A Beautiful Day in New York City!

• Tell a friend about
• Create a page like this
• Please bookmark this page.

Part of the Story

*************************************
After learning that my wife was diagnosed with a Brain Tumor, I have been driven by her inspiration to try to make a difference... Therefore, we organized a Brain Canter Run/Walk 5K fundraiser in Warren, Ohio that was held on April 6th 2013.

Below is Kari's Story. Feel free to contact her at deweydraa@aol.com
*************************************

The Rest of The Story of My Brain

*************************************
My life was forever altered on November 17, 2010. That is when I was told I had a brain tumor after undergoing my first MRI and bouts of seizures. When learning about it, I did not realize or want to know the severity of it all, and therefore was more than gung ho on going through with a brain surgery as soon as possible. I was fortunate enough to encounter who I believe to be the best brain surgeon known to man, Dr. Andrew Sloan, at the University Hospital who removed my egg sized brain tumor on December 7, 2010. It was shown to be a grade II oligodendroglioma. Although the surgery left me temporarily unable to say my name or even what a button was, it did not take away my appreciation for life. The tumor and the surgery had woken me up to how quickly life can be altered, and lead me to follow my passions to go work with animals and finish my masters degree. Just when I thought all was well and my life gloriously sailing along, it hit us again on April 4, 2012 following a standard MRI: the tumor had begun to grow back. My options: yet another brain surgery, radiation, a chemo pill or nothing. Given my fear of chemo and radiation, I opted for my second surgery that took place on September 4, 2012 again at University Hospital with Dr. Sloan. The surgery went superbly and I was out within 24 hours of being split open. Although I felt healthier than I had ever felt in the 29 years of my life, I had a sneaky suspicion that the tumor had morphed into something more serious given it had popped back up within 6 short months and the surgery and post surgery healing went way too good to be true. I was right. On September 20, 2012 we were told that the pathology showed it to develop into a grade III anaplastic oligodendro/astrocytoma and if I were not to do anything about it, I would likely have another within 6 months. As much as I dreaded it and tried to come up with another solution, I decided to undergo radiation in order to help kill the remaining monstrous cells. And that is where I am today, with a high hope that I will get through this with only 20 more radiation (as of Nov 8th 2012) sessions to go and an entire life to live, hair or no hair.
*************************************

Please join me in the fight against brain tumors by making a donation to my fundraising campaign to support the National Brain Tumor Society.