~May ~ Brain Cancer Awareness Month~

The month of May is BRAIN CANCER AWARENESS month. Never in a million years would I have thought someone in my immediate family would be diagnosed with brain cancer. I was thinking about it today; it is still hard to digest. Now if it would have been any other type of cancer it would not have surprised me. But BRAIN CANCER. Not only was she diagnosed with brain cancer, but she was diagnosed with the most aggressive type of brain cancer, Glioblastoma Multiforme, IV. Since November 13, 2007 we have been made aware that GBM is the most common type of primary malignant brain tumor in adults. And, the survivor rate is so very poor. This stinks! Saying that, we've chosen to look at the positives.

First, if this is your first time reading this, it is my younger sister who was diagnosed with GBM. She is doing well. She has undergone her initial radiation/chemo treatment at M.D. Anderson. And, now she is on her 3rd month of a clinical trial where her cancer is "stable."

There are people who are 15+ year survivors of this nasty disease. We have chosen to have faith in God. Jan looks to God each day for strength, as does our family. He gives us what we need for that day. Though this has been hard, especially on Jan, she has shown such grace and a true peace as she lives to tell her story. We want to praise our Father in Heaven for the blessings he bestows on us each day and there have been many.

At this time, Jan would like to return to work. Before she actually takes that step, she is going to work on getting her body back in the physical shape it needs to be in so that she will be able to handle work physically. Next, we are looking for volunteer work that she may do before she takes that step so as not to jeopardize her disability.

We are also gearing up for Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society at the end of June. We are trying to help them by raising money to honor Jan, remember our Dad who lost his battle to cancer in 2000 and also I want to remember a friend's little girl, Kraleigh who lost her battle in 2006. We're trying to figure out what would be the best ways to raise out money for the Relay.

Having brain cancer, or really any cancer takes so much from people. We want to honor and remember them. We cannot even begin to imagine what it takes out of these people, until we've been there.

Take a minute and say a prayer for Jan and all the people suffering from cancer. I've seen firsthand, as I'm sure so many of you have what it takes out of people when they are going through treatment.

May each and every one of you be blessed today!