Can't decide, should I laugh or cry?

[imojoebunny]

I am alone this week with the kid's as I am most of the summer.  I got a call from my mom that my cousin's cousin, J, who I have known my whole life, and is close to my age (early 40's) has the worst case brain tumor, she was doing great until about 3 weeks ago, very active person, her job is physical helping people rehab from accidents, and she enjoys mountain biking, gardening, always active.  Started getting headaches a couple of weeks ago, and now is facing a tumor that has a high likelihood of killing her in the next 6 months to a year.  

She is the kind of lady who takes down her own trees, chops them with an ax, and stacks them in neat piles.  

I on the other hand am a useless infant who hires out everything.  Today, I hired a company to deliver and stack a 1/2 cord of wood.  I get home, just after talking to my mom, and they have stacked about a 1/4 of it, and left the rest in a giant pile by the driveway.  

I can't decide if the universe is telling me to be more like my friend, or this is some kind of cosmic joke.  J would have that wood stacked by now.  

Wood is a small problem, but much larger than a brain tumor. I wish I could put the tiny brain tumor in the wood, then I would spend all night stacking it until it was gone.  

If your the praying sort, pray for J, if your not, then send her whatever kind of Karma you subscribe too because she absolutely doesn't deserve this, nor does her partner and family. She does everything right.    

[tacom]

Hugs. I am so sorry.

[audette]

Oh, *hug*

Fuck cancer.

[Deleted]

Hugs. Cancer is a cruel nasty bitch!

[spunkarella]

I'm so sorry. Cancer sucks.

[mskitkat]

*hugs*

[crashgizmo]

Cancer totally sucks. I'm so sorry and will be thinking good thoughts.

[Pom]

I am so sorry. (Hugs) Keeping you, J and all loved ones in my thoughts and prayers. Cancer can suck it.

[Susie]

Cancer (and karma sometimes) is a bitch. Hugs and good thoughts.

[Deleted]

Love and light to you, J and your families.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using proboards

[imojoebunny]

Jul 9, 2014 18:06:25 GMT -5 readyin07 said:

I am so sorry for her. Do you know what kind of tumor she has? Is there any plan for treatment? My aunt was diagnosed with a large non-cancerous brain stem meningioma at 43. Her kids were around 3 and 4. It was wrapped around her brain stem so there was no possibility of surgery. She had radiation treatment that held off its growth for 13 years. She died two years ago at 56. We honestly don't know what caused her death, but due to the sudden nature, it's assumed the tumor burst. I miss her every fucking day of my life. Definitely praying that in the years since she was diagnosed that there are new treatments out there that will give your cousin at least the kind of time my aunt had and then some. Obviously there are a lot of variables with where the tumor is located, the type of tumor, etc., but just living with a brain tumor is no joke. Hugs and prayers to her.

My mom could not tell me the name of it.  She gets that stuff wrong anyway, neoroblastoma something, was what mom said, and I can't really google because I have extremely limited internet where I am right now (bad cellular connection) My mom said that my cousin said it was the worst case, and when I talked to cousin on Friday (she's a doctor) she said it was likely one of two kinds, one with 6 months life expectancy, one with 2.5 years. If my cousin said worst case, it has to be the 6th month one because she is a total optimist.

They are working on a treatment plan as soon as possible, they just got back the results today, and transferred her today to the rehab were she works. The doctors that treat her are at a different hospital though, so they are trying to get her treated at the hospital attached to the rehab, to avoid transfers. If anyone can make it easier on J from a medical perspective, it's our cousin.  

[barefootcontessa]

I am so sorry.  My very good friend died earlier this year less than a year after a cancer diagnosis.  She was also in her early 40s.  She was a physical therapist, extremely fit and active, mother of two young sons.  It makes you wonder what is going on inside your body when someone so strong and health can actually be very sick.  I hope she gets good care.  

[genet313]

that's so hard.  i'm so sorry for you and for J and her family.

[mie]

I'm sorry. Good thoughts to your friend.

[raangoli]

I am so sorry. Hugs.

[Deleted]

Oh goodness. I'm so sorry to hear that.

It sounds like we can probably all try to be a little more like your friend and just take care of business.

Best of luck to her and her family through this.

[SJ]

I'm so sorry

[imojoebunny]

Thank you ladies for you kind words. I am feeling pretty angry, but moving toward productive. Offering to help and all that. Hopefully, they will take me up on it. Got the kids to sleep, so I can think. I hate this for J, her partner, and family. There is just no good way to spin it.

[MixedBerryJam]

Jul 9, 2014 18:50:21 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

Jul 9, 2014 18:06:25 GMT -5 readyin07 said:

....

My mom could not tell me the name of it.  She gets that stuff wrong anyway, neoroblastoma something, ....  

If it's a glioblastoma I may be able to answer some questions; that's what my husband had. The thing about brain cancer that makes it so much of a fucking bitch (not to say other cancers aren't their own special fucking bitches, too) is that the course of the disease is so unpredictable, depending on where the tumors are and how aggressively they grow, and what treatment plan is followed. You can't read an article at nih.gov and know what to expect. My husband had glioblastoma multiforme IV and was dx'd 9/08 and died 2/10, about 17 months. I have to say this: in his entire course of his disease he never had so much as a headache or a seizure. I was very grateful he had no pain. If you have any questions let me know. Good luck to your friend/cousin and your whole family.

[imojoebunny]

Jul 9, 2014 20:43:53 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

Jul 9, 2014 18:50:21 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

My mom could not tell me the name of it.  She gets that stuff wrong anyway, neoroblastoma something, ....  

If it's a glioblastoma I may be able to answer some questions; that's what my husband had. The thing about brain cancer that makes it so much of a fucking bitch (not to say other cancers aren't their own special fucking bitches, too) is that the course of the disease is so unpredictable, depending on where the tumors are and how aggressively they grow, and what treatment plan is followed. You can't read an article at nih.gov and know what to expect. My husband had glioblastoma multiforme IV and was dx'd 9/08 and died 2/10, about 17 months. I have to say this: in his entire course of his disease he never had so much as a headache or a seizure. I was very grateful he had no pain. If you have any questions let me know. Good luck to your friend/cousin and your whole family.

Thank you for your post.  When I find out from my cousin the right terms, I will hunt you down.  No doubt my poor cousin is having a hard night talking to J's parents and partner, and trying to work out the care plan with the hospital.  I think the headaches depend on where it is.  Her's is pinching on a major vessel to the brain :-( it just ain't no good.  

[Deleted]

Wow- I would have laugh/ cried/ sobbed too. I'm so sorry to hear this news.