Cindy's Healing
Donation protected
Hello all,
Three weeks ago our word changed drastically even though it has yet to fully sink in.
My name is Eric Bloom and my beautiful wife of 32 years, Cindy Bloom has Glioblastoma (grade 4 Gliomas).
What I thought was going to be a normal day of work for the two of us turned very quickly.
I remember Cindy was quiet that morning but chalked it up to her being in month end at her job and she is always mentally drained and not to talkative.
I received a call from Carey, her co-worker saying that she had taken her to Urgent care and were redirected to Strong Hospital Emergency. Apparently Cindy was lathargic and was having trouble communicating and finding her words which was not like her.
This happened around 3:00 in the afternoon and it was a 12 hour drive to get to her.
I arrived at the Emergency department around 3:30 the next morning to find that they had done a CT scan and then called in a Neurosurgeon who we met with around 9:30 that morning. The CT showed a golf ball sized mass on the left frontal lope of the brain (above the left eye between ther skull and brain) and said it needed to be removed to relieve the pressure and to send for biopsy to see if it was malignant or not.
We scheduled surgery for 2 days later.....All went extremly well and we spent the next 3 days in recovery with a crew of wonderfull nurses and staff at Highland Hospital.
At discharge they told us they would have the results from the testing to see if it was cancerous or not. Three more days at home waiting for an answer, then the call comes in from the Neurosurgeons' Nurse (Kathy) that the tumor was in fact malignant and a grade 4 Gliomas.
Kathy set up a meeting at Wliamont Cancer at the U of R with the Onocologist and his assistant for 3 days later, I know it seems like months even thougth its only been days.....
Meeting day arrives and the doctor starts with the basic questions and then tells us that Cindy's life expectency was 12-15 and it will need to be treated with Chemo and Radiation thearapy starting right away.
I had already done research on this type of cancer so I knew what the life expectancy was but Cindy didn't know and I haden't told her. When Cindy heared the 12- 15 she was some what releived and said "12-15 years I guess thats not bad considering". Well the doctor meant 12-15 months not years, Cindy was devistated and hearing it come from the doctor I was also (its different when you read it vs hearing it)
After a few minutes of digesting the news I asked how long the treatments would last and his responce was 5-7 months depending on how it goes and how she deals with the side affects.
For Cindy and myself this was not acceptable to only have 12-15 months left and to spend most of those months dealing with the powerful treatments and the side affects which there are many. The quality of life was just not there!
As we finished up the meeting the doctor told us to stop at the desk and schedule an appointment with the radiation specialist to go over the treatment plan.
We stopped at the front desk and when the girl told us the the radiation specialist would like to see Cindy ASAP we looked at each other and both said " no thank you". She said excuse me and then Cindy said "we are going to go a different route than chemo and radiation" and we left. Sometimes after being together for as long as us, you just know how the other person feels without expressing it verbaly.
On our way home we called our sons and told them of our decision and they were in agreement as to our choice, whether they were or not, they gave us the respect of choice and know either way our love goes on (ages 27 and 29).
Our oldest son and his wife are Chiropracters in Knoxville, TN and gave us the name and contact info for a doctor who has Glimoblastoma brain cancer and has been treating it for the past 3 years with both holistic and modern treatments that don't involve drugs and without heavy side affects or pain (he actually said he has more energy that prior). He was also told the same things by the doctors when diagnosed. He did say that it will be a big" life change" (as if hearing the diagnosis wasn't in itself) but if you are determined and are strong he could help.
He put Cindy on a strict diet 4 days ago to rid her body of the sugars that feed the cancer and other toxins that we all injest from all the processed food that we eat (myself included).
The doctor then contacted 3 treatment centers, one in Houston, one in Spain and one in Germany and gave them all of Cindys information and the one that he thought was the best fit is in Germany out side of Frankfort.
Now to the chase.....
In the United States insurance companys will not pay for Holistic treatments, only treatments such as the chemo and radiation because they havent been approved by our goverment and the large controlling pharmaceutical companys that govern our choices.
