My Heroine

Merriam-Webster defines a heroine as "a woman admired and emulated for her achievements and qualities." I have a friend who I had the privilege of serving with in the Anaheim, California Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints several years ago who has been asked to pass through some intense physical challenges since then. She had brain surgery number 4 this last week where a tumor the size of a lemon was removed. Below you will find the original message that was posted on her facebook page with all the details of the procedure that was about to take place.
She came out of the surgery well, but somehow was overmedicated which caused her body to go into shock. She was put back in ICU and wasn't breathing on her own, progressively going downhill. Her family asked that we fast and pray with them on her behalf. While fasting and uniting in prayer for her, we watched her come back. Slowly she was breathing on her own. She finally woke up and was talking and has taken several steps! She is a woman of great faith and persistence who continues to show she doesn't give up. Learning of her experience has taught me a great deal, actually reminded me of a great deal. Heavenly Father is in the very details of our lives. He will never give us more than we can handle. He provides us with opportunities such as this to be more united as brothers and sisters here on this earth, part of the same race, all on the same team. Tamara is an example to me I will always remember, I pray I never forget.

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Tamara Meza Brain Surgery Number Four
May 23, 2011

Tamara arrived at Saint Anthony Central Hospital at about 6:15 AM. When we saw her get out of her car with David she exercised by spinning around in a kind of Yoga balancing routine. While she was waiting for the surgery she walked up and down the halls rather than lay on the gurney. When it came time to go for her MRI she asked for a wheelchair and got in it rather than ride a gurney. She smiled, joked, and talked cheerfully. Mom braided her hair so that it would not interfere with the incision that was to be made during surgery. The incision will go from top of ear across the top of her head to the top of the other ear. The scalp is then pulled over her face and the skull opened for access to the tumor which is situated over her left eye. The tumor is about the size of a lemon.

Tamara had recorded music on an MP3 player, brought the player to the hospital, and requested that she be able to listen to it during the surgery, which she did until the battery was exhausted.

Before surgery we met the anesthesiologist Jeffrey Yoder. He explained that he would give her small amounts of medication prior to actually starting the surgery to confirm that Tamara was not allergic to any of them. He also would monitor several body responses to be certain that she was not awake during the surgery and feeling pain. We asked him if we could give him a blessing and he welcomed it. Afterwards her surgeon Andrew Stewart Levy came to the room and after he gave instructions and answered questions he also accepted a blessing.

Tamara was scheduled to go into the surgery operating theatre at 9:00 AM. Dr. Yoder noted that Tamara was allergic to latex and the theatre had some latex in it, so he delayed the surgery while all latex was removed. Tamara was admitted about 9:30 AM.

The following were beside Tamara as she was wheeled into the surgery theatre: David, Mom, Dad, Nathan, Carol, Michael, Hirum Ipson, and Luisa Meza. We called “Hip, hip, hurray” to her three times as she was wheeled down the hall past us.

We heard from the nurse at 11:30 AM that Tamara had been in surgery for about 40 minutes and that all was going well. It apparently took over an hour to prepare her, place her head in a vice, get the stealth ready, etc.

We heard again about 2:30 PM that the tumor had been removed.

At 4:12 the nurse called and gave David the news that “they had carefully removed all the tumor they could see” and that they were making a new plate to replace the prior plate.

At 6:30 PM. Dr. Levy, the surgeon, came and told us of the success of the surgery and that Tamara was recovering. He had removed all the tumor visible to the eye and MRI “stealth”. The old plate had grown into the skull and he had to remove it with a diamond saw.

As Dr. Levy opened the scull through the old plate it was apparent that the brain was under pressure as fluid squirted from the opening. When the old plate was finally removed the tumor protruded through the opening. After the tumor was removed the brain “relaxed” and extended into part of the now hollow void. I assume that the headaches Tamara recently experienced were more severe than she reported.

As Dr. Levy removed tumor he sent samples to the lab for quick freeze slicing and examination. Even the new cells in the two new nodules appeared to be grade 3 not grade 4. He will send more tissue for more testing with paraffin and with various sensitive dyes to find a more accurate report. He will get the results in a week or so. From the biopsy he will also get gene dilation which is a study of the origin of the tumor and learn about the behavior of the tumor.

Dr. Levy removed as much as he could see or read with the stealth that was tumor and did not go any deeper than he felt necessary to preserve her cognitive abilities. This time he noted two new nodules and that the interface between the tumor and the brain was more vascular or bloody. He pointed out that he was sure that he could not remove all cancer cells but that he removed all that he could discern. There did not appear to be a whole lot of infiltration into the brain, but he was conservative in chasing the infiltration in order to preserve her cognitive ability.

Dr. Levy had scheduled the surgery operating theatre for 8 hours thinking the surgery would last 6 hours. It lasted about 9 hours.

Dr. Yoder, the anesthesiologist, then came to see us and said that Tamara was recovering well but was, as expected, in a lot of pain and nauseous. They were working on her pain management and nausea. She was speaking and wiggling her fingers and toes.

Dr. Levy said that they would do a MRI tomorrow and see if there is any apparent tumor that was not removed.

As we called our children we found that Daniel had organized 50 to take turns praying for Tamara every 5 minutes starting at 9:00 AM. Others have been fasting and praying for Tamara over several months. A cousin Carrie, a brain cancer survivor twice over, had her class pray for Tamara and draw pictures of brains that were healthy. We have received numerous calls of those who have fasted and prayed for her. Tamara’s 8 year old niece Melinda fasted today and e-mailed Daniel regularly during the day to find of Tamara’s progress.

We love and appreciate all of you. Your great support has not only provided Tamara comfort, increased her courage, but in a miraculous way has had a tangible impact on her surgery.

Tamara will need quiet and rest now in order to recover. Please continue your faith and prayer. She is, and will be for quite a few days, extremely sensitive to noise and light. Even the rustling of paper is painful to her.

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May 26, 2011, 5:01 pm

David asked that I update her status and ask for your continued prayers. She overmedicated on her pain medicine and has since been somewhat unresponsive--slow pulse, etc. I will let you know if there are any changes, but any extra prayers are welcome right now!

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May 27, 2011 7:05 am

Tamara has been moved back to ICU, She is not responding to anything. The doctor put her in a breathing tube respirator, please keep praying for her. David (Tamara's husband).

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May 27, 2011, 2:17 pm

A message from David--he would like me to post for Tamara (this is her sister Rachel)--that any who can, do a special fast for her tomorrow (Saturday 5/28). We know so many have already fasted and prayed for her, thank you so much. Tamara has gone downhill and is currently on life support, she is basically unresponsive. A special fast may be what it takes to pull her out of this. Thank you for all your support

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May 28, 2011, 8:39 am

Tamara is still connected to the supporting machine and no awake yet, but she is now breathing 60% on her own, Her lungs are back, my Tamara is coming back, Thank you so much for your prayers, fast and support. I will keep you post it. David.

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May 28, 2011, 10:45 am

Tamara is awake and off the machine, what a blessing.

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May 29, 2011, 9:52 pm

Well well well who comes out of a coma starts breathing and
walks 30 steps ? TAMARA, THAT'S WHO! NOTHING CAN KEEP HER DOWN!!!!

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May 29, 2011, 11:54 pm

For those following, my amazing cousin Tamara, on her fourth brain surgery in nine years, had an amazing surgery outcome on Monday but then was overdosed on meds Wednesday and went into septic shock and a coma like state. Doctors said to prepare for the worst, but with Tamara we knew better...