November 2010 Blog Posts (6)

Happy Anniversary?

This Friday will be the 20th anniversary of my first craniotomy. Funny, I didn't think people celebrated these types of anniversaries, but we do. I would rather celebrate that awful day than to not be here to celebrate at all. I remember preparing for that day. I was a single parent and my daughters were 6, 11 and almost 13. I borrowed money from family to do Black Friday Christmas shopping. I bought them everything they had wished for,… Continue

Added by Peggy Card on November 30, 2010 at 9:34am — 3 Comments

Have you seen this? TED talks: The best gift I ever survived

Stacey Kramer speaks about her brain tumor experience in words that may seem surprising to many people. What do you think of her speach, of what she is…

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Added by Anna-Stina Takala on November 12, 2010 at 7:30am — No Comments

Andrew's Survival

Just wanted everyone on the website to read about my Andrew. He was given 6 months to live by the doctors here in New Zealand and that was last Saturday.Some of you know that Andrew opted to go back to Dr. Phil Gutin at Sloan Kettering instead for a third surgery. He then had six weeks of radiation which was toughon him. Now, he is getting stronger every day! He is doing really well and is partially back to work and is resuming normal life. Six months was November 6. Last Saturday!!! We are… Continue

Added by Betsy Macdonald on November 9, 2010 at 6:00pm — 5 Comments

Not About Me

I would like to thank my doctor for the 18 months it took to get me an MRI, revealing a grapefruit behind my right ear. In that time my symptoms were diagnosed as a sinus infection, ear infection, and migraines. I took various antibiotics, and even had an x-ray taken of my face.

Here are the symptoms of an acoustic neuroma, that I'm sure many of you are are familiar with: facial numbness, usually on one side; tinitus; diminshed taste on one side of the tongue; world-class…

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Added by Rick Dill on November 9, 2010 at 9:45am — 1 Comment

just need to say it

I just had an MRI on 10/19 and for a tumor that was extremely slow growing, it GREW! I had to go to see chief of neurosurgery at Tufts Medical center in Boston. Looks like the only thing we can do is Brain surgery again and this time radation and chemo after. They still can not remove all of it due to no real defined edges of tumor and brain mass. They are going to try to get as much as possible. I am feeling somewhat alone as my tumor is extremely rare and there is no data to compare notes… Continue

Added by Angie Fortier on November 8, 2010 at 10:59am — 5 Comments

Madison Beggs doing good on road to recovery after her laser surgery

On August 2, 2010, Madison was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She was

visiting her grandparents in South Carolina when this was discovered by

an MRI done at Greenville Hospital. Dr. Emily Foster was her

neurologist that ordered the MRI to be done after seeing her on an

office visit. Madison needed to see a neurologist because prior to this

her pediatrician thought she may have had Bell's Palsy. He suggested

that she be tested for lymes so we did but the test came… Continue

Added by Norman Atwater on November 8, 2010 at 8:28am — 1 Comment