Rosie, from Newmarket
Rosie was diagnosed at age 2 with medulloblastoma – a type of malignant brain tumour. She spent months of surgeries and chemotherapy treatments. After 5 months, Rosie has officially finished her treatment protocol for her type of cancer.
Read Rosie’s inspiring story, as told by her mother here.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers who are part of the brain tumour community – we wish you a day of relaxation, peace and love.
We also want to acknowledge that days of celebration like Mother’s Day can be difficult for us as we travel the journey with a brain tumour.
Today we send our thoughts to everyone who will face an emotional hurdle today.
Whether you are a mother who has faced your own diagnosis of a brain tumour or have been a caregiver for a child, spouse, parent or other loved one, or if you are a mother who has lost a child, we know this day may be difficult.
For those who have lost your mother to a brain tumour, Mother’s Day may be tough, no matter how much time has passed.
Regardless of who you are, and how you have been affected, you are not alone.
While our mothers are each different and we all have unique relationships with them, they hold a special place in our lives. So this Mother’s Day, we honour each mother who has been touched by a brain tumour. Thank you for everything you do, everything you give and every way that you help.
Happy Mother’s Day
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We are here to listen. You can call for emotional one-on-one support Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at 1-800-265-5106.
Today our Friend Friday showcases the blog by one British Columbia family going through an incredible journey of courage and hope. While one parent is living with a brain tumour, one of their children is battling leukemia. Follow two superheros as they battle their disease with superhuman and superhero strength at Adventures of Brain Tumour Man and Superchuck.
Lynn and her husband, in Nova Scotia
My story began in early 2002, I was working full time running an office, I had a busy life with a husband and two small girls who were seven and four. My symptoms were first noticed when I could no longer hear on the phone with my right ear. My swallowing was also becoming increasingly difficult.
Read Lynn’s story of recovery and hope here.
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You can share your story too! Just click here and get started.
Debbie from Victoria
My life before diagnosis was very busy. I am a happily married mother of two children. I worked part-time as a Legal Assistant and I did volunteer work in my community.
On January 31, 2012 I had a grand mal seizure while at work. I was admitted to hospital and found out the next day after my MRI that I had a brain tumour.
On February 27 I had a craniotomy which removed 99% of my tumour. Read Debbie’s entire story here.
Jenna Landry, 10, (left) was one of the first to join Lynsey Hodgson’s team The Firecrackers, the top fundraisers in the Spring Sprint in support of the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. The project has kept Hodgson busy following her brain tumour diagnosis. Jenna has sold hundreds of bracelets to support the cause. Photo Courtesy of Guelph Tribune by Jessica Lovell
Diagnosed with a brain tumour near the end of 2011, Lynsey is a 23-year old survivor. She started her blog LynsTheFirecracker for many reasons including, “keeping everyone up to date with my health situation, allow me to share my thoughts and feelings (which seem to change minute to minute), and hopefully provide a way for me to make some sense of what I am going through.”
Head over to her blog to follow her journey and connect with her. Lynsey is also participating in this weekend’s Spring Sprint Guelph for which she is leading the team The Firecrackers – so far they have raised more than $22,000! Pretty impressive given she started with a goal of $4000. She also shared her story with the community in a story in the Guelph Tribune this week.
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Do you know about a blog that we should spotlight or share as part of our Friend Friday series? Send an email to mwinkler@braintumour.ca with the information.
My story is not about me, but about my older brother Michael. We count our blessings every day that he is still with us, and while it hasn’t been easy for him or his wonderful wife of 24 years Patricia, we’re thankful that someone was watching over him in 1996.
Michael was working as a lo
ng-haul truck driver for about a year. In September, he was driving through West Virginia and happened to stop at a truck stop for dinner. It was a brief stop, truckers don’t get paid to sit in coffee shops after all, but steps from getting back into his rig and on the road again, Michael suffered a seizure and collapsed unconscious to the ground.
He was found by his fellow truck drivers and was taken to a nearby hospital, where an MRI confirmed a tumor on his front left lobe. I could tell you it was the size of an orange or a golf ball, but really it doesn’t matter. It was malignant and he needed to come home.
Michael was treated at the London Cancer Clinic with the first of his surgeries, he’s had three, done within the first week of his return. The surgeons were able to remove most of the tumor, but due to its positioning, complete removal was impossible without affecting or wiping out completely Michael’s ability to speak. He endured the usual rounds of chemo and radiation and to date there is no further growth of the tumor.
There have been side effects of his treatment: some slurred speech, loss of energy, short term memory loss and the occasional seizure. He can’t drive any more, and he hasn’t worked in years. I’m okay with all that, because we still have my brother around. He has seen his daughter graduate from university, and his nieces and nephews grow up. He’s stronger than I ever thought he was when we were growing up. He’s a fighter, and so far he’s got this thing beat.
I think back to 1996 and wonder all the what ifs. What if the line at the truck stop was just a little bit shorter? What if he hadn’t stopped at all? We wouldn’t be telling this story, but one with a far more tragic outcome. He truly did have someone watching over him that day. And we are grateful that they were.
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You can share your story too! Just click here and get started.
Alise's Angels at the 2012 London Spring Sprint
Alise is a brain tumour survivor whose wide and deep circle of family and friends have been by her side, and that of her husband Jay, since her diagnosis at the end of January 2012. Jay keeps this group of dedicated supporters up to date through a Caringbridge blog here. They also came out with their team Alise’s Angels at the recent London Spring Sprint (pictured left). Follow Alise’s inspiring journey of courage and hope through the journal on the blog.
Last weekend kicked of the series of Spring Sprint events in support of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and the event in London raised more than $140,000 and brought out close to 800 people. A photos from the day are below, showcasing the many supporters of the brain tumour community. We look forward to sharing many more as the events continue this spring.
Crowd at London Spring Sprint
Emcee Allison Graham hosting the London Spring Sprint again in 2012
Local sponsors for the London Spring Sprint were honoured and thanked
London-area Survivors gather for a photo just before the walk begins
Founder, Steve Northey speaks about the incredible 30 year history of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada while his granddaughter holds a photo his daughter Kelly. The organization is Kelly's legacy.
Chris Bentley, Minister of Energy, Government of Ontario and Susan Marshall, Executive Director, Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada
My brain tumor story started February 9, 2008. I passed out in the washroom at a busy store. I woke up in hospital, my husband and sons at my side, soon to find out I had a brain tumour.
I was admitted and diagnosed with a glioblastoma and told I may only have approximately 2 months - 2 years left. Surgery, radiation and chemo followed. Last treatment was in January 2009. I am still here and doing very well. I cried the first 3 months and then started reading.
With the great support of my husband and boys I tried to change things such as diet and exercise. I don’t dwell on cancer too much, I just try to live a happy-filled life until my next MRI. Even with the passing of my husband two years ago I still try to remain positive keeping very busy with family and friends.