Gina

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to ask everyone to pray for Gina today.  She started throwing up yesterday really badly three times during the day.  She is not eating or drinking that much of anything.  Last night she was just staring at the ceiling not saying anything at all.  This morning my Mom said that are eyes are partially closed and she seems like she is sleeping.  We don't know what is happening now but she has a appointment on Monday with the Chemo doctor to discuss her treatment.  She needs a chance to be able to start this treatment and see if it helps her.  My Mom just called the nurse over to check Gina's vitals and levels.  This is so hard for all of us especially my Mom and Gina's Children watching her like this.  The Surgeon said that Gina's midline has shifted so that doesn't sound too good but he said he would see her in a few months to do a MRI.  That just doesn't sound right with us, why couldn't he do a MRI now?  Is there a certain number of months you have to wait to do a MRI after surgery?  Her surgery was June 11th to put a shunt in and remove some of the tumor.  But before that on April 30th she had a 95% resection but it grew back 8x the size in 6 weeks.  This is so horrible and we need Gina to be here and respond to my Mom today.

Thank you

Danielle (Gina's Sister)

Oh my goodness, your post has touched my heart.  I have no answers for you, but have said a prayer that God will provide the doctors and treatment to help Gina.  We had our first MRI 2 weeks after surgery, in early February to set a baseline before chemo / rad treatment, and then another one 3 weeks after post chemo / rad treatment in mid-April, or about 2 months after the baseline.  We were alarmed by what appeared to be possible progression, so the doctors ordered another MRI just 30 days later.  Our mid-May MRI looked clear, so it was just pseudo-progression due to the radiation hot spots.  I would push for an MRI to help you understand what is going on, and I'm not sure why Gina's doctors are delaying this.  I'd push for answers.   

Dear Danielle,

 I would push for another MRI. I don't think midline shifts are good. I don't know what all probems they can cause but I would definately ask her doctor. Have you ever sought a 2nd opinion? I know how hard this is for your family and your sister deserves the best care she can get.

Best wishes to you,

Jamie, Justin's mom

www.caringbridge.org/visit/justinh

Well, I don't have any clear idea of Gina's diagnosis, her age, or what treatment she's had up to now, or how long ago all that was done, so it's hard to understand her situation.  But if she is not eating or drinking, she needs to go the the ER for fluid replacement, and she may perk up a lot just from that. 

Consider a second opinion at one of the big university brain cancer centers.

Insist on an MRI this next week if she doesn't improve from fruid replacement.

I'm playing for Gina and I hope for all the best.

Well, you did tell me about her surgery.  With part of my brain missing, by the time I was typing, I forgot what you had said.  My apologies, have a chunk of my brain removed, then zapped with radiation has not improved my memory.

Gina is in the hospital and they are sending her home tomorrow morning with hospice care.  They said that her brain is filling up with fluid and there is a big midline shift.  She has a shunt in her brain that is help draining the fluid into her abdomen but I guess it is not working fast enough.  The doctor's told us tonight that she has anywhere from 4 days to 1-2 weeks left with us.  This is so hard for us to believe.  Gina has come through so many obstacles during her time with GBM 4. 

Just a little history she was diagnosed on April 17, 2008. On this day she also found out that she was pregnant 4 weeks along.  She had her first Surgery on May 12, 2008 (on her son's 15th birthday).  The tumor grew back and she had her second surgery on July 23, 2008.  She couldn't have Chemo because she was pregnant but they finally gave her radiation treatment in August of 2008 through September 2008.  She was doing farely well until December, she came down with something called HELLP Syndrome only pregnant women get and Gina had have an emergency C Section to deliver her baby girl.  Gracie May was born on December 4, 2008 a healthy beautiful perfect miracle baby she was 6 weeks early and she weighed 5 lbs and 1/2 of an ounce. 

Well in January 2009 once again the tumor returned and she had her 3rd brain surgery on January 15, 2009. Her left side stopped working and she couldn't walk very well, she started swelling up from the steroids and was pretty much bed ridden.  They put Gina on Temodar in February for the first time and started Avastin treatments every other week, she was doing well with it and the tumor began to shrink.  The doctor's stopped her treatment they found a blood clot in Gina's Leg.  So they did a small surgery where they insert a filter into her abdomen so the clot doesn't travel to her lungs or heart.  The next day after surgery they found four more blood clots, 2 in Gina's left leg, 2 in her lungs and 1 in her abdomen. They said she was lethargic and they wouldn't keep her on the chemo or the Avastin, she was only on it for two months through the end of March. In April of 2009 the doctor's told us the tumor is back and they can no longer do anything else to help Gina.  She was at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio for this entire time and had Dr. Vogelbaum as her NO. 

I then had Gina transfered to University Hospital in Ohio to Dr. Andrew Sloan who said he would go ahead and do her 4th brain surgery.  So once again Gina had a resection on April 30th, 2009. Dr. Sloan got 95% of the tumor out of Gina and we were very positive and excited for her to start Chemo and to live and not die. Well she started throwing up in the beginning of June and they did a MRI and the tumor had already returned to 8x the size by June 8, 2009.  On June 11, 2009 Gina went in for a 5th surgery, this one was to put a shunt in her brain to drain the fluid and he did remove a small portion of the tumor.  At this time now there were three tumors in her brain.  We wanted to get her treatment but the doctor's stated that we would have to wait for 4 weeks to do Chemo and 6 weeks to do avastin.  So here we are today July 4th and Gina is in very bad shape.  She is lying in the hospital and the doctor's are saying we are sorry there is nothing else we can do, Gina only has 4 days to 1-2 weeks if that to live.  We are at a loss right now and don't know how to process all of this.  She has three children ages 15,16 and 6 months old that are going to find out tomorrow that there Mother is dying.  I am trying to find a plane tickets to go out there this Wednesday and they are so expensive.  Please pray that I find a ticket quickly so I can see my sister before anything happens to her.  I live in Oklahoma and she is in Ohio.  Our Mom is there taking care of Gina and has been through this entire time.

Thank you for listening and for all of your prayers.

Danielle Gina's Sister

Danielle, I am so sad for you, and so sorry... if this is the end and there's nothing else that anyone anyone can do... it's just so hard to accept. But we have to. It's nobody's fault. She really did give it everything she had, and I feel she is the perfect example of someone who had every reason to live (3 children) and WANTED to live, so badly, and it didn't work out.

Cancer is no fair... we all know that. And we know that love and positive thinking, even the most amazing prayer, cannot keep our loved ones with us.

I would get in a car and drive all night. And cry. And tell them to keep calling me with updates. (Having flown to CA to be with Andy after his surgery, I felt so helpless. I will be thinking of you on your way.) Oh I can just imagine the heartbreak. You will be a very important auntie to those kids. May the spirit of love fill you and bless you and connect you all.

Sarah