Sunday, October 23, 2011

A one-handed post

Typing with only one hand is difficult and obnoxious, so this will be brief. It has been a little over two weeks since my battle with the roach, and a lot has happened. After a visit with the orthopedic surgeon in town, we were referred to an orthopedic oncologist at UAMS. The local surgeon said he didn't have as much experience removing cysts this large, and the oncologist does this for a living, so we should go with him. When we visited with the oncologist at UAMS, he informed us that my "cyst" was actually a giant cell tumor. Awesome. He still thinks it is benign, but we won't know for sure until he does a biopsy. Since that meeting, I have had a chest x-ray that was clear, a full-body bone scan that showed NO other tumors, and an MRI of my shoulder so the oncologist has a better picture of what he's dealing with. The plan now is to biopsy and remove the tumor in my arm on October 31 at UAMS. They will probably fill the huge hole in my bone with a cadaver bone graft, and then stabilize the fracture with metal plates and screws. Doesn't that sound like a fun Halloween?? I'm so glad we have Halloween activities earlier that we can take the kids to so I don't miss them wearing costumes and having fun.


I'm basically useless right now. I can do a little more than I could the first week, but it will be a long time before I can pick up Logan, feed him bottles, change diapers... I hate this. The kids can sit in my lap one at a time, but Logan still gets squirmy. The pain isn't as bad as it used to be, but this arm sling is wreaking havoc on my neck--the headaches are brutal! We have been so blessed, though. Mom has taken way too much time off of work to help with kids, clean the house, and take me to appointments in Little Rock. When she couldn't be here, our church family has surrounded us. I have 2 people at my house everyday (one morning, one afternoon) while Casey is at work. They have also been bringing meals every other night. West Side church of Christ is a force to be reckoned with! I'm just ready to get this week over with so we can do this surgery! If all goes well, I should be in decent shape by Thanksgiving and good as new by Christmas. Please pray for that!

Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us through this mess. Don't stop now! We still have a week of waiting with an arm that's still broken, surgery, and recovery. It's going to be a rough couple of months, but I have already decided--2012 is going to awesome. Just you wait! :)

4 comments:

mike said...

Rachel, this is one of those moments when most can't begin to understand what you and your family are experiencing. So you will just have to find comfort in our prayers for a quick recovery. We love you and wish we were there to do something for you. Mike, Debbie, and Jonathan.

Amy said...

Rachel, that sounds like very positive news....outside of the tumor, not being able to do things, etc...what I mean is about what the oncologist said and the clear test results!! I couldn't hold Jessica for about 6 weeks when I was recovering from melanoma and that was one of the hardest things as a mom not being able to hold your little one and feeling like you are missing out on things! That week before was tough...I was absolutely scared to death...it sounds though like you have a great team of professionals taking care of you and an awesome support network!!! 2012 IS going to be a great year!! You are going to have an appreciation of "the little things"...like giving your kid a bottle, getting to change a nasty diaper, etc. that a lot of people never learn to fully appreciate. Sometimes our greatest blessings "come through raindrops." Praying for you and your family!!!

Carol Jones said...

This is one of those times when your positive attitude (Live, Laugh, Love) will keep you going. Thank you, God, for good family and friends to surround us in times like this!

Joe Brumfield said...

Wow. We are thinking and praying for you. The only thing I will say is this... When you can control nothing else, control your attitude. That way you are not out of control. God will care for the rest. He already knows what happens in your story. He wrote it!