Grade IV Glioblastoma Multiforme

I have been so amazingly grateful to not have the terrible side effects which the typical brain tumor is accompanied with; seizures, nausea, severe headaches, memory loss, numbness and just about every other ailment you can imagine.  In contrast to many people's stories I have read and heard about, a mild headache and some trouble trying to remember what I was thinking are two very small issues I can deal with.  This morning that all came to a screeching halt.  I woke up with the absolute worst headache I have ever experienced which eventually led to some fun vomiting.  For anyone who has been around me while I am vomiting, you all know I make sure and let EVERYONE in the immediate district know that I am vacating my stomach.  On top of vomiting which is bad enough, throwing up with an excruciating headache is a trade I think I am going to have to master.  (Not to be too graphic, but I warned you all earlier in this blog you will get the good, the bad and and the ugly.)  By mastering I mean that when I vomit, like most everyone else, I am forcing a large amount of pressure which for some reason works its way to my head.  This pressure doubles the pain in my head and makes vomiting seem more and more like torture.  Fun times, right?!?  So that was my morning and now I am feeling a bit better.   The headache is not nearly as bad and the nausea has gone away.  Now the waiting game finally has a date!

I FINALLLLLLLY have an appointment to go over my last MRI with a doctor.  Monday at 11am can not come soon enough.  I am hoping and praying that we can set a surgery date to have this removed because I am not going to be enjoying life if I am destined for more mornings like the one I experienced today.  I am not complaining in the least.  I know that even after this morning I have experienced much milder side effects then most everyone in my position.  Last night I went and had an amazing vegan dinner with the Lukas family and was talking to them about just how lucky I am.  The fact that I can sit here and type this without any trouble is proof enough that, for now I am perfectly fine.  Sure there is a little monster that wants to take over my brain, and eventually destroy itself by destroying what keeps it alive, but I know it's timeline is running very short.

Today is Friday, the first day of the weekend and the last day of November.  December will begin tomorrow and with that I am hoping a new page will be opened.  I am hoping that December will be the month that changes my life.  My sisters will be coming down in a couple weeks and I am quite hopeful that I will have this surgery while they are in town unlike last time.  With the love and help of my family and friends this will will be as they say, "A walk in the park."  Maybe not that easy, but I am up for it and I know you all are too!

And here's a joke for your Friday!

A pipe burst in a doctor's house. He called a plumber. The plumber arrived, unpacked his tools, did mysterious plumber-type things for a while, and handed the doctor a bill for $600.
The doctor exclaimed, "This is ridiculous! I don't even make that much as a doctor!."
The plumber quietly answered, "Neither did I when I was a doctor."

Ryan