[SCA-AE] OT: Update on Helen Lorene's condition.

[Master Hogge de Watlynge]

I wore a colostomy bag for 9 months, but was very lucky that I was able to 
have a "reverse" colostomy and have myself stitched back together again to a 
somewhat normal functioning system. <fingers crossed>

It was, though, one of the worse, hardest experiences of my life & I wish 
the procedure on no one, not even those who deserve such treatment. My love 
and tears go to her - I know what she's going through.

Be strong, Helen - it's survivable and you will persevere with patience & 
time. My thoughts are with you.

Master Hogge (aka Huen)


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Scott Macek
To: endlesshills at yahoogroups.com ; Discussion at aethelmearc.org
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 10:56 PM
Subject: [SCA-AE] OT: Update on Helen Lorene's condition.


First let me apologize wholeheartedly for not telling some of you before 
this post goes out, but things have been too difficult to update everyone 
individually.  Please don't take it as a slight, but we've been stretched 
too thin the past few days.  Wednesday, Karen and I were informed that Helen 
was going to require a colonostomy (sp?) bag.  This was major surgery given 
her age and size.  Karen proved to the doctors that she was healthy enough 
to be released from Moses Taylor so she could be with Helen at Geisinger 
Medical Center in Danville before the surgery (at 7 am this morning).  The 
procedure went well, but during the round of testing she underwent earlier 
in the week the doctors discovered some bad news, not life-threatening, but 
things that will affect her quality of life.  It seems that her lower 
vertebrae and tail bone did not form.  This will mean two major things that 
we know of so far and that is that A) she may need the colonostomy bag 
permanently, as she may
 not have the nerves required to control when she poops or pees and B) there 
are strong indications that she'll be unable to walk.  The doctors are not 
ruling out the possibility that they are wrong, or that a treatment will 
become available in the near future, but they don't think either possibility 
is likely.  Obviously, keeping her alive is the first and foremost priority 
and she is doing rather well in that department, all things considered.  As 
more information becomes available, I will make sure you are all informed. 
Thanks again for the prayers and thoughts!

  Scott Macek (:Lord Gregory Hillson)