Hello family and friends - Here is an email I sent to my Brain Tumor friends. I thought you would be interested. Cheryl
Hello BRAINTMR Friends,
This week I am on Temodar.
That is always the week I get more questions from my two wonderful boys, Grant 10 years old and Clint 8. Last night when my husband and I were tucking them in bed and praying, they began asking questions. It is always hard to figure out how to answer them. Always a struggle in my heart.
Now that Grant is in 4th grade and learning math fractions and percents, he asked me, "Mom, what is the chance that you will die of old age verses the brain cancer? Is it 50 / 50, like tossing a coin?" I sat there quit trying to figure out what to say. With a GBM, I wish it was a 50/50 chance of dieing from old age or the tumor. I tried to be honest, something I have always done since first diagnosed with the GBM when Grant was only 3 and Clint 1. They have grown up with a "mom with brain cancer".
He saw me standing there quietly thinking and said, "Mom, is it more like a 99.9 chance you will die of brain cancer one day."
I realized he is finally understanding the seriousness of a Glioblastoma Multiforme.
I told him (and Clint was there listening too): "Yes Grant, The GBM will most likely get me one day, but we don't know when. The important thing is living right now in this moment and enjoying every second. Not worrying about the future. Let's just have fun each day. Remember Grant, when I was first diagnosed, the doctors told me the brain tumor would probably get me in 1 year. It is now 7 years and I am doing good. Who knows it may be many many more years. That is what we hope. But the most important thing is having fun together now. Does that make sense?"
Grant smiled and said "Yes" and I gave him a big hug.
Clint had sat there quietly the whole time. Then he said, "Mom, I have to do something, don't get mad." And he ripped a huge fart and started laughing!!!! It was so funny. We all started laughing. I hope he is not denying my whole cancer thing, I hope he is just already doing what I suggested. Living in the moment, enjoy each second and not worry
about the future. We all laughed at Clint and told him he was a stinky, turned off the light and they went to bed.
I hope and pray every day that my BRAINTMR friends out there, that have young children still at home, are enjoying each second every day with their family. It is always such a challenge, but a blessing, each second we have with our children. My two boys give me the strength to keep fighting the GBM and living as long as I can. This June 27th 2007, will be 7 years surviving the GBM for me!!!! I hope I at least get 7 more years. That's my plan!!!!
God Bless,
Cheryl Broyles
dx GBM 2000 surgery and radiation
GBM back 2004 surgery and Temodar 18 cycles
GBM back 2007 surgery and currently back on Temodar