Tracy Triumphs continued
Her condition remained a major influence in her life . In fact , in 2001 she decided to leave her career in software design and study nursing . Mrs . Sudduth actually began her career at Scott & White as a registered nurse in 2005 , on the orthopaedics and plastic surgery floor . In 2009 , she accepted a nursing and team leader position with Scott & White Hospice , and she continues to pursue a graduate degree as a nurse educator . By the time she had accepted her first nursing position , Mrs . Sudduth had been looking forward to new challenges . She and the man she calls “ her rock ”— her husband , Neale — had become empty nesters with the departure from home of their children , William and Amanda . Last year , though , the storm clouds gathered again for Mrs . Sudduth : she began to experience the pain again , but now more acutely and accompanied by weakness in her leg .
This time , the news was not as optimistic as before . A magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) exam revealed that the tumor in the pelvis had returned , and this time it was a malignant chondrosarcoma . The tumor was also the source of her difficulty walking and the loss of sensation in her legs , because it was pressing on her sciatic nerve . In the midst of this difficult news , a friend from her days as an orthopaedic and plastic surgery floor nurse championed her recovery . He developed an innovative treatment plan that involved many caregivers
Tracy and Neale Sudduth .
from various specialties and required immense bravery from a patient who had already endured so much .
A novel approach Scott & White orthopedic oncology specialist Russell Ward , MD , co-director of Sarcoma Services , already knew his patient well . He and Mrs . Sudduth had a shared history — they had worked together when Dr . Ward was a surgery resident at Scott & White on the same inpatient orthopaedic and plastic surgery floor . Dr . Ward was aware of Mrs . Sudduth ’ s condition and recalls when she said to him years ago , “ One day I might need you .” Now an expert in orthopaedic oncology , Dr . Ward was eager to help his friend and called upon the chief of microsurgery , Raman Mahabir , MD , plastic and reconstructive surgeon and associate professor of surgery at Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine , to work with him to develop a complex and dramatic treatment plan for Mrs . Sudduth .
“ Our goal was to remove the tumor safely and preserve Tracy ’ s limb and function , if possible ,” says Dr . Ward . “ After we had all the information we needed in hand , we developed a plan .”
A painstaking 20-hour surgery led by Dr . Ward and Dr . Mahabir , assisted by plastic and reconstructive surgeon and assistant professor of surgery at the Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine Kendall Roehl ,
24 The Catalyst November 12 | sw . org