Monica "Doc"Shores has a story to tell. She will tell it in her own words in the "comment" link. Please read her story,an important part of the work done by Heroes to Hometowns to enable our veteran's to have a better life. ENJOY!!
I came into the Urgent Care Clinic back in February of 2007 complaining of a swollen right foot. The Physician reviewed my file and noticed that I had an abnormal mri. She immediately sent me off to be tested again, and that’s when my life went into a emotional tail spin. I was in shock, cried for hours and I didn’t know what to do. I walked. I didn’t know where I was going or what I was doing. I just knew that I had to walk. I went to employer which was just down the street from the hospital. I explained to them what had happened and they sent me home for the day. I went to the hospital because I’ve always kept a close eye on the tumor since it had been removed 4x previously by VA Surgeons. I was instructed that benign tumors can turn malignant if not watched. However, what alarmed me initially was the growth and how it had moved up the side of my foot and into the ankle and leg. Immediately I was seen by the Podiatry department and ran through numerous surgical tests to determine the feeder artery to the tumor and whether it could be shrunk without surgery. Further tests concluded that the tumor was significant and was impeding blood flow to the rest of my limb. I was scheduled for pre–op where it’s own contractor refused to give me a biopsy to determine whether the tumor was malignant or benign, and that’s when I reached out to the web to anyone that would help. I placed “HELP” on the VFW/DAV/AMERICAN LEGION and Sunny was the only one that called me back. I’ll never forget his words. “I won’t let go!!!” I cried for hours on him. I told him about my situation and that I was scheduled for surgery with talk of amputation but I had no biopsy and that’s when Sunny got the ball rolling. I even went as far calling the 1-800-827-1000 to verify who he was. Everyone knew him. Sunny called me everyday and sometimes 2x each day to ask me how I was doing and how he could help. He came all the way up from Camp Pendleton, California to visit me and to give his support. My only worry in life was for my child and how was I going to live. I was faced with what I thought to be the biggest challenge of my life. I explained to him what was happening and he instructed me on what to say with regards to the biopsy and as soon as I repeated it back to my Primary Care Physician. I was immediately transferred to VA Long Beach in which I was seen within 48hrs by the BEST Cancer and Vascular Surgeons in the country. A surgical team was assembled in order to preserve my limb. It was a good call by ALL SURGEONS. Dr. Yvonne from VA Wilshire and Dr. Dan Gordon, Hatfield and Olaei from VA Long Beach, made the preservation of my leg their MISSION. On 7-9-08 at 7am, I was placed in a supine position and asked what type of anesthesia I wanted. My only request was, to save my leg and to make sure that I came back. As I looked up at the Scrub Nurses’ caps I saw the word “MARINES”, I thought to myself, “HOOYAH!!!” Then when I saw the Anesthesiologists with the same cap, what came to mind was, “This is what it must feel like to be RESCUED?” I knew that God had a reason for Sunny and the MARINE scrub caps on the surgical floor. I think because you know as a Soldier that when you’re stuck and you need to be extricated, you call upon the MARINES to get you out. On that day, I bled profusely through the artery of my right leg. All the right surgeons were there to insure the preservation of my limb; but, all the RIGHT MARINES were there to insure that I came back alive and with both legs. I have both legs because someone called me back. Then when I followed up with Dr. Yvonne who was involved with the surgery, I found out how big, large, and destructive the tumor was; how the right surgeons were on the floor to control the bleeding; and reroute my artery, and repair the damage. I was shocked and blessed that all the right people were placed in my life at the right time. God watches of his WARRIORS!!!!!!!!!!HOOYAHHHH
The last couple of months have been tough. I've had to learn how to walk again and I've been physical therapy 3x a week. When I first started it hurt, real bad, so bad that I dreaded going. However, the wonderful thing about this whole experience is that I didn't go through it alone. I've had the "Soldier Angels","Patriot Guard Riders", and "Heroes to Hometown behind me and my daughter all the way. I've been asked to update my blog to let my Patriots know about my status. To be honest, I get teary-eyed everytime I think about what could have happened and even now months later, I'm reminded by the wheelchair amputees that sit infront of the VA Hospitals. I'm haunted by the whole experience everytime I see someone in a wheelchair get on the bus, someone in a wheelchair missing a limb, "I'm haunted", and constantly reminded what a blessing it is to have both legs. To all my Patriots out there, please don't stop caring for the VETS....they NEED YOU....just as my daughter and I needed you.
