About Natalie
My name is Natalie Glenn Hill. I was born on December 15th, 1995. Therefore I am 16. I love sports; basketball, cross country, soccer and track. On July 1st 2010 I found out I had a tumor in my left thigh, above my knee. I went to the doctor due to months of knee pain. I then went to Shriners Hospital for Children, in Portland, where I had a biopsy. It was then determined a malignant (cancerous) bone tumor, osteosarcoma. I had chemo at Doernbechers Childrens Hospital also in Portland. On September 28th 2010 I had a rare surgery called a rotationplasty to remove the tumor. The surgery consisted of taking out the tumor by removing most of my thigh then taking my lower part of my leg, rotating it 180 degrees then attaching it to the little of my thigh that was left. My left ankle is now the same height as my right knee and can be used as a knee. You probably don't understand, nobody usually does. I chose to have this surgery. My other option was to have a complete knee replacement. With that surgery, my physical activity would have been limited; no running, jumping or anything to possibly break the artificial knee. With the rotation I can do anything I want to. I finished chemo at Doernbechers in February, at this time 3 lesions were in lungs. I had these removed. I went back to Portland on 9/27/2011 to find out that there are more lesions in my lungs, they dont want to operate again because they are too deep and would come back again. I have been told that they my life is coming to an end, and that we are just trying to prolong life and make sure it has good quality. My family and I are looking into other options, other less known treatments that may possibly save my life.