money

I would rather see that any money contributed, or raised for research, on behalf of someone with a benign brain tumor, be used for research on that type of tumor. And if it's not going to go for benign tumors, then I would rather see the money used to care for patients that have benign brain. And to help cover expenses that the family will have because of the loss of wages and cost of treatments.

research

In the case of Marie's tumors, it started as one tumor and recurred. Then it began to come back in as multiple tumors. And not it has seeded with many tumors growing. Why the progression from bad to worse? Is it a disease that runs a course? Is it a case of not finding the correct treatment? What information is being gained to help a future victim? I don't believe that information on benign brain tumors is being kept. I'm doubting that not much, if any, research is being done.

why

Brain tumors are a vile attack on an innocent victim. I don't ever remember any doctor talking about what to do to cure the brain tumor, just, here is the treatment that we suggest for the tumor. I can't get an answer to the question "what causes a brain tumor?" They can tell you what it is, but not why it is.

florida

Three weeks and three days until we leave for Florida. This will be the first family vacation in more than a dozen years. Everyone's excited and ready to go. But that doesn't mean that we've forgotten about the brain tumors. We're actually excited in spite of the tumors.

chore

Yes, Disney World is on the plan as a destination during our "let's live tour". That's my name for how we are going to look at the future as a family. The last ten years have been brain tumor treatments, therapy, and recovery. Jobs suffered, relationships strained, life became a chore instead of a joy.

live for today

With all the possible treatments having such possible damage to the quality of life we are living for today and having some fun. We are going to go on a trip to Florida in May, as a family.

possible damage

It took about a week, but the radiation doctor did call. The news was not what we wanted to hear. With Marie already having so much radiation, and tumors now on both sides of the brain, the probability for additional damage is too high to really consider more radiation.

what's a few more days

I hadn't spoke to the radiation doctor since 2008 but the receptionist seemed to know who I was and patched me right through to him. I described to him what had gone on the last couple of years and asked if he would consider looking at the brain scans and give us his opinion on additional radiation. I agreed to drop off the dvd to his office, and he said he would call in a few days.

gave him a call

The option of surgery could leave Marie with difficulties and increase negative quality of life. The chemotherapy could include a multiple of different drugs but the treatments would be speculative only. I decided to go to the doctor in Omaha that did two of Marie's radiation treatments in the past. A few weeks ago I looked up his phone number and gave him a call.

current options

I did not want to write while we were checking all of Marie's options. We spoke to the oncologist in Omaha and had the brain scans sent to MD Anderson. In the discussion with the oncologist there I learned that the options could still include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

time to write

Okay it's time to start writing again. At this point treatments are done. Done. Finished. Over. It's time to go with living life. the tumors were continuing to grow at the time of the last MRI, which was December 2010. With no more treatments, there will be no more MRI's.