The weather this season has been rare, unpredictable, and has brought with it diverse emotions. Calming & beautiful- when first falling and when it is untouched. Fierce & harsh- during the blizzard conditions. Frustrating and despised- when it has to be removed. Fun- when it is used to create tunnels, climbing mountains, and the prefect sledding routes. Some of the emotions overlap and we find ourselves able to respect the conditions, but unwilling to be in the snow. We appreciate the natural wonders that come from such an amazing weather event, but are ready to move on. There are the days/moments in which we are content and the moments in which we want everything to change and the snow to disappear immediately. Obviously- much related to the storms and the snow are beyond our control. The snow comes and the amounts collected on the ground are beyond our control. The attitude that we chose to deal with the conditions that we find ourselves in, is within our control. We either chose to see the beauty in the vast amounts of white hills that lay in front of us and play in it or we resent the logistical challenges that this amount of snow brings with it and are blinded to the beauty and the positive aspects of being in our homes with the people that we love and being able to spend quality time with them. Not having to go anywhere - because we can't.
Excuse my deep and ultra-emotional thoughts about 'weather'. It is just that the blizzard brings with it diverse emotions - just as our journey has brought to us. I find I still work to understand and comprehend what has happened and to find the the strength to recognize and deal with the things that we can control and recognize and release the things that are beyond our control. Robert was our leader in being able to do just that and he taught us so much. Everyday is finding the balance between dealing with the things that have happened and recognizing the many things that we have learned and are grateful for.
I do want to say that we are grateful for the people who take us in and make us feel so welcome and for the people who ban together to clear our street and our driveway - even when we are not home. There is "power in the People" and this is a part of the storm that I will remember most.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
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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
