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This is something I never dreamed of having to do. But here we are. I'm horrible at putting things into words so just bare with me here.
My name isMegan Machado and my husband of 8 years (together for 13 years) is Gary Machado.
2020 started with Gary going to the ER, having multiple seizures on the way. MRI showed a 'cloudy spot' but nothing they were concerned with. MRI in May showed a 'small spot' the neurosurgeon wanted to biopsy, just to find out what it was. MRI was done June 15th 2020, a few days before the biopsy to make sure of the location. We're in the prep room, signing papers for the biopsy when the surgeon comes in and turns our lives up side down. The "small" spot had grown substantially in just 4 weeks. The small spot they weren't to worried about is now the size of a cherry tomato. The small spot turns into Glioblastoma Multiforme, GBM. Stage 4 brain cancer. The words terminal and 2 years with treatment are mentioned. I feel my world spinning and then slams to a standstill when I tell his kids, his mom, our family.
The simple biopsy now becomes a craniotomy. Followed by 6 weeks of oral chemotherapy and targeted radiation. Then 6-12 months of more 'maintenance' chemotherapy.
We are now 9 months into this hell. Gary is doing all the treatments, taking all the pills (not without complaining to me but I expect that ) and even started a new treatment called Optune. That is a fun addition for sure.
I had to leave my job to take care of him. Between hospital bills, medication costs, an emergency appendix removal for me in January and then my car finally throwing in the towel, things have been hard to put it mildly.
We have always talked about places we would go and things we want to do. But jobs and being an adult got in the way. Now it's not an option for us to wait and do things later. We want to have a few more adventures. A few more road trips where he doesn't tell me about our exit and we get lost. To have a few more memories while we still can.
So I'm asking, if you are able, to please help us make some memories. Even if you can't donate, just a share.
I'll post updates with Gary's bucket list and things we are able to do. Thank you for reading this far.
My name isMegan Machado and my husband of 8 years (together for 13 years) is Gary Machado.
2020 started with Gary going to the ER, having multiple seizures on the way. MRI showed a 'cloudy spot' but nothing they were concerned with. MRI in May showed a 'small spot' the neurosurgeon wanted to biopsy, just to find out what it was. MRI was done June 15th 2020, a few days before the biopsy to make sure of the location. We're in the prep room, signing papers for the biopsy when the surgeon comes in and turns our lives up side down. The "small" spot had grown substantially in just 4 weeks. The small spot they weren't to worried about is now the size of a cherry tomato. The small spot turns into Glioblastoma Multiforme, GBM. Stage 4 brain cancer. The words terminal and 2 years with treatment are mentioned. I feel my world spinning and then slams to a standstill when I tell his kids, his mom, our family.
The simple biopsy now becomes a craniotomy. Followed by 6 weeks of oral chemotherapy and targeted radiation. Then 6-12 months of more 'maintenance' chemotherapy.
We are now 9 months into this hell. Gary is doing all the treatments, taking all the pills (not without complaining to me but I expect that ) and even started a new treatment called Optune. That is a fun addition for sure.
I had to leave my job to take care of him. Between hospital bills, medication costs, an emergency appendix removal for me in January and then my car finally throwing in the towel, things have been hard to put it mildly.
We have always talked about places we would go and things we want to do. But jobs and being an adult got in the way. Now it's not an option for us to wait and do things later. We want to have a few more adventures. A few more road trips where he doesn't tell me about our exit and we get lost. To have a few more memories while we still can.
So I'm asking, if you are able, to please help us make some memories. Even if you can't donate, just a share.
I'll post updates with Gary's bucket list and things we are able to do. Thank you for reading this far.