Stories

For My Mother My mother Vicki was diagnosed at 59 years old. She was a devoted and hardworking mother of four children. Her first and only grandchild was born eight months before her diagnosis. She was full of life and looking forward to an early retirement to stay home and care for her grandson Ben while his parents […] July 19, 2023

My Sister, Her GBM: Our Loss My sister, Sandra S., was decimated by glioblastoma (GBM) in 2022-2023. At the age of 55, she passed away, leaving a husband, two great adult children, two dogs, and yours truly. Every day, I took her to her doctor visits: oncology, radiology, chemotherapies, physical therapies. Week after week, I witnessed her brilliant mind dull. I […] July 19, 2023

Eryn Rose Strong The summer my sister died was the most challenging time of my life. I graduated nursing school at UNC Charlotte in May, planning to leave on a cruise with my older brother, his fiancee, and my little sister Eryn Rose Shaw — known as Rosie — in June. I had never been on a cruise. […] July 14, 2023

Why Can’t I Talk? I love to drive 2 – 3 hours to somewhere new to me, take my 2 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and my camera, and go on a combination dog walk and photography trip. I rent a place that allows pets for a couple of nights. This time, May 2021, I rented a cottage in Eastern […] July 14, 2023

My Jeff In September 2021, the love of my life was diagnosed with a glioblastoma. For 11 months, he fought a battle with this horrible cancer. He never once complained through all his appointments, chemo, radiation, and being stripped of his quality of life right from the get-go. On August 22, 2022, God took him out of […] July 14, 2023