It's a Brain Tumor!

Hello family and friends. I decided this would be an easier way for my family and I to update everyone on my recovery and health. I have to say there are no words to express the love and gratitude I feel for the outpouring of love I continue to feel for all of the prayers, wishes, and thoughts that have been on my behalf. It is humbling to imagine how this experience has not only influenced my life, but that of others around me.

I suppose it is only right to give a little history. 12 years ago I was diagnosed with a brain tumor, technically it is called a craniopharyngioma. It's amazing how you learn such technical terms so quickly. I even know how to spell it (I looked it up)! It's not cancerous, but it was located in an extremely invasive place in the center of the brain. It was pushing on my optic nerve, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland (just a few important centers up there).

I often get asked how did you know? Of course I had headaches, anyone who knows me knows I've had headaches my entire life. I started to wonder what was wrong with me??? I even had a coworker once who mentioned she didn't comprehend what a headache felt like, boy did I want to help her feel one (not physically of course).

I was also experiencing other symptoms, which I now know was the hormone imbalances. The pituitary gland is the control center for all hormone functioning, which means mine wasn't doing it properly. The biggest concern, which sent red flags to the doctors, was when I started losing my vision. That was scary! I started to see black clouds obstructing my view everywhere I looked. I couldn't read, drive or do anything independently now. I could still see a little but I had to move my head to see around the "black clouds."

So, a few MRI's and Drs. visits later it was diagnosed. It was the quickest result to an MRI I ever received. I now know if the doctor calls you the day of your tests it's not good news. They also offered me medicine to help me sleep or calm down. This just made me laugh because I was calm the entire time. I had the love of my parents with me and faith that everything would be alright. I was honestly relieved because now something was found so we could move forward and treat it. I was in the surgeon's office the next day and plans were made.

Surgery was scheduled for Halloween day (I didn't have any plans). With the faith and prayers of many family and friends the tumor was removed. The surgeon thought it was miraculous, but I know otherwise. Going into the surgery, the plan wasn't to completely remove the tumor, but to remove as much as possible and diagnose the problem. Because of the location, and the tumor's presence on the other centers of the brain (pituitary gland, hypothalamus) the surgeon already said he wouldn't touch those areas, knowing it could make matters worse. We would have to discuss treatment after.


For 11 years, there was no sign of the tumor on follow up scans. This past year, the headaches came back and I knew they were not the usual stress or day to day headaches. After several months of more testing, it was positive that the tumor had in fact come back. Apparently this is somewhat common and we always knew there was that possibility.

I really wanted to schedule the surgery for Halloween again this year to be sentimental (I'm just crazy that way) but decided against it since now I enjoy the holiday with my young niece and nephews. I also needed to postpone the surgery a little to finish my commitments to an online class I was teaching and a family trip to Disneyland in Oct. (I have my priorities -- Disney always comes before health).

Thus, the time has come. On Thursday, Nov. 5 I will be at Banner Desert Samaritan Hospital for surgery a second time. The good news is the tumor is smaller, and not pressing on the same areas, with the exception of my optic nerve. It's a blessing I still have my vision to this day really.

I'm confident in the surgeon and health professionals. However, I'm more confident in my Savior, who guided me through the last experience with peace. At a time like this it is only my faith in my loving Father in Heaven that will give me the strength to continue to smile and endure the pain as I am asked to.