I just want the best quality of life for my beautiful wife and will do what ever I need, to make sure she receives it, as I am sure you would also if put in this position. Cindy and my sons are my life, so here I am....
Between the 4 weeks of nessecary treatment in Germany, transportation, lodging and suppliments to keep her rocking without pain or side affects for the MANY years to come we are looking at more than $75,000 out of pocket expences not covered by insurance and money that we just dont have.
We believe that positive thoughts and a can do attitute will get you a lot further and will give Cindy a long life going foward and hope if nothing else you send those our way (thats if you made it this far)!
If you are interested in learning more about Gioblastoma please see below.
All our Love,
Eric Bloom
Glioblastoma
What do I have?
Known as Glioblastoma Multiforme, Malignant Gliomas and Grade 4 Gliomas, Glioblastomas are brain tumors that develop from brain cells called astrocytes.
Tumors developing from astrocytes can be low grade astrocytomas, anaplastic astrocytomas or glioblastomas (the most aggressive type of brain tumor in adults).
What does it do?
The brain has specialized areas that help us control individual functions, so if a tumor develops in the part of the brain that controls the right leg, you may have weakness, numbness, or seizures in that leg. If a tumor develops in the part of the brain that controls language, you may have trouble speaking or understanding. Most tumors are found because they cause a symptom that leads your doctors to check an MRI or CT of the brain.
How long have I had it?
Glioblastomas are the often aggressive brain tumors, sometimes starting out as fast growing tumors, or sometimes developing from slow growing tumors that become more and more aggressive over many years. While there can be clues in the tumor itself that can help us guess how quickly it has been growing, these are only clues, and most times we can't tell how long a brain tumor has been there.
Can it be cured?
Glioblastomas are usually not curable, but are treatable. We do our best to control the tumor and keep it from growing and causing more symptoms using many different tools including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
What caused it?
No one knows for sure what causes glioblastomas, although exposure to radiation may increase the likelihood of developing a brain tumor. While scientists have looked at other possible causes such as aspartame (Nutrasweet), cell phones, and power lines, no one has been able to show that any of these clearly cause glioblastomas.
Three weeks ago our word changed drastically even though it has yet to fully sink in.
My name is Eric Bloom and my beautiful wife of 32 years, Cindy Bloom has Glioblastoma (grade 4 Gliomas).
What I thought was going to be a normal day of work for the two of us turned very quickly.
I remember Cindy was quiet that morning but chalked it up to her being in month end at her job and she is always mentally drained and not to talkative.
I received a call from Carey, her co-worker saying that she had taken her to Urgent care and were redirected to Strong Hospital Emergency. Apparently Cindy was lathargic and was having trouble communicating and finding her words which was not like her.
This happened around 3:00 in the afternoon and it was a 12 hour drive to get to her.
I arrived at the Emergency department around 3:30 the next morning to find that they had done a CT scan and then called in a Neurosurgeon who we met with around 9:30 that morning. The CT showed a golf ball sized mass on the left frontal lope of the brain (above the left eye between ther skull and brain) and said it needed to be removed to relieve the pressure and to send for biopsy to see if it was malignant or not.
We scheduled surgery for 2 days later.....All went extremly well and we spent the next 3 days in recovery with a crew of wonderfull nurses and staff at Highland Hospital.
At discharge they told us they would have the results from the testing to see if it was cancerous or not. Three more days at home waiting for an answer, then the call comes in from the Neurosurgeons' Nurse (Kathy) that the tumor was in fact malignant and a grade 4 Gliomas.
Kathy set up a meeting at Wliamont Cancer at the U of R with the Onocologist and his assistant for 3 days later, I know it seems like months even thougth its only been days.....
Meeting day arrives and the doctor starts with the basic questions and then tells us that Cindy's life expectency was 12-15 and it will need to be treated with Chemo and Radiation thearapy starting right away.
I had already done research on this type of cancer so I knew what the life expectancy was but Cindy didn't know and I haden't told her. When Cindy heared the 12- 15 she was some what releived and said "12-15 years I guess thats not bad considering". Well the doctor meant 12-15 months not years, Cindy was devistated and hearing it come from the doctor I was also (its different when you read it vs hearing it)
After a few minutes of digesting the news I asked how long the treatments would last and his responce was 5-7 months depending on how it goes and how she deals with the side affects.
