Mama Mia vs Brain Cancer
Donation protected
Hi everybody,
Only a handful of people in our lives know about the hardship my family and I have been dealing with this past year, but I'm no longer afraid to talk about it because if there's anything I've learned in one year, it's that this is a very real and very serious part of all our lives, and we shouldn't be ashamed to ask for help, whether it be emotionally or in any other way.
April 2016 is when my mom was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. A migraine that lasted days that nearly knocked her unconscious every time she stood up was the beginning of it all. After being rushed to the ER and spending days in different hospitals, almost every type of test was performed. We didn't get any of the answers we asked for until one of the MRIs showed the smallest indication of what could be a tumor. Well, what was really found were clusters of tumors deep within her frontal lobe.
The last thing you ever want to hear from a doctor is that your mother has cancer, but I heard him loud and clear. I think the next worst thing to hear is that nobody really knows what exactly these masses are and how they're affecting her, and that more time and more testing is needed. After months of waiting painstakingly for answers, no one's ever really sure when it comes to cancer, unfortunately.
The only major brain surgery my mom has undergone was a brain biopsy. Thanks to this and her brilliant team of doctors and researchers, we at least know that it is not metastatic cancer and the tumors are very slow-growing. Yay! To this day, her condition is monitored closely to make sure there aren't any changes. Today, it has a name: extraventricular neurocytoma.
Unfortunately, with science and healthcare, the bills add up. It's been just over one year, and my family is still struggling to be emotionally okay. It's not fair that my mom, the one living with the knowledge that cancer is in her brain, is the strongest of all of us. She's the one who brings our family together, the one we depend on for everything. She's our glue. I've never felt so powerless in my life -- a condition like that, and she still continues to be the one to build us all up when we thought we all hit rock bottom.
Aside from the emotional strain we've been put through, the monetary burden certainly doesn't help the stress. Health insurance has covered an impressive 1 (ONE) percent of the medical bills. I'm reaching out to you in hopes that you can help lessen the financial responsibilities that my family faces.
Thank you so much in advance for listening to my mother's short story, and for the generosity I'm sure will ensue.
Happy mother's day, mommy. You are my whole world, my inspiration, and the source of my strength. I love you!
Only a handful of people in our lives know about the hardship my family and I have been dealing with this past year, but I'm no longer afraid to talk about it because if there's anything I've learned in one year, it's that this is a very real and very serious part of all our lives, and we shouldn't be ashamed to ask for help, whether it be emotionally or in any other way.
April 2016 is when my mom was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. A migraine that lasted days that nearly knocked her unconscious every time she stood up was the beginning of it all. After being rushed to the ER and spending days in different hospitals, almost every type of test was performed. We didn't get any of the answers we asked for until one of the MRIs showed the smallest indication of what could be a tumor. Well, what was really found were clusters of tumors deep within her frontal lobe.
The last thing you ever want to hear from a doctor is that your mother has cancer, but I heard him loud and clear. I think the next worst thing to hear is that nobody really knows what exactly these masses are and how they're affecting her, and that more time and more testing is needed. After months of waiting painstakingly for answers, no one's ever really sure when it comes to cancer, unfortunately.
The only major brain surgery my mom has undergone was a brain biopsy. Thanks to this and her brilliant team of doctors and researchers, we at least know that it is not metastatic cancer and the tumors are very slow-growing. Yay! To this day, her condition is monitored closely to make sure there aren't any changes. Today, it has a name: extraventricular neurocytoma.
Unfortunately, with science and healthcare, the bills add up. It's been just over one year, and my family is still struggling to be emotionally okay. It's not fair that my mom, the one living with the knowledge that cancer is in her brain, is the strongest of all of us. She's the one who brings our family together, the one we depend on for everything. She's our glue. I've never felt so powerless in my life -- a condition like that, and she still continues to be the one to build us all up when we thought we all hit rock bottom.
Aside from the emotional strain we've been put through, the monetary burden certainly doesn't help the stress. Health insurance has covered an impressive 1 (ONE) percent of the medical bills. I'm reaching out to you in hopes that you can help lessen the financial responsibilities that my family faces.
Thank you so much in advance for listening to my mother's short story, and for the generosity I'm sure will ensue.
Happy mother's day, mommy. You are my whole world, my inspiration, and the source of my strength. I love you!
Organizer and beneficiary
Reena Mia
Organizer
Delaware Township, PA
Cynthia Mia
Beneficiary