Happy Birthday Liz - in the hospital for MRI

3-27-2010

When we got to the hospital yesterday we heard we had to admit Liz in order to get her into the schedule for the MRI. So we sat around while paperwork was done. The Air Med team came and got her IV line in quickly and gave her a hat for a birthday present. Then we waited for her MRI, which happened at 2:45pm and takes 90 minutes. Dr Donegan came and said he had seen it even before she returned to her room. He said there are compression fractures in discs T3, T6, and T11. There is tumor mass in the spinal column as well. Since she doesn’t show any signs of immediate danger to her spinal cord with symptoms like headaches, numbness or tingling in extremities, difficulty walking, loss of bladder or bowel control, he feels she can leave safely. He said only moderate activity and no heavy lifting. (That is what we have been doing.) We hope to have other doctors see her scans and add their expertise.

Dr Donegan said one possibility is injecting a substance between discs to keep them from compressing more – called kyphoplasty. I looked it up. [Pronunciation: \ˈkī-fō-ˌplas-tē\ Function: noun : a medical procedure that is similar to vertebroplasty in the use of acrylic cement to stabilize and reduce pain associated with a vertebral compression fracture but that additionally restores vertebral height and lessens spinal deformity by injecting the cement into a cavity created in the fractured bone by the insertion and inflation of a special balloon] – from Merriam-Webster online medical dictionary.

We don’t know whether to stop the study drugs, which seem to be helping, in order to start radiation, or try to continue. The decision may be up to Dr Ribas in LA. We go Tuesday for a Wed. appointment.

We got to Provo late for our dinner with family but enjoyed good food at Brick Oven. Then we had talking and game time at the Cedar Circle house with a few visitors. Afton and Madison did a great job with decorating and making delicious cupcakes! It was nice to have Liz feel a bit more normal. We got home late – about 11:30pm – and she opened a package from Jimenezes and a card. I think she felt loved. :)

Saturday I made cupcakes and ran around cleaning up for an open house. Liz was happily surprised to see so many neighbors and ward members. I told her “They love you!” We so appreciate your continued prayers on her behalf. Liz went shopping and out to dinner with JD’s parents Saturday too.

I hope to get copies of some pictures from family who had cameras.