Category Archives: Stories

Stories submitted by patients, survivors, caregivers

Jed’s Story: Two-time Brain Tumour Survivor

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My name is Jed Terrence Rico Luna and I am a two-time, long-term brain tumour survivor. When I had my first brain tumour I was just 10-years-old. I am thankful that SickKids Hospital was there to help me. I was especially grateful because I was a new immigrant to Canada, with my parents and sister, from the Philippines. When this event happened it was a shocker.

I was just a grade five student and for this tumour to come and hit me at such a young age was so shocking to myself and my parents. From what I remember, my parents drove to the nearest hospital and the staff told my parents to drive to SickKids. I was soon diagnosed with a non-malignant brain tumour which was treated by surgery and radiation.

Read Jed’s entire story…

Andrea’s Story – one mother pushes for help

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Andrea, from Nelson BC, shares the story of her little girl’s diagnosis of a brain tumour.

My just three-year-old daughter had been really ‘off’ and sick for 2 months. She would vomit for no reason and had headaches at the back of her head.

I took her to the family doctor three times and then had an appointment for January with a local pediatrician but in early November, it all just got to be too much. I pushed to see the the pediatrician then. That saved my daughter’s life.

Read Andrea’s story….

Marisa’s Story: “Being Strong for My Brother”

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My brother and I never had the greatest relationship growing up. We fought argued bickered and pulled each others hair out…literally. But on April 5th, 2013 we found out he had a brain tumour, it was that moment that I realized that beneath all the fussing and fighting, the love that I have for my brother is colossal.

Read Marisa’s story …

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Jenny’s Story – Moving Forward

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The first episode came on November 2010.  An overall numbness came over my right arm starting at the shoulder, shot down my arm, ending with a tingling sensation in my fingertips.  I felt a moment of disorientation and as quickly it came, it left.  This happened within a span of seconds, easily I dismissed this as stress.  Life was busy with a full household of 3 adults, 2 seniors and 2 children under the age of 5 years old. In addition to my home life, I lived an equally hectic work life as a Programs Assistant helping to manage an Executive’s calendar for a non-profit organization.  Yes, life was busy but this was a lifestyle I was so accustomed to. Read the rest of Jenny’s story…

 

Friend Friday (on Thursday): bear and lion

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Bear and Lion Mama at last year’s Spring Sprint

@bearandlionmama is a blogger, a prolific tweeter and a brain tumour survivor.

She shares her “highs and woes” through her blog “Bear and Lion”.

Today she posted about her support for the upcoming Spring Sprint event in her community.

Head over to her blog to read her story, check out her emotional post after the 2012 Spring Sprint and find her team to help her reach her $2,000 fundraising goal!

Are you showcasing your story, your fundraising efforts or your connection to a brain tumour on your blog? Let us know and we’ll post about you too! Send an email to mwinkler@braintumour.ca with the details.

Aleksandra’s Story:

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Aleksandra is from Burlington Ontario…

Hi to all of you my dear friends!

I been diagnosed with epidermoid brain cyst/tumor close to my basilar artery and I want to share my story with the hope that I may help somebody  – and we can together change the future.

I had been having a low-grade fever for more than 6 years and “flu flare” every 2-3 months. I had been to between 30-40 doctors in Burlington but all of them told me same story, “you have stress and anxiety.”  I tried to explain my other symptoms but nobody was really interested in hearing my story.  So yes, I do have anxiety and severe depression but this was not a reason for those symptoms.

Read the rest of Aleksandra’s Story…

Diane M’s Story

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Diane is from Thornhill, Ontario

I have had the same recurring tumour (grade 2/ non-malignant astrocytoma) removed three times now.

My initial symptoms were grand mal seizures. I had my first tumour removed in 1986. I was 32 years old with two young children. I had radiation. I went back to work, as an elementary teacher, four years later.

I was left with a focal seizure that I dismissed, to others, as a nervous twitch. To my surprise 20 years later, it returned. I had it out immediately. Apparently I was awake during surgery but I don’t remember that!

Read the rest of Diane’s story…

Mike’s Story

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In the spirit of Brain Tumour Awareness Month’s ‘Celebrating Strength’ theme, Mike reached out and bravely shared a bit of his story. Thanks Mike!

Mike’s Story

When I was 21 I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. It overwhelmed me and crushed my spirit…so I drank the next ten years of my life away.

Then one day, I decided it was time to quit feeling sorry for myself and about three months after that I met my wife, Cherie,who has been my rock through it all.

On Christmas Day the year of 2000, I had a seizure and lost my driver’s license which was my livelihood. And I was diagnosed again…the tumor had grown.

We had it removed and then went through eight treatments of chemotherapy which felt like it would never end – but finally it did. I regained my strength and am happy to feel useful and productive again.

I hope this provides someone with some hope that they can have a ‘normal’ life again!!

Thank you for letting me share my story.

Dustin Thompson – “My Hero”

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Dustin

Dustin was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer in July 2011 at the age of 25.  Dustin was the bravest and strongest person that we know; he fought a very hard battle which ended on June 11, 2012 at the age of 26 years.

Dustin was a very loving and caring person.  Even when fighting this disease, he always cared about everyone else and never complained about anything in life.

Dustin was a Heavy Duty Mechanic and Volunteer Firefighter.  He was married for one year when finding out he was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer.

Read the rest of Dustin’s story here

Friend Friday: Shannon’s View from Here

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It’s a day late but it’s still a Friend Friday post! We are lucky to be sharing Shannon’s View from Here today.

Shannon is a mother to two terrific girls and has been married for 10 years. She works for a Canadian airline and loves to travel and loves to do all kinds of fun things with her family. She says brain tumours are a cause “close to my brain!” So she posted about Brain Tumour Awareness Month for all her readers to see and read.

Thanks Shannon!

Do you know about a blog from a brain tumour patient, survivor or family member that we should spotlight? Send us an email to mwinkler@braintumour.ca to share today.