J07 -- February 2009 -- Pelvic/Spine Reconstruction

Intro: Janis Ollson thought she had it all. She was young, in a great marriage with baby number two on the way. Then she got the bad news. A rare cancer had formed in her pelvis. Getting rid of the cancer would mean not only removing part of her pelvis, but also part of her spine and her entire left leg. For treatment, Janis went to Mayo Clinic where doctors performed a first-ever reconstructive operation in hopes that she would walk again.

JANIS OLLSON FIRST NOTICED THE PAIN WHEN SHE WAS 32 WEEKS PREGNANT WITH HER SECOND CHILD.

"IT WAS A CRUEL, PRETTY BRUTAL PAIN. IT STARTED OUT LIKE WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE DURING PREGNANCY, BUT IT GOT WORSE VERY, VERY QUICKLY."

THE PAIN WAS CAUSED BY A CANCEROUS TUMOR IN HER PELVIS CALLED A CHONDROSARCOMA. SURGERY WAS JANIS ONLY OPTION. BUT TO SAVE HER LIFE, JANIS WOULD HAVE TO LOSE A LOT. PART OF HER PELVIS AND HER LEFT LEG. AND THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE HER REMAINING LEG WOULD FUNCTION NORMALLY.

"THE GOAL WAS FOR ME TO SURVIVE, TO SEE MY BABIES GROW."

BUT JANIS WANTED TO DO MORE THAN JUST SURVIVE. HER FAMILY WENT FROM THEIR HOME IN CANADA TO MAYO CLINIC IN ROCHESTER MINNESOTA. THERE A TEAM LED BY DR. MICHAEL YASZEMSKI REMOVED THE TUMOR AND PERFORMED A FIRST-EVER PELVIC RECONSTRUCTION IN HOPES JANIS WOULD WALK AGAIN.

"MY COLLEAGUE AND I WENT TO THE ANATOMY LAB AND DESIGNED THE RECONSTRUCTION AND SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON WE TRIED IT ON."

THE PROCEDURE WAS DONE IN TWO DIFFERENT OPERATIONS. DURING THE FIRST OPERATION DR. YASZEMSKI AND HIS TEAM REMOVED JANIS' LEFT LEG, HALF OF HER PELVIS WHERE THE TUMOR WAS LOCATED, HER TAIL BONE AND PART OF HER LOWER SPINE. IN THE SECOND OPERATION THEY TOOK THE TOP PORTION OF THE LEG THAT WAS REMOVED, ROTATED IT AND SECURED IT TO HER PELVIS. THEN THEY SHIFTED HER RIGHT LEG AND REMAINING PELVIS AND SECURED IT TO HER SPINE. THE RECONSTRUCTION ALLOWED JANIS TO MAINTAIN FUNCTION OF HER RIGHT LEG AND IT PROVIDED A FOUNDATION FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF A PROSTHETIC LEFT LEG. JANIS' HUSBAND DARYL REMEMBERS THE FIRST WORDS JANIS SPOKE.

"SHE ASKED ME IF SHE WAS DYING, AND I SAID, 'NOPE. IT WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS.'"

RECOVERY TAKES TIME.

"I'M IN THE WHEELCHAIR MOST OF THE TIME WHEN I'M AT HOME."

BUT JANIS IS LEARNING TO WALK WITH CRUTCHES, AND IS NOT LETTING HER PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS SLOW HER DOWN.

"I'M DRIVING SO THAT'S A SIGN OF MY REHABILITATION."

EVERY DAY JANIS SAYS SHE'S GETTING BETTER. STRONGER. AND SHE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO A LONG AND FULFILLING LIFE WITH HER FAMILY.

FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Anchor tag: Janis continues to be cancer-free. She's proud to have been the first person to benefit from this reconstructive surgery. And she hopes her experience will help others in the same situation walk again.

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