Monday, May 5, 2008

May 5th

We made it to the finish line at the Race for Hope in Washington D.C. It was the perfect day. The sun was shining - in spite of the weather reports that predicted rain all week, the team members showed up, the team members wore their team t-shirts proudly, and everyone crossed the finish line. Some team members finished faster then others, but everyone supported each other and we traveled together in spirit. That is what friendship is all about - traveling together through good times and bad and supporting each other during good times and bad. The turn-out was great and the amount of people there was exhilarating. They had something like 247 teams and 6-8 thousand participants on race day. On race day they amount of money raised was at 2.5 million and the donations are still coming in. Knowing that researchers will have funding to continue to search for a cure gives us hope that one will be found quickly. It was an emotional and inspirational day that will always be embedded in our minds. We thank everyone who supported us in our efforts to raise money for a cure. We thank everyone who continues to support us with prayers. Thanks!
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1 comment:

Sherrie Bobbin said...

Robert & Tammy:

Now it's our turn to Thank YOU!

Thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of Sunday. We walked away with so much more than we gave. You know, you always hear “the greatest gift you can give yourself is to give to others” and Sunday we learned the true meaning of those words. Sunday was so much more than I expected. None of my words can convey that. Thank you both for allowing us to be part of it.

The Bobbins

May 6, 2008 at 7:30 AM

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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