Tanner's Journey

Friday, July 24, 2009

We are getting ready to head to Little Rock, Arkansas Sunday so that we can be at the hospital bright and early Monday morning. They have scheduled Tanner for five days of tests so I'm sure he's going to have a looonnnggg week ahead of him. This has been a stressful and shocking week for the whole family but we are ready now to begin the process of finding a treatment for Tanner's multiple myeloma. I will keep updating as things progress. Thank you all for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

5 comments:

AliciaFriday, July 24, 2009
Hi Angie and Tanner:
Drive safely to Arkansas and have fun listening to your audio book along the way. You both will be in our thoughts and prayers constantly. We love you, Alicia
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UnknownSaturday, July 25, 2009
All journeys start with a step. I pray God's blessing on each of the steps ahead of you. Remember, you are not alone during your journey.
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UnknownSaturday, July 25, 2009
Tanner and Angie,

We wanted to let you know that we're thinking about you guys, and praying for you both. Have a safe journey to arkansas.

Love,
Diana and Ryan
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DonnaTSaturday, July 25, 2009
Hey Maw Maw & Tanner,

You know I am praying for both of you to have a safe trip and for strength throughout the week.
Call or e-mail me if you need anything.

Love ya,
Donna
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AnonymousMonday, July 27, 2009
Hi Angie and Tanner,
Just want you to know that my family and I will be praying for you through this journey. Our almighty father can heal all! We are here if you need us for anything.

Love ya!
Angie H.
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Recap

One summer day in 2009 my 17 year old son, Tanner Walker, decided to go swimming at a friend's house. While walking across the yard, his left leg collapsed and his tibia snapped completely in two.

Of course we were upset and worried that afternoon when I rushed him to the Emergency Room but I have to admit that the thought of cancer never entered our minds until the doctor came back into the room and told us "There's no easy was to say this other than just say it. There is a tumor in the bone".

They put Tanner in a splint and sent us home and over the next two weeks he saw several doctors who told us it "might be cancer - or it might be nothing" and eventually surgery was performed to repair the break and a biopsy was taken.

After the procedure, the surgeon came out and told us that the good news was that it wasn't cancer - but the bad news was that they didn't know what it was.

Two weeks later, my cell phone rang and it was the doctor wanting to speak to me and explain that they had found a Pathologist who had, finally, diagnosed the lesion as Multiple Myeloma. Can you imagine? I was at work and at that very moment my world, my son's world, our family's world - were all forever changed.

After a full body scan was performed Tanner was found to have hundreds - "innumerable"- lesions in the bones throughout his body and the Oncologist told me (privately) that at the stage he was at, he most likely only had two years to live.

Luckily, we were referred to the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy at UAMS in Little Rock Arkansas where Tanner underwent some of the most aggressive treatment available including chemotherapy and two stem cell transplants. Now, over three years later, he remains in full remission.

He receives maintenance treatment here locally and is back to living the life of a young man... A young man with Multiple Myeloma.

Tanner's Journey

Friday, July 24, 2009

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