The GBM Fight

“April, you need to get here, get back here, there’s something on her CT scan.” My sister called me. The phone call that literally changed the whole course of my life, and most definitely my mother’s.

In August 2013, days after my mom, Carroll, celebrated her 56th birthday, she was diagnosed with an inoperable GBM. She was a full time ICU RN, went to the gym at least twice a week, kept her diabetes in check like a champ, and was a picture of health. My mama, mother of two daughters, my children’s Nanny, full-time career, and DIY woman was changed in a diagnosis.

The neurosurgeon gave us the news and off we went. Radiation, Temador, and Avastin. The tumors shrank! We were so overjoyed, but her body was so weak. Unfortunately they returned with more.

A week or so before her 57th birthday, we had to say goodbye. About 11 months of the hardest road I’d ever seen her walk. She was phenomenal. She was still mothering and being her favorite title of “Nanny.”

This is her story, summed up very short. There were joyful times and some of the deepest pains emotionally and physically. The course of treatment was aggressive, and I believe it definitely gave us the time we did have. Mama was determined to fight no matter what. She very luckily did not have severe deficits. She had some blood sugar instability and some “restless leg” weeks before her diagnosis. 

Ultimately, her left side was her biggest enemy. Her balance was off and normal daily tasks became impossible, but she carried on trying to do her best. She was quite comical throughout her treatments and she was loved so much by many. We were supported as a family every day. She did get to take her “girls” to Disney World, and although fun, and thank you Lord for the memories, it won’t look quite the same.

TAGGED WITH: #GBMDay

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