Little White Dot (3/3/23) On January 31st, I had an MRI that revealed what looked like a little white dot. This spot was seen on scans used with contrast, meaning something was going on there that involved blood. The worst-case scenario was that this spot was an area of “enhancing tumor,” or tumor recruiting my …
Snooze
A brief reflection on my current energy level and the tug and pull between logic and emotions
Choosing Limbo?
Transitions I just took my first sip of a latte at one of my favorite cafes in Brookline. My first coffee shop trip since surgery! Coffee shops, with their ambient noise (and of course endless array of pastries and coffee), are my favorite places to write. And if you have put one and two together, …
Some good news before surgery (and ways to help)
Before I start this post, I want to say thank you for all the kind words. Please know I have read every comment and text, even if I haven't had the capacity to respond. I hope we can connect following my surgery. For over a month I have been practicing how to brush my teeth, …
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F&#K This Can
It was over a year ago when I wrote my last post to commemorate my 30th birthday. In that blog on August 21st, 2021, I mentioned a possible recurrence. A small spot appearing on the MRI scans that could have been either tumor or scar tissue. And then I left you hanging… I’m sorry about …
On Turning 30 Years Old: Living a life guided by my values
I never thought I would make it to my 30th birthday, but here I am! I don’t mean for this to be a grandiose statement, it’s simply fact. Over the past 18 years since I was diagnosed at the age of 12, I have gone through my first diagnosis followed by surgery, months in the …
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Sailing New Seas: My Biopsy Results and The Need For a Cure
On Monday, June 4th I had my neurooncology appointment at UCSF. Since being discharged from the hospital, my days have been pretty smooth: waking up, exercising a little, hitting an energy-wall, and relaxing. I mean how often do you get an excuse to binge-watch Netflix guilt free? As Monday approached though, I could feel the anxiety creeping throughout my body. It was the day I'd receive my biopsy results from the surgery.
Who I ride for…Please Support the 2016 Boston Brain Tumor Ride
Over 300 stories. 300 unique experiences. Patients, survivors, family, friends...everyone in some way had a connection to the devastation caused by brain tumors. To sit in a room with these 300 people was humbling because they represented a web of countless others whose lives have been impacted by a brain tumor. Last week, I was in …
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Why I Ride…Please join and support the 2016 Boston Brain Tumor Ride!
Click HERE to join my team for the 2016 Boston Brain Tumor Ride! Yesterday I went to Dana Farber for my latest MRI scan. During the weeks leading up to the scan I was incredibly nervous. I have spent the past 3 months studying for the MCAT and preparing to apply for medical school. I …
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Done with treatment, MRI is “stable”… so what’s next?
Today marks a year since I started writing this blog. I made this blog with the intention of keeping everyone informed about my situation and hopefully give some insight into what it is like to go through this journey. While I haven't kept up with writing as much as I hoped, I am happy I …
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