What a crazy time it has been these past few weeks. Everything has happened so fast and abrupt. Finding out I had a tumor growing in my median nerve (which runs in your forearm) was not exactly on how I planned to spend the holidays. Even more so was finding out that I would have to go home and have surgery on it to get it removed. I found out that I would be going home on a Saturday and was on a plane headed back for Texas on Tuesday morning. As soon as I arrived at DFW we hurried to a Dr's appt. that we had gotten thanks to the help of Steve Leach who was able to come and visit me while he was on a business trip up in SLC. He checked out my arm and MRI and was then able to recommend who I should go and see. That Dr's appt. worked out great because we were hoping on getting an appt. in a few weeks. After talking with the Dr that Steve Leach has sent us to he thought it would be at the soonest a month before we could have the surgery done on my arm because he needed a six hour block of time to operate. He even said it would be best to send me back up to SLC till we could have the surgery. After he left the room he sent in his scheduling coordinator and they said they had an open block for the next Monday!

All of these things just fell into place and everything just seemed to work out. The surgery went better then expected and it only took about 3 hours to operate. They did not have to do any nerve graph after all and they saved them from making another 6 in cut on my left leg. Now I am just recovering and working on getting my movement back. Everything has healed and going better then what anyone could have even ask for. The Lord is definitely mindful of my situation and has been looking out for me this entire time. If nothing else this is just a huge testimony builder to not only me but all those whom surround me.

Elder Scott Owen

Edler Owen/The Update

Hi all, Steve & I just wanted to update you, we have been so blessed
and appreciate all your thoughts and prayers offered in Scott's
behalf. We are doing well, and it was just easier for me to send out a
"blanket" e-mail because our weekend will be full with Angie's
wedding :)


First of all, it was a miracle that Steve Leach "just happened" to be
in Utah this week. He called us last night and asked if he could get
Scott's phone number... he would go and see him, see what he could do
to facilitate things.

Dr. Leach called me this morning and by about 8:20, we had him
registered in the UT Southwest MC system, and Steve had conferred with
a couple of doctors, and called us with the name of a plastic surgeon
whom he thought would be the right one for Scott. (He has never met
the Dr. he referred us to).

Miracles have happened with Scott...He came home today, we went
STRAIGHT from the airport to see the doctor Steve Leach referred him to.
We got right in... (that is a miracle in and of itself :) and here is
what we know:

He has a tumor, 4-5 cm. in size, in his median nerve on his
right arm.

The surgery will be somewhere from 4-6 hours, and a possible graft
of another nerve from his wrist or upper arm spliced into his right arm.

The doctor told us to "send him back up to SLC" until he could work
out a surgery schedule for a 6 hour block, and told us it would be at
least a 3 week wait, so we were amazed when they came back in and
told us the doctor "just happened to have" a 6 hour block open, and
could do the surgery on Monday!
We will be at Zale Lipsy hospital Monday morning. The expected
recovery will be around 3-4 weeks or so.
Pres. Blake issued him a "temporary" release, and Scott is
planning on returning to SLC to finish his mission as soon as the
doctor okay's his arm.
We feel absolutely blessed and are so appreciative to Steve Leach for
all his help. We know the Lord is mindful of Scott and our family.

On another note, we are happy to have Scott home this weekend in
particular to be with family, be in the temple with Angie & Ryan on
Friday, and spend Thanksgiving with us! :)
Thanks for all your support.

Leslie & Steve