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READ MOREPublished on March 21, 2017 in Share Your Story
Well … Yesterday, I was given a gift. My husband Steve and I met with 2 doctors about the success of the surgery and the next steps that we will be taking. I will be a bit clinical here because it will be easier for me to get through this. The bulk of the tumor was successfully removed however, there are malignant cancer cells that were surrounding the tumor that couldn’t be removed because if they were they would have taken normal healthy brain cells out and that would have caused a lot of damage.
20 years ago when I moved to New York to be with Steve and begin our life together, I left all my friends and family in California. I was welcomed into his crazy large Irish family with wide open arms. Bunny Attanasio was Steve’s moms best friend. She was always so good to me. At each gathering she would make it a point to come sit with me to ask how I was. Bunny had breast cancer and was near the end of her battle. The family was all together and people were saying how sad they were about the news and I will never forget what she told me. She said that cancer was not a bad thing, it was a gift from God. Because she was given the opportunity to say good bye to everyone that she loved so much. That so many people are killed instantly and don’t get that chance. And you know what? She was absolutely right!!
As for me, I don’t know what’s going to happen. A lot depends on how I react to the treatments. In the immediate future, I get to rest for about 4 weeks to recover from the surgery I just had. Then, I will begin 6 weeks of radiation and chemotherapy. I was told that best case scenario is I will be one of the lucky patients that responds well and the cancer will still be there but we will just manage and care for it as needed. The docs currently have a patient with the same cancer that has been living a normal life 14 years now. I am REALLY praying to be like him. The absolute worse case scenario is 1.5 to 2 years.
Hey – everyday is a gift. Whatever you want – just go do it!!!!!!! Stop waiting. The Tim McGraw song, “Live like you were dying” has been on a constant reel in my mind since yesterday …. If you were given the news that you were dying, what would you do with it?
Want a new car, a new job, a new house, just do it
I plan on being the person I’ve always wanted to be. Kinder, gentler and spending as much time with my family as I can. So funny …. my oldest son Jack applies to college in the fall, it will be his senior year in high school. and I am so excited for him to start the next chapter in his life. I’ve said it a thousand times that I cannot wait to see what my boys choose to do in life, who they choose as a mate, grand kids …. etc.
Today March 2017 (8 months post operation) I successfully made it through 6 weeks of daily radiation and chemo therapy. I’m now on a regimen of 5 days a month of Chemo and 23 day off, then every 2 months I have another MRI. Each MRI the doctors tell me that there is no new cancer growth and my brain continues to shrink and swelling continues to decrease. I’m back working full time as a realtor with Coldwell Banker. My hair has begun to grow back and the future looks bright.
My plan of attack is to keep being positive, Keep checking off the “Bucket List” items and simply enjoy each day because each one is a gift. I’m blessed to wake up each day and get to spend it with my loving family.
I have a history of volunteering and giving back to the community so when I found out about the National Brain Tumor Society I couldn’t resist joining and helping raise funds for a cure. I would be honored if anyone and everyone was able to join my family and I at the walk. If your schedule doesn’t allow a donation would be greatly accepted.
My Team is called “Molloy’s Marchers” You can join or donate on-line at www.Braintumor.org
and search for “Molloy’s Marchers” (case and punctuation sensitive). It promises to be a great event, we hope to see you all there.
Opinions expressed within this story belong solely to the author and do not reflect the views or opinions of the National Brain Tumor Society.