Kris update

Hello dear friends and loved ones!

Last Monday, we were very excited!  By the end of last week, our excitement had loped into serious concern.  The very latest update is a little late in coming but there is so much to tell, so here we go.

Last Monday, Kris had her appointment with a plastic surgeon at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland AFB.  After closely examining her face and the right side of her head and temple area, he was determined that great things could be done.  He said he knows a plastic surgeon... someone at the very top of his field, no less... who is involved in a study of cranial injuries and facial reconstruction potentials.  He believes Kris is a super candidate and said he would contact the specialist.  As it turns out, that specialist is Dr. Rubin, head of plastic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh (so he MUST be good!!!), and our doctor here was in touch with him that very afternoon.  We have now been contacted by an associate of Dr. Rubin, and she is very excited to enroll Kris in the study there.  It means that the indented area at the side of Kris’s temple would be fixed, but it also means the 7th cranial nerve on the left side of her face can be surgically (but non-invasively!) reconnected and made functional again by attaching a good nerve from the right side of her face to it.  That will help her swallowing, her facial movements, and restore balance to her expression and facial features.  It may also help the spasms in the right side of her neck, which causes saliva pooling in her throat which causes choking and coughing.  It would also mean Kris and I would be flown to Pittsburgh to have all of this done, stay for several days and return to San Antonio, all of which would have to be approved by the Air Force and arranged entirely by the associate of Dr. Rubin.  It sounded wonderful and Kris agreed she would like to do it, and that’s why we were so excited last week.

By the end of the week, however, another problem had come to light: a problem with her pituitary gland.  Kris’s neurologist here at RIOSA believes she might have a non-malignant tumor on the gland which is causing a number of problems internally.  A special blood test taken several weeks ago revealed the pituitary output is very, very high, and that is cause for alarm.  The doctor wants her to have an MRI, which was being scheduled today and should be soon.  She was to have a CT-scan yesterday, but orders at BAMC were misconstrued and an MRI will serve the doctor’s needs more efficiently anyway.

On yesterday’s note, Kris attended her second evaluation meeting held by several psychologists at BAMC who will be working with her in the weeks ahead.  The evaluations will determine the level of care she will require when she is fully retired, and how much oversight will be needed to handle her affairs.  This is a preface to the military evaluation board hearings which will then determine if she is to receive a full medical retirement from the Air Force and when that will be.  The meetings yesterday lasted all morning and she was really weary after all that plus waiting for a CT-scan that didn’t happen.  When we returned to RIOSA, she couldn’t wait to get into her bed and, frankly, I left earlier than usual, too.  Between the rough day, the intense heat here, and mental fatigue, Kris and I were both simply pooped!

With the holiday weekend coming up, I sense such a frustration in Kris because she wants to go home and simply cannot.  Our hearts ache for her knowing she is not ready for a home atmosphere as yet; she still requires 24-7 complete care, cannot walk, talk, eat or handle her own care.  It has been well over a year now, and I see the longing in her to have her life back.  I have no doubt it will happen one day but, unfortunately, the road ahead is still long and filled with hard work.  She knows that, and we endeavor not to build false hopes.  God knows the end results; we do not.  It is still totally in His hands. 

Have a safe and exciting July 4th!  We made a new banner to hang in Kris’s room (a screen shot of the banner is attached).  It says, “Proud to be an Air Force Nurse,” and it bears a photo on it taken at the Hero’s Hwy at the hospital in Balad, Iraq when she served there on her first tour of duty. 

Hello dear friends and loved ones!

Last Monday, we were very excited!  By the end of last week, our excitement had loped into serious concern.  The very latest update is a little late in coming but there is so much to tell, so here we go.

Last Monday, Kris had her appointment with a plastic surgeon at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland AFB.  After closely examining her face and the right side of her head and temple area, he was determined that great things could be done.  He said he knows a plastic surgeon... someone at the very top of his field, no less... who is involved in a study of cranial injuries and facial reconstruction potentials.  He believes Kris is a super candidate and said he would contact the specialist.  As it turns out, that specialist is Dr. Rubin, head of plastic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh (so he MUST be good!!!), and our doctor here was in touch with him that very afternoon.  We have now been contacted by an associate of Dr. Rubin, and she is very excited to enroll Kris in the study there.  It means that the indented area at the side of Kris’s temple would be fixed, but it also means the 7th cranial nerve on the left side of her face can be surgically (but non-invasively!) reconnected and made functional again by attaching a good nerve from the right side of her face to it.  That will help her swallowing, her facial movements, and restore balance to her expression and facial features.  It may also help the spasms in the right side of her neck, which causes saliva pooling in her throat which causes choking and coughing.  It would also mean Kris and I would be flown to Pittsburgh to have all of this done, stay for several days and return to San Antonio, all of which would have to be approved by the Air Force and arranged entirely by the associate of Dr. Rubin.  It sounded wonderful and Kris agreed she would like to do it, and that’s why we were so excited last week.

By the end of the week, however, another problem had come to light: a problem with her pituitary gland.  Kris’s neurologist here at RIOSA believes she might have a non-malignant tumor on the gland which is causing a number of problems internally.  A special blood test taken several weeks ago revealed the pituitary output is very, very high, and that is cause for alarm.  The doctor wants her to have an MRI, which was being scheduled today and should be soon.  She was to have a CT-scan yesterday, but orders at BAMC were misconstrued and an MRI will serve the doctor’s needs more efficiently anyway.

