“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...”

It has been one year since Chad began his fight with cancer and on top of that major back surgery. It has been a year of learning, loving and finding ourselves. We have learned to rely on others and most important rely on our Father in Heaven. How easily we forget that he is always there. We have had more miracles and positive experiences than most people do in a lifetime. Looking “back” we wouldn’t change a thing. We are better and stronger people than we were just one year ago. We...well I should speak for myself...I am truly thankful for my trials. Heavenly Father knows our breaking point and how much we can handle. Sometimes he pushes those limits to humble us, but he always makes us strong enough to stand up and keep fighting. He also knows just when to send people into our lives to pick us up. We are in good hands...we have nothing to fear.

I am going to give a Buckner year in review. I think this is more a form of therapy for me so bare with me.

01/23/09 As a stone mason back injury and pain is just part of the job. Chad has had back problems on and off throughout the years but on this day He was lifting some heavy cap stones and he knew something serious had happened.

01/30/09 He went to the doctor and had his back looked at because he was numb from his chest down and was walking like an 80 year old man. The doc said he just strained some muscles but to follow up with his regular doctor.

02/03/09 Went to a follow up with the family doctor. As soon as the doc saw Chad walking he knew something was very wrong. After an MRI the doctor sent him immediately to the hospital to meet with a neurosurgeon. The Neurosurgeon told Chad he would not be going home until his back was stabilized. Any bump or fall could paralyze him. The diagnosis was a tumor that crushed his T2 vertebrae with was pinching his spinal cord and causing all the pain and numbness.
At this point we begin to worry. Chad would be out of work for at least 3 months after back surgery and then would have to find a new line of work. How do you pay the mortgage, medical bills, take care of kids, run back and for the from the hospital, how will Chad handle the surgery, what are the risks and long term effects and then after all that cancer treatment. This is when we fell to our knees and Heavenly Father scooped us right up in his arms and listened to our cries.
We filed a case with workman’s comp and it was excepted which some would say we were really lucky because of the cancer but no one can prove which came first. Did the tumor cause the vertebrae to crush or was the back injury already there and created the perfect environment for the cancer to grow. Therefore, one of our many questions and prayers was answered. Workman’s comp would be paying for everything that had to do with the back and our health insurance would pick up with the cancer.

02/04/09 Biopsy of Tumor was taken. Later came back normal. Which we later found out was a typical characteristic of a leiomyosarcoma.

02/05/09 Thanks to the help of many doctors and insurance people we got permission to go to The Huntsman Cancer Institute and The University Hospital for treatment and surgery. Chad was fitted for his back brace and sent by ambulance to the Huntsman.










02/06/09 We were told Chad would be having his Surgery the next day. Way earlier than we anticipated. We were scared. Later that day a minor procedure was done to prep him for his major surgery. They went in and blocked off the main blood flow to the tumor.

02/07/09 Surgery day...prep for surgery from 7am-10am. Surgery from 10am -5pm. They removed his t2 vertebrae and 95% of the tumor. Finally got to see him at 6:45. He had lost 5 liters of blood during the surgery but all seemed to go well. They woke him up, made him move and then knocked him out again.

02/08/09 Chad has a 10 in. incision down his neck and back, 8 screw, 2 rods, 2 cages and about 37 stitches. Sat up for the first time and looked like he was going to pass out. Complained of lots of pressure.



02/09/09 Got up standing and took a few shuffle steps to the right. Found fluid in lungs and had to start breathing in machine 10 times per hour. Got off the pain med drip.

02/10/09 Sat up in a chair.

02/11/09 Spent 45 minutes in a wheelchair and then threw up. Couldn’t move in any direction due to surgery and back brace so ended up throwing up in his own face and choking a bit. Later walked 2 laps on parallel bars.

02-12-09 through 02-16/09 Learning to walk again through lots of physical therapy, managing medications and retraining his body to go to the bathroom. Preparing to go home. Must wear brace for minimum 6 weeks.



02/17/09 Appointment with Dr. Schmidt. Chad’s surgeon. Stitches removed. He said he was very surprised to not find more tumors. They usually come in pairs. Very rare tumor, most doctors never see this type in their lifetime. 5% of tumor is left and couldn’t be removed due to location. The risk was too high. Chemotherapy was to start 6 weeks after surgery if healing is going well. Chemotherapy will slow down healing therefore all must be going really well to start chemo. Before Chemo he must get a bone scan, MRI, Echocardiogram, and Ct scan.

02/17/09 Brought Chad home. It was amazing how well he was walking and getting around. He really pushed himself.

02/19/09 Signs of the “OLD” Chad came out today. He fixed a hole in the wall that I had wanted done months ago.











02/24/09 Dr. Schmidt says healing is going very well. Chemo starts 03/30/09. They will do 4 rounds of Chemo every three weeks. 72 hour drip.

03/30/09 Hickman valve installed. Round 1 of Chemo. Handled Chemo extremely well. Biggest problem is fatigue.

04/20/09 Round 2 of Chemo. Still doing great. Very very tired. Lost all his hair.

05/11/09 Round 3 of Chemo. It doing so well doctor decided not to give the neulasta shot which boosts the white blood cells. However, Chads dropped drastically. Round 4 was delayed one week.

06/08/09 Round 4 of Chemo. Decided to go two more rounds just to make sure all is destroyed.

06/29/09 Round 5 of Chemo.

07/20/09 Round 6 of Chemo.



11/09/09 3 month follow up with Oncologist. Everything looks great!!! As you can see he has been in good hands.



02/06/10 Chad’s hair is back and looks fabulous he has no major side effects from chemo or surgery. His muscles are getting back into shape and physically all is great. He started a new job on the 2nd at Petzl america. He also has been trained as a home inspector ( thanks to WCF). Life is good. We live, we learn, we love.

Chad...Thank you for being so strong. You have exceeded my expectations through all of this. I love you so much and I know there is nothing stopping us from making it to eternity. We are a perfect match. XOXOXOXOXOXO!!!

I want to tell everyone THANKS from the bottom of my heart for all of the prayers, concern, phone calls, letters, money, food and service. We wouldn’t have made it without all the help and support. Thank you!!!