Carolena was a staunch Ryan’s Lion Supporter.

Carolena Flint, one of our generous lion sponsors, died on August 6, 2009 after a truly courageous battle with cancer. Carolena was one of the first to embrace the Ryan’s Lion™ cause, and donated generously to provide lions to others. If you are lucky enough to be a recipient of a lion with the name “Carolena” embroidered on the collar, you are holding a tangible piece of her effort to lift and comfort others, even in the midst of her own suffering. 

Carolena’s Story:

In Spring of 2006, Carolena had two big problems. One was a lump the size of a bar of soap on her left thigh, the other was the mental health of her beloved husband. True to her personal commitment to the service of others, she postponed her own health concerns as she attended to her companion. He was battling a troubling lifetime struggle with mental illness and he required full time care.

In May, at the insistence of friends and family, she finally took the time to look into her own health. She knew it would not be possible to care for him if her own health was in jeopardy. It didn’t take long to diagnose stage three Sarcoma Cancer that had grown to the size of a volleyball. The cancer had not entered to the bloodstream, so they were able to save her leg.

The wound site was large.

Over the course of the next two years, she had eight more surgeries to the area to remove damage caused by infections. The Infectious Disease Department and the University hospital near her home identified ten different bacteria in her system that prevented the large wound from healing. She wore a vacuum pump to clear out the wound for nearly eight months and spent seven weeks going for frequent Hyperbaric Chamber infection treatments.

In August of 2007, as a last effort to try to save her leg from amputation, doctors did a “living muscle flap” which is easily explained by saying that the six pack stomach muscles were loosened, turned around, and and placed in her thigh. This brought a viable blood supply to the leg and the infections cleared. I would always refer to this leg as a scientific work of art, and her “bionic leg.” I enjoyed showing off her amazing leg to anyone brave enough to take a look!

During the next six months she was eventually able to gain enough strength to walk with the assistance of a cane. She was not content to settle for just what the doctors expected. She always wanted to accomplish just a little bit more. The first day she lifted her own leg up on to the exercise machine she couldn’t get the smile off her face!

Soon though, cancer showed up again in her lungs. This time part of the lung had to be removed, followed by more radiation. Upon completion of that, yet another cancer in the lobe just below the one they had already removed was taken and also treated with radiation.

Recovery was hard, and her immune system was taxed with so many radiation treatments. Once again, infection manifested in her thigh and they needed to surgically clean it out.

A biopsy of the tissue they removed showed cancer had found its way back to her leg again.

Carolena accepted this diagnosis with dignity. She was thoughtful of the Doctor and his staff who had to deliver the bad news, and was calm as they discussed the new treatment. Surgery was successful and she was discharged to a rehabilitation home to recover. Her friends and family had taken care of her at her home during all of this ordeal and she felt that a little respite for all of them would help relieve some of what she felt was a burden on those of us who had loved and cared for her over the last three years.

After seven weeks of full time care at this facility, my husband and I convinced Carloena to finish her recovery at our home. We had to tempt her by reminding her that I was a good cook and that she could have her own remote control and a view of the neighborhood from her bed.

During her stay in our home, Carolena was brave and grateful, even in the worst of pain. She never forgot to thank me for help, even when I woke her up during the night to give her scheduled medication. I often caught her with her brow furrowed in concentration as she struggled to overcome each wave of pain that her many medications never seemed to completely control.

One day, after a painful trip to the bathroom with her body draped over her walker to walk, she eased her legs back on to the bed as tears streamed down her cheeks. I felt that finally I would see that side of Carolena that nobody ever saw: that she was mad at the cancer, frustrated with the pain and tired of being sick! I knelt beside her and waited for her to recover enough to tell me about all the unjust and unfair things she had survived and how she deserved and wanted to heal! She wiped tears and explained that her other leg, the “good leg” felt as if it would break with each step. This uncomplaining brave woman was dealing with pain that large from moment to moment, and yet so accepting of the process. And still she refused to complain.

A new MRI of the knee revealed cancer so aggressive it had penetrated quickly into the bone this time. The proposed treatment was to replace the knee, and possibly amputate if necessary.

As she left for the hospital, I helped wheel her in a wheelchair to a waiting car. I was overwhelmed with her example of fortitude and strength. She was resolved to fight in spite of her excruciating unrelenting pain.

A few hours before her knee surgery a CT was done to explore her shoulder, back, and stomach pain. Her doctor and his nurse, with whom Carolena had developed a close friendship, came to deliver the bad news. Carolena told me that it took some time for her to realize that they were saying they couldn’t help. Each had tears streaming down their faces as they explained that the other areas that were hurting also showed cancer and that there was too much this time…

They modified the surgery plan and removed as much cancer and bone as they could, then stabilized the leg with a rod from hip to knee in effort to make her more comfortable. As I entered the Hospital room she looked up to me and said. “Its cancer. There really is a reason it hurts!” I suppose she had wondered all this time what could hurt so badly, but shucks, its Cancer! That explains everything!

Hospice Care at our home was busy. People lined the hallway to have one last conversation with her. She refused medication in order to be more alert when someone from far away was coming to see her. Dear friends and neighbors stayed with us all day and family was here all night.

About a week and a half before her death, her husband was picked up from his mental health care facility and brought to her side. He was aware that she was too sick to come see him and he knew that she was in a great deal of pain. He stopped at the doorway long enough to hear her say “Oh, Marvin!” and he stormed the bed where she lay, being so careful to not touch her at all and planted a firm kiss on her lips. He stayed for a few hours, coming in and out of the room, and returning four times for one more kiss when it was time to go.

Cancer hurts. Carolena was so brave. Cancer is aggressive. Carolena was strong. Cancer took her away, but her legacy and example will long be the best part of knowing her, caring for her and being with her when she passed. Peaceful and pain free at last.

Carloena Barnes Flint was a happy, optimistic, friendly, hopeful, grateful soul. Each person that met her was sure to feel her sincere interest in them, and many felt that friendship from the first time they met. It was that hopefulness and gratitude that led most of us to endear to her as a life long example of strength and faith.

-Karlyn,
niece of Carolena