LIVING with brain cancer

Hello!

My daughter is approaching the 7 year mark! She turns 27 on Saturday, was married this past July and is living life the best she can. She has faced regrowth 3 times, but has a great outlook and FAITH that can move a mountain! She is my hero!

Bruce

    This is a thread I tried to get started back in October, hoping it would catch, but it didn't.  That's ok. 

   However, I thought I would be appropriate to make this post under this thread.  I am flying to Atlanta GA. monday 4/20 and on 4/21 I will be starting an attempt to thru hike the appalachian trail.  The AT starts in northern Georgia and runs along the Appalachian mountain range through 13 states, finishing in central Maine.  It is roughly 2185 miles long and should roughly take 5 months.  This has been a dream of mine since before DX, but means alot more to me since DX.  I will be keeping a trail journal and I wanted to share the link with you.  I will not be on this site, until I return.  I hope you all have a good summer and good health.

Dodger

www.trailjournals.com /freemanben/
   

What a great thread !!! We all need this..especially those of us in the begginning of this journey. Thank you Dodger

Awesome Dodger!! I have been following you from a far since this happened to you. My son, now 19 is almost exactly to the day and the same type as you. He came back and played both basketball and baseball at the highest level. He has put on 15 lbs and increased his bench press by 60lbs in the last 18 months. With the exception of the scare- he's 6'1 and blond its hard to see... He is as close to (normal) again. His was resected at 100% I know, temodar and radiation. The best thing that was told to him by his surgeon was- kid you're the reason I do this, I won't see you again and I want you to send me a card every year letting me know how your life is going. I know the stats and I know the probability but until something happens I believe he's the one. MAW took us to NY and he got to hang out with Derek Jeter and the Yankees. Please keep fighting as I believe a cure is around the corner. Dodger know that I will be thinking of you on your journey and will wishing you well during this time . I can't wait to hear back from you and please know that you have made me feel better during these last 18 months when I have gone to really dark places. Thank you and have a great time!! BTW my son will be attending OSU next year and if continued health will attempt to walk on in both basketball and baseball. Enjoy your trip!!

I agree, this is a really nice idea Dodger!

I've had my brain tumour for over 12 years. I was diagnosed with a low-grade tumour that over the years has progressed to a GBM (early last year). It's been challenging and I'm still having treatment but my latest scan was unchanged and in 10 days I'm going away for 7 weeks.

I'm going to the UK, Barcelona and on a safari in East Africa for 16 days. This tumour will not stop me from my living life! :)

On Oct 12, 2014 11:29 PM angieblue wrote:

Hey Dodger, thanks for this thread. We are two-plus years post diagnosis. We don't sweat the small stuff anymore. Right after the biopsy my husband could barely walk down the street. This summer we visited Glacier National Park where we had close encounters with grizzlies and black bear and moose.  It was awesome. We have gone past one setback after the other but we are still going. This is our new life and we're LIVING it.

I know this is for people with positive survivor stories, but my husband was just operated on last week. He can barely walk 50 feet without needing to sit down and rest. Also not wanting to walk any the rest of the day. Is this normal? Or should I be looking for a physical therapist to push him more?

Good luck Dodger I know you will make it. I will be going on 10 years in Aug was given 6 to 16 months in 2005. Surgery glidal wafer placement temodar radiation. I am so blessed. They had me convinced I would die. I have not been working for 2 years now. I do have limited memory do not drive very much but enjoy life I am so lucky. I will be a grandma for the first time in Nov. This was a good idea Dodger blessings to you and your family. Pat

My husband will be 5 years in September. We continue to live life large. We've taken 4 trips this year - Florida - to see the darling grandkids - Arizona twice and Utah - Zion National Park which we love. FYI our year begins in the fall when kids return to school. Fatigue is the enemy - oh well. Attitude is a friend or an enemy.

I think lots of people cannot participate in this discussion because surgeries are so traumatic and leave us with disabilities one way or the other. I can now cook two meals at a time without getting confused. Not too much compared to hikng or traveling to Europe :) I can WALK. Also started driving again, two months after surgery. Dont think i will ever be able to drive on a highway anymore but doing 35-45 mph is more or less ok.

Thankyou Dodger I keep returning to this thread to keep positive for my mum. She is 4 months into diagnoses and waiting on her first MRI results on Monday. I hope we can join this group of long term survivors . Your passion for life and positivity of this whole situation we are all in is a breath of fresh air. God bless you in all your travels, passions and dreams . Thanks again .