Meg, i Found Garland

Hi Meg, I foung Garland and he is doing great. He will post on the site shortly. What an amazing person. Dana

I'm baaaaaaaack! Never was really gone...just been badly remiss in my duties but Dana chastised me for being a slacker.... I'm doing great...if I were any better I'd have to be twins. Just celebrated 18 months with the alien in my brain, and I consider that a miracle in and of itself. (Your doctor will remind you of it. (Not bad for a guy who was supposed to be buried and forgotten!) I really am so blessed, I can't tell you how much, they don't give us that much space...I know some of you are having hard times right now, but hang in there, there really is hope. It might take awhile, but you can have that quality life again. "Just keep fightin" I'm off all the steroids, no dilantin, nothing but Temodar right now and I'm hoping to end it on 9/29/06. (Actually I'm trying to get up enough nerve to step off, but I need too sound brave even if its for me). Thanx Dana for caring...it's the friends I've made who have thought about me, cared for me and kept in touch, that have made me get up and go every day......you guys are a blessing.

Wow! You are doing amazing! Thank you so much for your update. What an encouragement you must be to all on here. Keep up the fight and I will pray for your continued healing!

Shannon...thanx a big bunch...you keep praying and I know It'll keep me fightin. I was diagnosed on March 7th, 2005 and March 7th, 2006 in my prayer time, I was given this word... "For I have not given you the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a SOUND MIND. II Tim 1:7...That was soooooooo good, I just claimed it as mine and shucks, I "ain't" never had a sound mind.

Garland, it is so great to know you are still doing well. I don't come here everyday anymore but check in, so many new names and not many of the old ones. You are such an inspiration to so many. Dana, thanks for responding :) I'm praying for all of you guys. Meg

Meg...I know what you mean by not many of the old ones...I'm one of the blessed ones. I think thats why I don't watch "the board" so much anymore cause I've lost a lot of good ones and I have found that it is stressful and one thing we don't need is stress.

Dear Garland - your story is so inspiring. Thank you again for sharing it with us and giving us all hope. Would you mind asking me about your age? My dad was diagnosed late Dec 05 with inoperable GBM 4- I believe that's your case too. He just finished his 5th round of chemo on Sat. This and the last rounds were really hard on him. He had to be taken to the hospital on monday. I am hopping they will stabilize him. Beg of september he had his CT done and the doctor told us, the tumor size has changed and it is now smaller. She did not say by how much but it was very encouraging news for us but I am now worried about my dad's condition and the fact he is in hospital. But I am hoping for the best... I am sending positive energy to all of you fighting this beast and also your loved ones. Stay strong!

Alzbeta....I'm just trying to stay alive! Attitude, I have found is one of the greatest healers apart from God. This is one of those things that you wake up one morning and find out that you cannot handle everything. I'm 60 years old with a 35 year old attitude. I went to see the Rolling Stones, Van Halen, Tina Turner, the Grand Canyon, Santa Fe, etc., and just got back from Cancun Mexico... because we cannot give in to this -------! My "inoperable" tumor was 2 1/2 " and now it is @ 1/2" and I have minimal side effects but they are from the medication. I have come to believe that having surgery can be a detriment but I couldn't prove it. I can live a good life if thats all they are going to throw at me. I've been on the Temodar for 18 months and fortunately it works for me... Share all that with your dad even if he doesn't want to hear it. People on this board will tell you, there were days, I was gonna throw in the towel. There were days I sent emails to friends that were tear stained because I just wanted to give up. I just coined a phrase for myself, "it's okay to be down, NOT okay to stay down. I caught myself learning more about how to die, than how to live. When I saw that, I began to fight!!!!! I cannot describe how miserable, useless, hopeless your dad feels right now. But good positive people pulled me thru. Love him, hug him, kiss him sloppily, and let him know its alright. Make him get up and get a shower and get dressed everyday, if at all possible. I chose to do that because I though I looked pretty good. (Just one mans opinion). I was so tired (fatigue) some days, I had to sit in the car until I could muster up enough will power to climb the steps. I had people drive me around, Cheryl(my wife) led me around by the hand and helped me up and down when I was on 24mgs of Decadron a day....people tied my shoes, zipped my zipper and fastened my belt for me...they've mowed my lawn and all kinds of things..and I have made it thru and I hope and pray he will too. God bless you and your family, and if I may be of assistance in any way, just let me know. You can go to some other braintumor websites and get my email if you wish. This board does not allowing posting addresses, and I'll be more than happy to help.

Garland - Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. I know you are "just trying to stay alive" but there is so much negative about this illness out there that your story is trully a breath of fresh air. We all need to hear this to keep fighting. I understand you are on a special diet that I am sure is also contributing to your healing. Are you also taking any supplements in addition to the healthy diet? When my dad was diagnosed, we have immediatelly put him on a diet. My parents live in Eastern Europe, so it is hard to come by organic food but we are trying our best. We are trying to avoid sugars in his diet, white flour, meat (although he occasionally gets fish or chicken) and we do not fry anything. All food is steamed or prepared on water. He eats lots of fruit and veggetables. We are also trying to give him some homeopathics as well as flaxseed oil. We love our dad very much and we make sure we show him every day. I am praying everyday for him to stay strong and get better. Stay strong everybody.

Hi Gene P., Orla here! Just wondering if you could drop me an e-mail as I've lost all my e-mail addresses and was wondering how you are doing????