Hope for More Time

When my mom was initially diagnosed with a brain tumor, we were told that she had mere weeks to live and that we should just let her go in peace. I refused.

Working in politics, I was aware of Senator Ted Kennedy’s diagnosis of glioblastoma and that he had gone to Duke. I insisted that we were going to Duke as well and that if it were good enough for a Kennedy, it was surely good enough for my mom.

I must have called Dr. Friedman’s office at Duke 20 times a day trying to get an appointment for my mom. When he finally gave us an appointment, we had less than 12 hours to be there. While my mom’s tumor was inoperable in his terms, he referred her to the neurological oncology department and his colleague, the other Dr. Friedman, who felt confident that he could give us more than a few weeks.

My mom fought a valiant battle against that glioblastoma for 18 months and that time gave me and my family and my mom the time we needed.

My volunteering through the National Brain Tumor Society gave me peace, knowing that I could continue the fight against my mom’s cancer. It afforded me the opportunity to thank the doctor that discovered that Avastin could be used to treat brain tumors. I met fellow survivors, bonded with them in our grief, made lifelong friendships, and ultimately was able to move on from grieving and lend a positive purpose of what I had been through as a caregiver.

In the end, the campaign that I was working on when my mom was diagnosed was John McCain’s Presidential campaign, and it was unsuccessful. Years later, John McCain himself would be diagnosed with a glioblastoma too.

As a two-time cancer survivor, I know what it takes to summon the strength to fight back against cancer, but as a caregiver to my mom, I learned what it’s like to unconditionally love someone and give them permission to end their fight with cancer.

I’m in this fight against brain tumors for the long haul. It taunts me from time to time, but I remain vigilant that it won’t take any more lives without a fight.

TAGGED WITH: glioblastoma, #GBMDay

Opinions expressed within this story belong solely to the author and do not reflect the views or opinions of the National Brain Tumor Society.