For Cindy and myself this was not acceptable to only have 12-15 months left and to spend most of those months dealing with the powerful treatments and the side affects which there are many. The quality of life was just not there!
As we finished up the meeting the doctor told us to stop at the desk and schedule an appointment with the radiation specialist to go over the treatment plan.
We stopped at the front desk and when the girl told us the the radiation specialist would like to see Cindy ASAP we looked at each other and both said " no thank you". She said excuse me and then Cindy said "we are going to go a different route than chemo and radiation" and we left. Sometimes after being together for as long as us, you just know how the other person feels without expressing it verbaly.
On our way home we called our sons and told them of our decision and they were in agreement as to our choice, whether they were or not, they gave us the respect of choice and know either way our love goes on (ages 27 and 29).
Our oldest son and his wife are Chiropracters in Knoxville, TN and gave us the name and contact info for a doctor who has Glimoblastoma brain cancer and has been treating it for the past 3 years with both holistic and modern treatments that don't involve drugs and without heavy side affects or pain (he actually said he has more energy that prior). He was also told the same things by the doctors when diagnosed. He did say that it will be a big" life change" (as if hearing the diagnosis wasn't in itself) but if you are determined and are strong he could help.
He put Cindy on a strict diet 4 days ago to rid her body of the sugars that feed the cancer and other toxins that we all injest from all the processed food that we eat (myself included).
The doctor then contacted 3 treatment centers, one in Houston, one in Spain and one in Germany and gave them all of Cindys information and the one that he thought was the best fit is in Germany out side of Frankfort.
Now to the chase.....
In the United States insurance companys will not pay for Holistic treatments, only treatments such as the chemo and radiation because they havent been approved by our goverment and the large controlling pharmaceutical companys that govern our choices.
I just want the best quality of life for my beautiful wife and will do what ever I need, to make sure she receives it, as I am sure you would also if put in this position. Cindy and my sons are my life, so here I am....
Between the 4 weeks of nessecary treatment in Germany, transportation, lodging and suppliments to keep her rocking without pain or side affects for the MANY years to come we are looking at more than $75,000 out of pocket expences not covered by insurance and money that we just dont have.
We believe that positive thoughts and a can do attitute will get you a lot further and will give Cindy a long life going foward and hope if nothing else you send those our way (thats if you made it this far)!
If you are interested in learning more about Gioblastoma please see below.
All our Love,
Eric Bloom
Glioblastoma
What do I have?
Known as Glioblastoma Multiforme, Malignant Gliomas and Grade 4 Gliomas, Glioblastomas are brain tumors that develop from brain cells called astrocytes.
Tumors developing from astrocytes can be low grade astrocytomas, anaplastic astrocytomas or glioblastomas (the most aggressive type of brain tumor in adults).
What does it do?
The brain has specialized areas that help us control individual functions, so if a tumor develops in the part of the brain that controls the right leg, you may have weakness, numbness, or seizures in that leg. If a tumor develops in the part of the brain that controls language, you may have trouble speaking or understanding. Most tumors are found because they cause a symptom that leads your doctors to check an MRI or CT of the brain.
How long have I had it?
Glioblastomas are the often aggressive brain tumors, sometimes starting out as fast growing tumors, or sometimes developing from slow growing tumors that become more and more aggressive over many years. While there can be clues in the tumor itself that can help us guess how quickly it has been growing, these are only clues, and most times we can't tell how long a brain tumor has been there.
Can it be cured?
Glioblastomas are usually not curable, but are treatable. We do our best to control the tumor and keep it from growing and causing more symptoms using many different tools including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
What caused it?
No one knows for sure what causes glioblastomas, although exposure to radiation may increase the likelihood of developing a brain tumor. While scientists have looked at other possible causes such as aspartame (Nutrasweet), cell phones, and power lines, no one has been able to show that any of these clearly cause glioblastomas.
Organizer
Eric Bloom
Organizer
Rochester, NY
