the sealing of Zack Zaharis and Lauren Reynolds who are children of families we have known and loved since our move to Mesa.  She was not feeling great, but planned to attend the reception up until the last minute when she did not feel well enough to go.

A routine blood draw was scheduled for Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. at Banner MD Anderson.  Two hours later we received a call that she needed to come back in for two units of blood.  With new blood and IV nutrients, we left the infusion center at 6:00 p.m. that night, and she felt better than she has felt for several days.  We have learned that chemotherapy can present all kinds of issues. 

 

Saturday, May 18 we attended the baptism of our beautiful granddaughter, Nicole Garn, who is Kevin and Tara’s daughter. That evening was spent with most of our Garn Family. It was so nice to also have Tara’s dad and mom, Craig and Mary Lynne Wilson and her brother and his wife Travis and Teresa and their boys with us. Irene attended all the meetings on Sunday and we had dinner back at Kevin and Tara’s that evening. Craig Wilson likes to cook and is a chef (dentist/periodontist) extraordinaire.
 

                                                            Irene and Nicole

                           Nicole Garn (looking pretty prior to her baptism)

                                              Nicole and her mother Tara Wilson Garn

                                                   Grandpa Craig Wilson

                                Yang Yang Crispy Beef (this was delicious)

            Ashley, Alison and Grandma Mary Lynne Wilson

 

Wednesday, May 22 will be a night to remember.  As were going to attend our granddaughter Amy's seminary graduation when Irene's toe, on her good leg, caught the leg of a chair and she fell into the doorway of the chapel.  We lifted her into a chair and her right hip, her bad one, was really hurting.  Carl Watkins brought a wheel chair from his car, and she was able to enjoy the graduation.  After the graduation we wheeled her across the street to Chuck and Gayla's where Chuck examined her and recommended we take her to the ER.  X-rays confirmed that her right hip was broken.  She has a Subcapital Fracture which is defined as "an intracapsular fracture of the neck of the femur, at the point where the neck of the femur joins the head."  
 

          Amy Garry and Grandma Irene after Seminary Graduation

                       Amy Garry - Mountain View High School Graduate

 Gayla Garn Peterson, Irene, Dana Garn Garry (our daughters)

      Irene and Amy (pictures taken after Irene had broken her hip)
 

She was admitted to the hospital, and had surgery Thursday at 6:30 p.m.  Three screws were placed to stabilize the head of the femur.  Dr. Amalia De Comas, who was trained by Dr. Valerie Lewis at MD Anderson CC in Houston, is the surgeon who is caring for her.  Dr. Lewis is the doctor whom we had determined was to do the planned amputation in Houston in December of 2012.  Dr. De Comas advised that it was not wise to try and remove any of the sarcoma tissue during this operation.

 

Her time in the recovery room was very difficult because she was experiencing severe pain for more than an hour.  I know it was bad because she has never admitted to pain, on a scale of 1-10, above about a 6.  She freely admitted that it was at least a ten for that hour.  One of the nurses later commented that on a scale of 1-10 it may have been 100, and Irene agreed that is exactly what it was.  The pain was eventually contained and she had a restful night.  She is not to put any weight on that leg for six to eight weeks to allow for healing of the bone.  We expect to bring her home from the hospital on Saturday.  We did get her home today.
 

 She has been so cautious getting around and has commented many times that she does not want to fall.  We were walking together and as we approached the chapel door she stepped ahead of me and tripped on the chair.  There was nothing to cushion her fall and her swollen right leg was little help in getting her balance.  She has a great attitude and as I left the hospital last night her were words were, "I am going to be big about this."  She is a good one.
 

The radiation treatment is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 28.  Additional chemotherapy is scheduled for June 11.  She has had wonderful priesthood blessings along this path, and we are confident that she is in the Lord’s hands.  Thanks to all for your faith and prayers.