A question I get asked a lot is 'how do you remain so positive', or 'you are always so positive'. Well, I'm a firm believer that negative energy is just as detrimental to your health as any crisis diagnosis. Anyone in the brain tumour community lives MRI to MRI. In between those MRI's we live our lives. In general the main stream population doesn't understand brain tumours . Why? Because it is always perceived as the worse thing that can possible happen to you. Think about TV shows and movies, I'll set the scene for you. A patient laying in a hospital bed, they have come in because they fell down, or blacked out or have the worst headache ever. The room has several Doctors with their clip boards, (or i pads) and they announce "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but you have a brain tumour" The camera zooms in on the patient who is in utter shock. It's the incredible dramatic affect to any drama TV show or movie. (now that I've told you this you will notice it all the time). Every time I watch this on TV I relive my day, every, single, time! You see every single day 27 Canadians have that exact moment, they are told they have a brain tumour.
For those who know me will probably agree with the following description, I'm assertive and head strong. These have been great qualities that have got me through some pretty tough situations in my life. I was known as a brat as a child, but we are talking the early 70's, kids were seen not heard back then...except for me. This boisterous voice of mine has led me down the path of awareness, determined to speak loudly about brain tumours
and doing my part for 7 years. Recently, I've been contacted by several people, all looking for advice, help, anything for their friend or family member who has been recently diagnosed with a brain tumour. T Jay and I were talking last night how staggering this number has been over the past few months.
With all of them I share The Brain Tumour Foundation's website (
braintumour.ca ). I share my phone number, I share my blog, I share our Facebook support group. I don't have all the answers, I am not the expert, but I had that dreadful day of diagnosis, I had surgery, I had radiation and I continue to walk around with an inoperable brain tumour. It is truly like a bad dream but every single day I get up, I carry on, I conquer whatever life throws at me, why? Because life is so worth living, knowledge is so worth sharing, and finding your happiness is everything. Once you have a brain tumour diagnosis it is with your for life, completely evicted or not. You are now part of the statistics that are so critical for funding and research, you are now one of us, doing your best to live happily ever after in a bad dream.