On yesterday’s note, Kris attended her second evaluation meeting held by several psychologists at BAMC who will be working with her in the weeks ahead.  The evaluations will determine the level of care she will require when she is fully retired, and how much oversight will be needed to handle her affairs.  This is a preface to the military evaluation board hearings which will then determine if she is to receive a full medical retirement from the Air Force and when that will be.  The meetings yesterday lasted all morning and she was really weary after all that plus waiting for a CT-scan that didn’t happen.  When we returned to RIOSA, she couldn’t wait to get into her bed and, frankly, I left earlier than usual, too.  Between the rough day, the intense heat here, and mental fatigue, Kris and I were both simply pooped!

With the holiday weekend coming up, I sense such a frustration in Kris because she wants to go home and simply cannot.  Our hearts ache for her knowing she is not ready for a home atmosphere as yet; she still requires 24-7 complete care, cannot walk, talk, eat or handle her own care.  It has been well over a year now, and I see the longing in her to have her life back.  I have no doubt it will happen one day but, unfortunately, the road ahead is still long and filled with hard work.  She knows that, and we endeavor not to build false hopes.  God knows the end results; we do not.  It is still totally in His hands. 

Have a safe and exciting July 4th!  We made a new banner to hang in Kris’s room (a screen shot of the banner is attached).  It says, “Proud to be an Air Force Nurse,” and it bears a photo on it taken at the Hero’s Hwy at the hospital in Balad, Iraq when she served there on her first tour of duty.

Hello dear friends and loved ones!

Last Monday, we were very excited!  By the end of last week, our excitement had loped into serious concern.  The very latest update is a little late in coming but there is so much to tell, so here we go.

Last Monday, Kris had her appointment with a plastic surgeon at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland AFB.  After closely examining her face and the right side of her head and temple area, he was determined that great things could be done.  He said he knows a plastic surgeon... someone at the very top of his field, no less... who is involved in a study of cranial injuries and facial reconstruction potentials.  He believes Kris is a super candidate and said he would contact the specialist.  As it turns out, that specialist is Dr. Rubin, head of plastic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh (so he MUST be good!!!), and our doctor here was in touch with him that very afternoon.  We have now been contacted by an associate of Dr. Rubin, and she is very excited to enroll Kris in the study there.  It means that the indented area at the side of Kris’s temple would be fixed, but it also means the 7th cranial nerve on the left side of her face can be surgically (but non-invasively!) reconnected and made functional again by attaching a good nerve from the right side of her face to it.  That will help her swallowing, her facial movements, and restore balance to her expression and facial features.  It may also help the spasms in the right side of her neck, which causes saliva pooling in her throat which causes choking and coughing.  It would also mean Kris and I would be flown to Pittsburgh to have all of this done, stay for several days and return to San Antonio, all of which would have to be approved by the Air Force and arranged entirely by the associate of Dr. Rubin.  It sounded wonderful and Kris agreed she would like to do it, and that’s why we were so excited last week.

By the end of the week, however, another problem had come to light: a problem with her pituitary gland.  Kris’s neurologist here at RIOSA believes she might have a non-malignant tumor on the gland which is causing a number of problems internally.  A special blood test taken several weeks ago revealed the pituitary output is very, very high, and that is cause for alarm.  The doctor wants her to have an MRI, which was being scheduled today and should be soon.  She was to have a CT-scan yesterday, but orders at BAMC were misconstrued and an MRI will serve the doctor’s needs more efficiently anyway.

On yesterday’s note, Kris attended her second evaluation meeting held by several psychologists at BAMC who will be working with her in the weeks ahead.  The evaluations will determine the level of care she will require when she is fully retired, and how much oversight will be needed to handle her affairs.  This is a preface to the military evaluation board hearings which will then determine if she is to receive a full medical retirement from the Air Force and when that will be.  The meetings yesterday lasted all morning and she was really weary after all that plus waiting for a CT-scan that didn’t happen.  When we returned to RIOSA, she couldn’t wait to get into her bed and, frankly, I left earlier than usual, too.  Between the rough day, the intense heat here, and mental fatigue, Kris and I were both simply pooped!

With the holiday weekend coming up, I sense such a frustration in Kris because she wants to go home and simply cannot.  Our hearts ache for her knowing she is not ready for a home atmosphere as yet; she still requires 24-7 complete care, cannot walk, talk, eat or handle her own care.  It has been well over a year now, and I see the longing in her to have her life back.  I have no doubt it will happen one day but, unfortunately, the road ahead is still long and filled with hard work.  She knows that, and we endeavor not to build false hopes.  God knows the end results; we do not.  It is still totally in His hands. 

Have a safe and exciting July 4th!  We made a new banner to hang in Kris’s room (a screen shot of the banner is attached).  It says, “Proud to be an Air Force Nurse,” and it bears a photo on it taken at the Hero’s Hwy at the hospital in Balad, Iraq when she served there on her first tour of duty.  She proudly wears an Air Force cap every time we go out anywhere, and the attached photo was taken on June 10th while Diana was here visiting.  With that cap on and that little “thumbs up,” you can tell Kris is still very proud of her Air Force career accomplishments and all her hard work.  (Beautiful picture of Carol here!)I know we are very proud of her, but her work is harder now than it has ever been.  Your prayers mean so much!!!

Blessings and love,

Carol and George