My Story Part 2

Hii everyone :) Im in the mood to write again. Here it goes...

Ok, after the day she was diadnosed things were very hectic. She had multiple appointments and had to go through various tests. It was hard on me not being able to go with her to every appointment because I was in school. She started having chemo every week. I had to see my mother lose her hair about 3 times over the course of her 6 1/2 year fight. It was so hard to see her cry. My mother was sooo incredibly beautiful and she felt any thing but that after se lost her hair. Seeing my mother cry tore me apart.

She was extremely lucky becuase the chemo never made her sick or tired. She was SO STRONG. She did everything that a perfectly healthy 37 year old woman did. Yes, 37, way too young. I remember as time went on the nurses started to know us. We spent so much time at the chemo lab that they knew us by name and they loved my mom so much. She was such a positive person. Most people had no idea she was so sick. She presented herself beautifly. I remember on the days when she would get her test results, I would be at school and I knew when her appointment was and when I looked at the clock and saw it was when she would be there, I would feel horribly sick to my stomach. I was terrified of what I would hear when I got home. Was it good news? Was it bad news?

I remember the first time she was in remission. It was the best day. We cried and thanked God for keeping our family together. Sadly, this joy was short lived.

Shortly after the good news, she went back for her check up and they found more tumors. We were devastated once again. I couldnt belive this was happening again. This happened a countless number of times more.

She had surgery, radiation, and chemo. Those helped for a while but it always came back.

I was about 11 at this time. We had just moved from Decatur to the Peoria area bacause my dad's job was being transfered. It was a very hard time. I was crushed to move away from everyone. It was the middle of my 6th grade year. Once we moved I love my town. Very small and such nice people. My mom was still going through chemo but things were good...or at least we thought things were good. For a while, my mom had been having some headaches and some vision problems. She decided they were serious enough that she should see a doctor. This doctor then referred her to a neurologist. She got scans and thats when they discovered she had a brain tumor. I could not believe what I was hearing. This COULD NOT be happening.

New school, new town, new people, new tradgedy.

She had her first gamma knife procedure and the results were great. (gamma knife is a procedure that has high amounts of radiation concentrated on the tumor) The tumor was gone and things were looking up. The cancer in her chest and under her arm seemed to always be present, it never really went away. She ended up having a total of 8, yes 8, brain tumors. Sometimes 2 at a time. She had so may of the gamma knife procedures. Even though they were non-invasive, they were very uncomfortable because she had to have a metal "halo" screwed into her head in 4 spots. That was very VERY painful.

After so many time of receiving bad news, I started to expect it and be positive. I thought "You have fought and won so far, you can do it again". This was very true for so long.

Disney World was my moms favorite place and we got to go in 2001 and then in 2006. She loved every minute of it. It was so amazing to see her so happy. It was simple things that I loved doing with her so much. We would play cards or go mini golfing. One of our favorite things to go was watch an old animated disney movie and color in coloring books :) She loved it. Also in the summer we would sit outside for hours and do each others nails and talk. I missed that this summer more than I can express.

I think I will stop there for now. The next part will be the hardest I think. Well I hope things in your life are well, comment if you would like and share your story. I love to help out whenever I can.

Tell the ones that you love that you love them, please.

much love,
Lindsey xoxo