She is in ICU now

I'm currently sitting next to Andrea. She is sleeping. She has a big, gigantic bandage on her head. If I color a few blue lines on it, it would start to look like she was an extra on TRON.

Brain tumor walk kick off event

Hello all,

On Thursday evening I went to the NBTS (National Brain Tumor Society) kick off event for the dallas walk on November 9th.  I was invited by Not only Marla Payne (the director of event for NBTS), but also by a board member Deana Woods.  So when I arrived I was chatting with a guy named Kevin. He listened to my longwinded story (he is VERY patient).  Marla then mentioned my blog and his eyes lit up and he said, "That is a great blog.  I find that brain tumor patients are the most creative wordsmiths."

Needless to say I was flattered that people up in Boston had read my blog.  So then the presentations started and Kevin got up to speak.  My jaw hit the floor.  I had No idea that I was rambling on to the Chief Development Officer of the ENTIRE NBTS network.  I was floored.

So that was my brush with greatness.

Anyway I am a team Captain my team is called team tumoriffic and I am already out of flyers and brochures.  But fear not bc Marla enabled me with more I got a whole box of them and am now going to plaster them at every starbucks in Dallas. 

I really messed up though bc I wrote on all of the ones that I gave out WWW.tumoriffic.blogspot.com

Yeah that IS NOT my blog but it is close.  WWW.tumorrific.blogspot.com

But you already know that, you're reading this.  

I contacted Connie Yates of Tom Thumb and asked her if they could fundraise for the walk.  Brain cancer is so neglected.  I have always been jealous of breast cancer they get an entire month of awareness and brain cancer gets 1 measly day.

Anywho I will be updating this blog to keep everyone updated on the progress.

I set an incredibly loft goal for the team of $2000, when Mike heard that he said it was really hard to get $1000 in 2010.  I replied you were doing it alone now you've got me.  The Chatterbox that survived brain cancer.

Raise awareness Jewelry

My friend Alysha Coddington is incredibly talented, she makes jewelry.
I am a stay at home mother with a degree in pre medicine. When the kids are asleep I love to make jewelry. I like to make lightweight, simple, modern and unique pieces. Among my friends and family, I have found that it is very difficult to find anything nice, pretty, unique, or interesting to show your support or awareness of lesser known illnesses. I have stocked up on silver support ribbons and use my wire work and the colors of my glass beads, natural gemstones, and crystals to create the support jewelry we have been looking so hard for. Currently I am working on support jewelry for Brain Cancer, Epilepsy, Rhett's Syndrome, and Hospice. I welcome requests, either for custom design or specific color awareness items. I am also offering to donate a $1 per order to the organization of your choice (such as the NBTS). Perhaps we can make a difference.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JewelryByLunaRaven?section_id=14200914


You know I don't advertise on here but this is a worthy cause.

Brain tumor Walk

Hi Guys!!!
I am the Captain of Team Tumoriffic for the National Brain Tumor Society Walk, which will be on Nov 9.  First of all you don't have to walk if you don't want to walk.  I am asking for your support so we can put an end to this HORRIFIC disease.

When you click on the link go to donate tab, Donate to a participant, then you can click donate to a team. Even $1 will help.

I am walking in memory of:

 Alice Tate Garner

And in honor of 

Ches Garner

and

All my tumoriffic friends!!!

Love you all

Andrea

http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/TR/Events/BTW-TX?team_id=66518&pg=team&fr_id=2095

Anniversaries

Anniversaries

They say you never forget the day someone told you those 3 words no one ever wants to hear.  I am here to tell you they are right.  I've been told it is perfectly normal to experience symptoms as your anniversary approaches, as well as around the time of your next MRI.  It is stressful. People will tell you it's nothing, but that doesn't ease the anxiety.  Because with any kind of cancer if you get an unexplained pain it triggers something in the back of your mind that thinks maybe this is it.  Its back.  I can't help it and I think it is normal.

Today I woke up feeling fine. I started feeling nauseous, but chocked it up to hunger.  Then I went to the store to get stuff for dinner.  People must have thought I was drunk because I couldn't walk it a straight line.  I was walking diagonally.  I got back in the car.  That is when I realized that I had a pain right behind my left eye.  It felt (for lack of a better description) like someone or something was trying to push my eye out of its socket.  I came home took some Imitrex laid down next to Mike.  He had to open the packet for me. Now I am sitting on the couch typing and my right shoulder and arm are simply EXHAUSTED.

I think this is all because my cancerversary (cancer anniversary) is in 1 month and 7 days.  But if the symptoms persist for a few days I will check with Fink.

No one has all the answers.  You have to find what works for you.

Hopefully my homicidal child (Snarla) is still asleep.  

6 years too late

Back in 2007 I was in college and as most college kids are I was flat broke.  So when I found a two story apt with a balcony for dirt cheap I immediately signed the lease.  Red flags

1. it was scheduled to be demolished.

2 there were cars on blocks

3(prolly the most important) it was in the ghetto.

So I walked in one day threw my keys on the table and they hit the floor. I looked up and it took a second, but then it dawned on me.  ALL my stuff was gone. My couch, my dining room tables and chairs, my clothes, my computer, all my paintings.  They were replaceable but they got 2 things that I cannot replace.  My deceased mothers diamond necklace, and a mirror that my Grandbetty gave me.

Needless to say I was livid, irate, furious, seeing red.  I totally lost it and kicked a hole in the wall. Yes little ol' me now property destroyer. Mike (my boyfriend at the time) was with me and he was levelheaded.  He told me not to touch anything and go sit outside while he called the cops. Well in instances of robbery the cops are basically useless.  So I lost all my stuff and had to start over.  I still get a twinge of anger when I think about the robbery.  I mean that is when I was asking why me.  I try to self soothe by telling myself it allowed me to get a fresh new start.  But that is a bunch of bull, I had moved there for a fresh start.

Today I woke up and it dawned on me.  The apt managers didn't bother to change the locks.  Probably because it was scheduled for demolision.  I blamed the management then sued and got nothing.

Word of warning for all you broke college kids out there and parents of kids in college. Whenever you move into any place before you sign the lease make SURE they changed the locks.  I don't want anyone else to go through what I went through.

 THANK GOD I wasn't there.

Everything happens for a reason!!

Now I KNOW my cancer was/is a blessing.  I have always wanted to help people in any way I can.  I have a lot and I mean a LOT of life experience.  However Snarla the Cancer seems to be the most helpful, ironically.

Now, I have volunteered with hospice before and subsequently was hired at D.A,D.S.(Department of Aging and Disability Services state of Texas). Then I was diagnosed cancer and now am going back to volunteer with MUCH more experience.

So THANK YOU GOD, Because not only did you give me the strength to survive Snarla, but you let her be a necessity of my life experience.  Father I feel called to do work with hospice.  Please let me not let you down.