by Joy
My mother's tumor was discovered on 7/12/11. Looking back, we all noticed strange things about her during the month before, but who in the world thinks it could be the absolute worst thing imaginable. She called me to come over that day to drive her to the vet as my dad had taken her keys away from her the day before after she got lost. She told me when I arrived that she thought she had Alzheimer's and was going to see her dr the next day. I drove her to the vet's office and while there, I noticed a definite facial droop on the left side. She seemed very confused and almost in a fog-like trance. I immediately took her to the nearest ER and could tell pretty quickly that they didn't think it was a stroke because they weren't in any hurry. At that point, I knew what they suspected. Within three hours, my biggest fear was confirmed. They transferred us to Duke that afternoon and by 7/15/11, she was in the OR having brain surgery performed by the same dr that performed on Ted Kennedy. They called w/ the path report the following week. She underwent 42 rounds of radiation and Temodar and Avastin which began on 08/22/2011. They told us that with the surgery and successful treatment she could have years. Without it she would have 1-3 months. Mama died in my arms on 11/17/11, four months and two days after surgery, even with all of the treatment. I do take comfort that she is no longer suffering and that I was there with her.
