In an effort to feel productive today, I will post on this blog:
I have been thinking about what are good and bad movies to watch
when you have cancer – because there are some that have thematic elements that
catch you as you are watching them. The Time Travelers Wife – bad cancer movie –
about a man who knows he is going to die before his daughter’s fifth
birthday. There was some movie I watched
last year before Emma was born where the father was taken prisoner and he was
not at home to see his daughter being born.
That was a bad cancer movie as well. I recently watched Love and Other Drugs with Anne Hathaway and Jake Glydenhall. Aside from
Hathaway being naked for the majority of the first half of the movie (which may
or may not be a plus for you), I thought it did a good job of putting a voice
to many of the thoughts that I have had during my sickness.
I have been trying to figure out a good way to describe the state
of my cancer journey. I am not a
survivor. There is still a mass in my brain that is the same size it was the day
after surgery – I am just hoping all of the cancer cells are dead. If that is the case, then I would be a survivor. However, I won’t have that proclamation until
probably a decade from now. I am not in
remission – that term has more to do with Leukemia and stuff like that. I think that I am just in a waiting
game. The doctor said that my tumor is
stable. That is really an un-sexy term
for being told that I am through chemo. The
word I would best use is that I am surviving – which is interesting because
they don’t sell any T-shirts that say Surviving” on it. Just “Survivor” or “In the fight” or
something like that. Unfortunately, I
will have the prospect for brain cancer many years into the future. But I am surviving right now and looking to
start living once again.
The Race for Hope is coming up in Philly this weekend. My mom is putting together a team if you are
interested in participating. If you go
to the website and type in Diane Schwartz, you can donate or participate in the
team. I also have other friends and
supporters running in the race – I am betting that someone will win on my
behalf. Please donate – it is amazing to
know how many people are affected by brain tumors.
Long time since you have posted. Whew, you’re still alive!
You ARE a survivor. That you are still alive is all you need to make that claim. The day I was diagnosed, when I gave my illness to Christ at the foot of the cross and laid claim to victory in His name, I became a survivor!
I am Stage 4, leiomyosarcoma, which has a 98% chance of coming back again, and again, and again. But on February 8, 2010, I went from ordinary citizen to saved survivor. Same date for you, if I remember right.. You can claim it retroactively!
Blessings, fellow Survivor and Cancer journeyer. Good to see you on the road…
Vicki Strong
http://www.joggingtothefinishline.wordpress.com
Tim,
You are a survivor – you survived when you had your seizure while driving your truck on Feb. 16, 2010; you survived when you had your surgery at MD Anderson Hospital on April 8, 2010, with no complications; you survived and got to witness Emma’s birth and you continue to take care of her while Jenn goes to work; you survived 18 months of chemo — you are a survivor. Yes, you still have and will always have your brain tumor, but God isn’t finished with you yet – HE has a plan for you. So hopefully, for the next 50 or more years, you are and will be a survivor. My prayers continue to come your way -God Bless You Always – I love you, MOM
Hi there. My name is Michelle. I am a writer and blogger from New Jersey. Today I did the Race for Hope in Philadelphia in honor of my Grandmother, Eleanor. While walking, I was snapping lots of pictures of the other teams and walkers. When I got home and loaded my pictures, there was a picture with a team bearing signs with the address of your blog. So I decided to check it out. I wish you the very best of luck and hope in your fight. Blessings to you.