What a Crazy Year

It all began with a headache — I’d had them most of my life. These, however, felt like a bat to the head, blurred vision, nausea, you get the jest. After weeks of being harassed by my best friends to “just go to the doctor,” I did on a Monday. By Thursday, after about four specialists, I was sent to get an MRI. That’s when life as I knew it would forever change. 

“Mrs. Blain, you have a 6.2-cm mass in your temporal lobe.” 

“So, It is a tumor?” II couldn’t miss the opportunity to say that. I laughed and asked, “Now what”? Went home, and on Friday went back to my Opth/Neurologist (dope ass lady) who sends me to one of the top 100 surgeons “ON THE PLANET.” He’s kind of a big deal, I guess. Got admitted Friday, went into surgery Saturday, and they removed 95% of the tumor. The surgery went well, and by Tuesday I was home. 

I had the six-week radiation and chemo, and I finished that on 4/19/2023. I am currently supposed to be back on chemo but, I lost so much weight I spent a month just eating. Next week, July 2023, I guess I’ll start back on that once my labs or good. 

I can say I’m not as quick on the comebacks these days and have trouble finding all the words I need to use to get the darn sentences complete. They are in there, it is just not as easy to access since the surgery. Obviously, there is no cure, and the stats BLOW, which sucks, but it is what it is! 

I spend time living the dream, chilling with my family and friends, going to concerts, the river, the beach, wherever. Besides this rad scar on my head, I have no complaints….YET! 

I stay high vibing, sarcastic, and awkwardly making light of the situation. (I don’t DO bad days.) One day after I’m gone, I hope GBM has some breakthrough because I personally am fine. It’s watching the people I love sad that gets me in the feelers. I mean I guess I’m the lucky one because I’ve had a pretty good run at this life, I just wish I’d get to see my kids’ big life events… that’s a bummer for sure.

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