Stephanie Owens~~Road to Recovery

Garrett and Stephanie were married on October 14, 2017. She had just turned 24 in September of that year.   Little did anyone realize what was to come just a little over one year later.  

Stephanie went in for an MRI at 1:30 p.m. on October 29, 2018.  Just 8 hours later,  she was at the University of Vanderbilt Hospital in the neuro ICU.   The MRI showed that she had mass pushing on her brain stem.  It was life threatening, and they were told she would have died within two weeks time.  The mass is called a menegioma.  Some cases of menegioma tumors never even produce symptoms.  But in Stephanie’s case,  the menegioma would be fatal without surgery.  

Stephanie hadn’t felt well for several months, but there was always an answer for why she felt bad.  Stephanie’s mom and dad came in for a visit in October, and her dad noticed something was not right.  Stephanie’s balance was off and her speech wasn’t quite right.  How could we not have seen it?  The MRI was scheduled a few days later and our world was changed forever.  

Stephanie’s surgery to remove the mass was scheduled for November 5th.  The medical  team was put together plus the OR was reserved for 12 hours.  She went to surgery around 6:30 a.m.   The updates were nothing but good all day long.  We were so happy.  The surgery was stopped around 7:30 p.m. that evening.  Stephanie’s brain was tired of the operation and the medical team had to stop.  They had removed 50% of the menegioma.   They had hoped to remove 80% of the mass and use radiation on the remaining 20%.  A second surgery would come soon.  

A second surgery was scheduled for November 12th.  Stephanie was taken to surgery around 7 a.m. that morning.  The surgery would not happen this day.  Stephanie’s lungs didn’t sound good, and a bacterial infection had developed.  
We learned she had developed pneumonia and had a blood clot in her arm and possibly her lung as well.  One week later, she would develop meningitis.  And, she now had c diff.  It was just one thing after another.  We had no idea what would happen at this point.  

Fast forward to December 18th.  Stephanie has recovered from all of the above issues.  She would be moved to a long term care facility.  She has a trach and is on a vent.  While at Vanderbilt, they also shaved her head to place a shunt.  Her body has weakened, she has lost 35 pounds, and unable to do very little.  She is also very depressed.    If she can be weaned off the vent, she can be moved to a rehab facility.  She will need intense physical therapy to re-learn body functions.  And, there is still an impending second surgery.  

Stephanie’s parents and her husband have  been by her side continuously.  They have lived out of hotel rooms and running on little sleep and rest with continuous worry.  

Stephanie’s medical bills will be astronomical as she was flown by medflight to Nashville from Sevierville, been in neuro ICU for 50 days, and now in long term care for 11 days and counting.  The next step will be moving  to a rehab facility.    Further, she still faces that 2nd surgery.  And, the cycle will start again.  Hopefully, with much fewer  problems after the next surgery. 

Any monies raised will will go to Stephanie’s medical bills that have been incurred so far along with bills that will surely be coming in the next months.  We appeal to you to contribute to help with Stephanie’s expenses.  If you are unable to contribute, we still ask for your prayers.  And, if you don’t mind, please share this post. We appreciate any help for this sweet, beautiful young lady.  

Thank you & God bless.