Our trip was fantastic and we all had a good time. The house was beautiful and close to the beach. The boys had fun playing in the sand, collecting shells, and even walking in the water. I enjoyed long walks on the beach and Robert enjoyed the time away. It was great being with everyone and I kept thinking of the memories that our children will have of the time spent with their cousins.
These days I take more time to reflect on our lives. At Thanksgiving I realized this:
I am thankful for so many things. I am thankful for the little things. I am thankful for the big things. I am thankful for the past, I am thankful for the present, I am thankful for the things that are yet to come. I am thankful for the lessons learned through my experiences and I am thankful for the people who have helped to teach me.
The Little Things:
1. Sunshine coming through the window on a cold winter morning
2. A cozy blanket and a hot cup of tea - OK - and a sweet little treat
3. A good TV show to distract me from everything else
4. A movie to make us laugh
5. Finding the perfect gift
6. A clean house
7. A phone call, an e-mail, or a card that comes in the mail
8. Getting an extra hour of sleep in the morning
9. A good photograph
10. A good hair day
The Big Things:
1. Someone listening & hearing & caring
2. Someone sharing
3. People giving their time to help you. Giving of their time and expecting nothing in return. Giving back
4. Time with family and friends. Building memories
5. Hearing the children laugh
6. A hug or a kiss. Hearing the words - 'I love you'
7. Seeing excitement in someone else's eyes
8. Knowing that others care about you and your families well-being
9. Knowing that our children are happy and content in their lives
10. Finding fun in the world
There are people, places, food, events, and things that can bring us the feeling of happiness. But - the true meaning of happiness is finding peace within your own heart and mind. Knowing, feeling, and believing that you can find happiness. I am happy to be surrounded by so many people who wish happiness for us. We are happy to have you in our lives and to have the understanding of how much you have impacted our lives/happiness. We are thankful.
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My Condition - Glioblastoma Multiforme (or GBM)
I was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). This condition has four different grades (I - IV). My tumor is a grade IV GBM. This is the most aggressive GBM tumor. I have included a little section of The Essential Guide to BRAIN TUMORS below to describe the condition more completely.
Astrocytoma
An astrocytoma develops from star-shaped glial cells (astrocytes) that support nerve cells. These tumors can be located anywhere in the brain, but the most common location is in the frontal lobe. Astrocytomas are the most common primary CNS tumor.
The physician, usually the neurosurgeon or neurooncologist, will discuss the type and location of an astrocytoma. The pathologist will assign it a grade. Astrocytomas are generally classified as low or high grade. Low-grade astrocytomas (grades I and II) are slow growing. High-grade astrocytomas (grades III and IV) grow more quickly. The main tumor type is listed for each grade. There are additional tumor types in each of these grades.
The WHO classification divides astrocytomas into four grades:
- Grade I Pilocytic Astrocytoma
- Grade II Low-Grade Astrocytoma
- Grade III Anaplastic Astrocytoma
- Grade IV Glioblastoma Multiforme (or GBM)
Characteristics
The characteristics of an astrocytoma vary depending on the tumor’s grade and location. Most people are functioning normally when diagnosed with a low-grade astrocytoma. Symptoms tend to be subtle and may take one to two years to diagnose. This is because the brain can often adapt to a slow-growing tumor for a period of time. Highgrade tumors may present with changes that are sudden and dramatic.
Symptoms
- Headaches
- Seizures or convulsions
- Difficulty thinking or speaking
- Behavioral or cognitive changes (related to thinking, reasoning, and memory)
- Weakness or paralysis in one part or one side of the body
- Loss of balance
- Vision changes
- Nausea or vomiting
1 comment:
You are a true inspiration to me!! Love you all!!
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