New Orleans - Imagine being told you have three months to live, and then all of a sudden one surgeon tell you there's one surgery that may extend your quality of life.
For one local family that physician was Doctor Ralph Edward Newsome, who was murdered at his French Quarter home. For Michael Lubrano there's a feeling of emptiness. His wife Glenda of 46-years isn't by his side.
Mike Lubrano says "She had an extremely rare cancer tumor."
Glenda who we first met back in 2007 while creating her traditional Saint Joseph's day altar was determined to beat the disease after having surgery some years before.
Glenda Lubrano says from a Fox 8 interview back in 2007, "In 2004 I had a hemi-pelvectomy which is the removal of the left hip and leg."
The family had sought cancer treatment out of state.
Mike Lubrano says, "Famous facilities and they told her that she probably had three months to live and to go home and have a happy death. That's was the words they used."
Glenda Lubrano says from a Fox 8 interview back in 2007, " I was depressed when they told me the cancer is back on the right side and we have no where else to go."
She returned home and contacted Doctor Ralph Edward Newsome, a plastic surgeon who specialized in reconstruction for cancer patients and those with birth defects.
Dr. Douglas Slakey, Chairman of Tulane Surgery says "He contributed so much in that regard, he was able to take for example plastic and reconstructive surgery all throughout the Southern Louisiana and combine it to make it an excellent training program from Lafayette to Houma, he was able to bring people together."
For the Lubrano family Doctor Newsome performed a miracle.
Mike says "Her quality of life was extended almost three years. The operation took 17 hours.The heart and lung machine was used to keep the leg alive so they could use the music and tissue to do the flap for the hemi-pelvectomy. It's only been done two times and I believe both times was with Dr. Ed Newsome."
When the Lubrano's learned of Doctor Newsome's murder at his French quarter home it was like loosing a family member.
Mike says, "I feel that we lost a tremendous surgeon who did extraordinary work."
And in a city with a struggling healthcare system post-Katrina. Doctor Newsome's colleagues say the days ahead for his patients won't be easy.
Dr. Douglas Slakey of Tulane Surgery says "His ability to improve patient care will really be hard to replace. We'll have to do it because that's what he would have wanted but it's going to be a challenge. His loss is going to leave a huge hole big void."
