Lifes2Short Paralyzed - updated 9-17

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Lifes2short
Posts: 549
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:54 pm
Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Lifes2Short Paralyzed - updated 9-17

Postby Lifes2short » Sat Aug 15, 2009 6:51 pm

Hi, folks. This is the husband of Lifes2Short reporting. She had taken a chemo break after a scan showed that Erbitux and Irrinitecan had successfully stopped the progression and even shrunk some lesions. She was excited and decided to leave Utah and take the kids to the ancestral home of Vermont for a vacation.

She had increasing pain for a few days and then woke to find her legs numb and weak. Unable to walk unassisted she spent two days in the ER before an MRI showed that a tumor in her T10 vertebra was pressing on the spinal cord. Emergency surgery Thursday night had the docs removing as much of the formerly irradiated tumor as was needed to relieve the pressure. They then took the two vertebrae above and the two vertebrae below T10 and put metal rods and screws through the stack to stabilize her spine.

She is in Intensive care, having just barely gotten the surgical pain under some control. She has some sensation in her feet, and can wiggle her toes. The docs expect a week or two in the hospital followed by lots of rehab and most like six months in a wheelchair.

I'll keep you all posted until she can sit up enough to do so herself. Warm thoughts, vibes, positive energy and prayers are certainly appreciated.

UPDATE: 9-17

She's out of the ICU now, and on the rehab floor. They'll have her standing up in no time. This all did happen while she was in VT and I was home refinishing the kitchen floor. On Thursday morning I booked a flight and arrived before she was out of surgery that midnight.

She appreciates all your love and sends it right back at ya.
Last edited by Lifes2short on Mon Aug 17, 2009 2:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Age 45; Stage IV, mets to liver, nodes and bones.
Dx 12/05; Chemoradiation, surgery, Folfox, Folfiri, Folfiri, Folfiri, Folfiri
Intrathecal pain pump 3/09 (works great!)
Irinotecan / Erbitux 5/09 - ?
Two wonderful kids ages 7 and 5

NWgirl
Posts: 6659
Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 3:24 am
Facebook Username: Belle Piazza
Location: Battle Ground, Washington

Re: Lifes2Short Paralyzed

Postby NWgirl » Sat Aug 15, 2009 6:57 pm

Thank you for the update. I am so sorry to hear of this latest development. Your family is in my prayers - I hope her recovery is as quick and managable as possible.
Belle - "Don't Retreat - Reload"DX 10/07 Stage III Rectal
Surgery 11/07; 27 of 38 nodes
Perm Colostomy 8/11
12/10 recurrence lungs & LN's
VATS Jan 2011
Radiation Oct 2013
Chemo for Life
2012 Colondar Model

salysue
Posts: 366
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:39 pm

Re: Lifes2Short Paralyzed

Postby salysue » Sat Aug 15, 2009 7:13 pm

I, too, am so very sorry. This is such a prime example of how things can change very quickly. Sending many positive thoughts and prayers for a rapid recovery. Please keep us posted.....we care!
Husband diagnosed 2/7/08
Stage IIIA RC
2 nodes positive out of 29
5FU and radiation
Surgery 6/10/08
6 months Folfox ended 12/31/08
Ileo takedown 2/12/09

ONE DAY AT A TIME!

karenM
Posts: 480
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:45 pm
Location: Western NC

Re: Lifes2Short Paralyzed

Postby karenM » Sat Aug 15, 2009 7:49 pm

How terrible for her, and your family. Tell her we are praying for her to heal quickly.
Colon cancer found Nov 08- stage 3
Surgery Dec 16th 08
in hosp 16th to 23,
28th to 1st of Jan for blockage
port put in Jan 12th
Chemo started Jan 09-
ended July 09
Hospital for a wk in April for bleeding.
As of Aug 09 am NED! Thank GOD!

crossyourfingers
Posts: 77
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:11 pm

Re: Lifes2Short Paralyzed

Postby crossyourfingers » Sat Aug 15, 2009 8:36 pm

WOW! I am putting your family on my prayer list. Praying for quick healing!!
DX 4/3/09 Rectal Cancer Age 42
LAR w/ J pouch Temp Ileostomy 4/27/09
T2 NO MO
Take down June 23 09
NED

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CRguy
Posts: 10473
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: Lifes2Short Paralyzed

Postby CRguy » Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:01 pm

Your description of the surgery sounds like they did exactly what they needed to, to give her the best chance to get through this.

I am sure those of us who have posted so far, speak for ALL of us here :

Prayers and best wishes to you, your family, and to our dear friend on the CClub "Lifes2Short". Please tell her we are thinking of her at this time. We are always here to talk and share when life gets more intense than we would really like.