2 comments:
“DOC’s STORY’
I came into the Urgent Care Clinic back in February of 2007 complaining of a swollen right foot. The Physician reviewed my file and noticed that I had an abnormal mri. She immediately sent me off to be tested again, and that’s when my life went into a emotional tail spin. I was in shock, cried for hours and I didn’t know what to do. I walked. I didn’t know where I was going or what I was doing. I just knew that I had to walk. I went to employer which was just down the street from the hospital. I explained to them what had happened and they sent me home for the day. I went to the hospital because I’ve always kept a close eye on the tumor since it had been removed 4x previously by VA Surgeons. I was instructed that benign tumors can turn malignant if not watched. However, what alarmed me initially was the growth and how it had moved up the side of my foot and into the ankle and leg. Immediately I was seen by the Podiatry department and ran through numerous surgical tests to determine the feeder artery to the tumor and whether it could be shrunk without surgery. Further tests concluded that the tumor was significant and was impeding blood flow to the rest of my limb. I was scheduled for pre–op where it’s own contractor refused to give me a biopsy to determine whether the tumor was malignant or benign, and that’s when I reached out to the web to anyone that would help. I placed “HELP” on the VFW/DAV/AMERICAN LEGION and Sunny was the only one that called me back. I’ll never forget his words. “I won’t let go!!!” I cried for hours on him. I told him about my situation and that I was scheduled for surgery with talk of amputation but I had no biopsy and that’s when Sunny got the ball rolling. I even went as far calling the 1-800-827-1000 to verify who he was. Everyone knew him. Sunny called me everyday and sometimes 2x each day to ask me how I was doing and how he could help. He came all the way up from Camp Pendleton, California to visit me and to give his support. My only worry in life was for my child and how was I going to live. I was faced with what I thought to be the biggest challenge of my life. I explained to him what was happening and he instructed me on what to say with regards to the biopsy and as soon as I repeated it back to my Primary Care Physician. I was immediately transferred to VA Long Beach in which I was seen within 48hrs by the BEST Cancer and Vascular Surgeons in the country. A surgical team was assembled in order to preserve my limb. It was a good call by ALL SURGEONS. Dr. Yvonne from VA Wilshire and Dr. Dan Gordon, Hatfield and Olaei from VA Long Beach, made the preservation of my leg their MISSION. On 7-9-08 at 7am, I was placed in a supine position and asked what type of anesthesia I wanted. My only request was, to save my leg and to make sure that I came back. As I looked up at the Scrub Nurses’ caps I saw the word “MARINES”, I thought to myself, “HOOYAH!!!” Then when I saw the Anesthesiologists with the same cap, what came to mind was, “This is what it must feel like to be RESCUED?” I knew that God had a reason for Sunny and the MARINE scrub caps on the surgical floor. I think because you know as a Soldier that when you’re stuck and you need to be extricated, you call upon the MARINES to get you out. On that day, I bled profusely through the artery of my right leg. All the right surgeons were there to insure the preservation of my limb; but, all the RIGHT MARINES were there to insure that I came back alive and with both legs. I have both legs because someone called me back. Then when I followed up with Dr. Yvonne who was involved with the surgery, I found out how big, large, and destructive the tumor was; how the right surgeons were on the floor to control the bleeding; and reroute my artery, and repair the damage. I was shocked and blessed that all the right people were placed in my life at the right time. God watches of his WARRIORS!!!!!!!!!!HOOYAHHHH
Hey Sunny...I'm back.
The last couple of months have been tough. I've had to learn how to walk again and I've been physical therapy 3x a week. When I first started it hurt, real bad, so bad that I dreaded going. However, the wonderful thing about this whole experience is that I didn't go through it alone. I've had the "Soldier Angels","Patriot Guard Riders", and "Heroes to Hometown behind me and my daughter all the way. I've been asked to update my blog to let my Patriots know about my status. To be honest, I get teary-eyed everytime I think about what could have happened and even now months later, I'm reminded by the wheelchair amputees that sit infront of the VA Hospitals. I'm haunted by the whole experience everytime I see someone in a wheelchair get on the bus, someone in a wheelchair missing a limb, "I'm haunted", and constantly reminded what a blessing it is to have both legs. To all my Patriots out there, please don't stop caring for the VETS....they NEED YOU....just as my daughter and I needed you.
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
*DOC SHORES*
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