Vertebrae Repair

Our trip to Minnesota is a happy memory now. We always enjoy our time there. The weather was beautiful the entire time we were there. My flights were smooth and security agents were pleasant and screenings went smoothly, too. Although, they had to check my ace bandage on my sprained ankle for bomb residue. Sprained ankle? What? I slipped on the last step of some stairs and landed on my bum after hyper-extending my foot. Many bumps and bruises, but the worst injury to the ankle is on the top where I heard the terrible sound of ligaments stretching and tearing as I fell. Twenty four hours of staying off of it and lots of ice greatly improved the healing process. Once the swollen bruise on the bottom of my foot improved, I was able to carefully walk with the ankle wrapped in an ace bandage. Being ambulatory and not needing a wheelchair certainly did make it easier at the airport for our return flight this week. I did, however, miss the first event of Steve's reunion.

This morning is the procedure on my back. Things have become a little more complicated since my fall and the recent bone density test showed my bones are healthy and there was no indication of osteopenia or osteoporosis. Therefore, the compression fractures are from myeloma activity which leaves the unknown issue of how compromised the bone structure has become from the cancer and now whether there is further injury from my fall. My phone conversation with the Radiologist on Monday left me with these haunting words, "Hopefully, there is enough bone structure left to adhere the cement and have a successful outcome." The doctor said he would take a look during the procedure to be sure there weren't new fractures from my fall. He will also definitely take a biopsy. I'm praying it is done properly and is an adequate sample. Every bone marrow biopsy I've had done in Redding has had to repeated at Stanford due to some problem with the sample taken here.

Steve arrived home last night after riding 500+ miles a day to get here in time for my procedure. Jesse and Steve rode together to Butte, MT. Then Jesse went north to Canada to visit one of his college roommates and Steve headed south for home. They had some windy, chilly weather the first day, but stayed just ahead of the inclimate weather the rest of the trip. Steve arrived home last night even though he wasn't expected until tomorrow and arrangements had already been made for my friend (who is a nurse) to take me and stay with me until he returned home. He was so tired when he went to bed last night, that he asked if Kim could still take me in the morning and he would come up to hospital a little later.

Will report the outcome in a few days, but will sign off for now as it's almost time to leave.

Your prayers sustain us and bring hope and peace in the midst of this ongoing challenge of dealing with cancer.