In harmony
CRguy
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

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Jen
Posts: 481
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 10:22 pm

Re: Lifes2Short Paralyzed

Postby Jen » Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:13 pm

I am so sorry she has to go through this serious challenge. I hope she will find the strength for a good recovery. I hope the pain becomes managed soon. She will be in my thoughts and prayers.
2008 March 37th Bday DX :( T3N2M0
3C Rectal Cancer, 5cm tumor, 4/33 nodes positive
28 tx IMRT Radiation, 12 tx Folfox, 1 month Xeloda
5 years NED 3/14/2013!

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Terry
Posts: 5536
Joined: Wed Oct 03, 2007 10:36 pm
Facebook Username: Terry Minor
Location: Silver Cliff, Wisconsin

Re: Lifes2Short Paralyzed

Postby Terry » Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:49 pm

Oh man, I am sooo sorry for her, you and the kids. You didn't need this:( I too will put her and all of you on my prayer chain as soon as I finish writing this. They say that that type of surgery is extremely painful, I hope they get it under control for her soon and that she heals and rehabs quickly.

We are here for her and for you if you need us.
DX 7/3/07
Chemo, radiation, 20 mo. chemo, IMRT, cyberknife, 6/11 lobectomy.
1/16 resection perm. colostomy intraop. rad.
PET 2/12 nose, thyroid, liver, lngs
Folfox 3/12
Lord I know You'll keep me here until
you know I cannot suffer any longer!

hannahw
Posts: 2098
Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:35 pm

Re: Lifes2Short Paralyzed

Postby hannahw » Sat Aug 15, 2009 10:05 pm

This sounds incredibly scary. You must all be exhausted. I hope you are all getting some rest. You'll definitely be in my thoughts. Stay strong. And make sure you have a few minutes for yourself. Taking a breather is essential.
Daughter of Dad with Stage IV CC

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Lifes2Short Paralyzed

Postby Lee » Sat Aug 15, 2009 11:46 pm

I am so sorry to hear this. She will be in my prayers, and I hope she is out of the hospital soon.

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

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PGLGreg
Posts: 1427
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 12:38 am
Location: Waimanalo, HI

Re: Lifes2Short Paralyzed

Postby PGLGreg » Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:00 am

Please give her our warmest regards. If she must stay in Vermont for a time, though I'm sure Utah would have been nice, too, I hope she can enjoy a New England autumn.
Greg
stage 2a rectal cancer 11/05 at age 63
LAR 12/05 with adjuvant radiation+5FU,leucovorin 1-2/06
NED for 12 years, cured

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live2jett
Posts: 762
Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 4:36 pm
Facebook Username: debbie jett
Location: San Diego, Ca. www.live2jett.com
Contact:

Re: Lifes2Short Paralyzed

Postby live2jett » Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:20 pm

Praying for all of you !!
Age:51
DX 10-21-08 Advanced stage IIIC T3 N2 M0
10/20 nodes pos.
Colon resect surgery 11-03-08
chemo 12-03-08 Folfox4 3 rounds
Xeloda 5 rounds(due to leucovorin shortage/severe reaction with oxi)
Carpe Diem NED Update 2014

Guest T
Posts: 234
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 12:09 pm

Re: Lifes2Short Paralyzed

Postby Guest T » Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:25 pm

Well wishes coming from FL.
Toni
Husband Rectal stage 3C 4-06
LAR 4-06
6 weeks Rad & Xeloda
Chemo Folfox 6 mos.
Hernia repair 10-07
NED Until 2-09
folfox/avastin June -09 - Dec-09
Surgery 2-19-2010
perforation another surgery 3-17-2010
Path report shows cancer still active

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blakeswife
Posts: 540
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2009 5:55 pm
Facebook Username: kathy.mair
Location: Utah

Re: Lifes2Short Paralyzed

Postby blakeswife » Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:46 pm

Oh my. I'm so very, very sorry to read this! We're in the same city. I've been watching the posts for quite some time & I do believe you have STRENGTH on your side. May God Bless you family at this difficult time. Keep in touch, please.
DH Stage IV 10/07
Colectomy, Liver resection & RFA, 1/13 LN
12/07-5/08 Folfox/Avastin
7/09 recurrence-Peritoneum
9/09-12/09 Folfiri/Avastin
1/10-5/10 Xeloda/Avastin
9/10-current w/built in breaks

Russian

Re: Lifes2Short Paralyzed

Postby Russian » Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:35 pm

I wish you soonest recovery


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