Two Years Later
Today I’d like to take a moment to celebrate a milestone and share some exciting news: It seems that the brain tumor chronicles are coming to a close! Could it be? Is this real life? I still can’t really believe it.
Background: Two years ago, I had a seizure at school. You can read all about it here. I had finished my initial cancer treatment, returned to work, and heard the “All Clear!” Life was very normal…until it wasn’t. 🤷♀️ My seizure revealed a 6cm brain tumor in my left temporal lobe. (You can also read about my recovery from brain surgery. And, if you just want to keep reliving the fun, there’s my journal entry about life-long implications and my miracle haircut from Aubrey!) Scrolling through my old CaringBridge was informative, honestly! My seizure, my brain tumor, the treatment, the side effects- all of it- was such a whirlwind and I truly don’t remember it. In the long run, it was just a blip on my radar. By April, we found my liver tumors and started to gear up for chemotherapy…again. “Brain Tumor Days” were swept into the dustpan of my overall cancer journey!
Longterm, the largest impact of that experience was the seizure. I basically lived in a second, protective bubble to avoid having another seizure. I couldn’t drive, I took a lot of anti-seizure meds, I went to cognitive therapy, etc. I just kind of rolled with the punches. The meds were heavy, but nothing compared to chemotherapy.
Updates: In January 2022, I celebrated 1 year “Seizure Free!” My meds were cut in half. By January 2023, I celebrated 2 years “Seizure Free!” No seizures and stable brain MRI’s, meant it was finally time to negotiate. I recently had an EEG. (The test where they stick 28 electrodes all over my head to monitor my brain waves.) My neurologist reported back “totally normal” brain activity! He is fast-tracking me off the Keppra, and I should be completely off my seizure meds in 6 weeks. 🤯 🥳️
These two pictures are almost exactly two years apart. I’m still missing some eyebrows, and I got some new glasses, but it’s me. ♥️ I started 2021 with a crazy, half-shaved hairdo that looked like a Star Trek character- and Aubrey turned it into something beautiful! Here we are in 2023, and Aubrey has done it again. Growing hair back after chemotherapy is unpredictable. Aubrey has treated my hair like a delicate topiary, snipping and shaping as random bits regrew. She is so patient and reassuring. 😭 Hairstylists have a gift. She could visualize the end result, and coached it out for months. She had faith when I really wasn’t sure. I’m so grateful!
So about those milestones…
I thought I’d be taking anti-seizure meds for the rest of my life, but I’m not!
A few brain MRI’s on this journey were a little suspect, but they never turned into anything!
I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get to put away the hats, but I did!
So here we are, two years later, and life has almost come full circle. 😊 I’m amazed, humbled, and so very blessed to see this chapter come to a close. I could analyze it to pieces, or doubt it, or worry about the future, but instead, I’m going to just be here. I want to savor this sweetness. Thanks for celebrating with me!
