Saturday, December 21, 2013

Background Post

So this is my perfect little family!  A little background on us in case you are new to our story.  I am Alison, mom to two AMAZING boys (Owen, 5 and Jacob 1.5) and wife to the world's best husband, Jamie.  We have had our share of struggles already.  Owen our 5 year old was born at 33 weeks and ended up suffering a stroke and grade IV brain bleed in the NICU.  He suffered some pretty serious brain damage and has been in therapy since he came home from the hospital.  I ended up quitting my job to dedicate myself completely to him and his recovery.  He is doing AMAZING!!!  Proving EVERYONE wrong.  He works SO hard at therapy and has been an inspiration to everyone around him.  Our biggest battle with him is his epilepsy.  He has seizures due to the damaged areas of his brain and they are draining on him and his daily medication takes a toll on his body.  Jamie and I have often questioned exactly what it feels like for him to have a seizure and what it feels like to be on so much medication, well never in a million years did I think I would find out.

This past Sunday, I woke up at 3am with a numb foot.  I ended up getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom where i got stuck.  I was walking in a circle knowing that I was walking in a circle but unable to change my path.  I called Jamie for help and things quickly progressed to me having a terrible grand mal seizure.  I was immediately taken via ambulance to ER for an emergency cat scan only to be told that I have a large brain tumor.  I don't think there are words to explain the thoughts that go through your head when a doctor tells you something like this.  Anger, confusion, fear, you name it, I felt it.   I was immediately transferred to a better hospital for additional testing and then put under for emergency brain surgery so they could get a biopsy on the tumor.

I am home now recovering with my family as we await the results of the biopsy to see what our next plan on attack it.  I am praying with all my heart that the results come back that this is benign but either way, I am WAY stronger than this stupid tumor, this tumor will NOT kill my spirit.  This tumor gets a big old fuck you from me!  That's what I think of it.  I am a busy mom, i plan THE BEST birthday parties, I already had a list of fun stuff to do with my boys in 2014 including teaching Owen to water ski and tube behind our boat and this tumor will NOT be messing with my visions for 2014, i can tell you that!  My boys NEED me, I need them!  This tumor is nothing we can't handle!  We will take it as it comes and keep on smiling and moving forward!

Writing has always been therapeutic for me so feel free to follow my blog for my ups and downs.  So far I feel like I am on a roller coaster.  I start out strong in the morning and slowly go down hill both emotionally and physically as the day goes on but all in all, I can't complain. The outpouring of support we have been shown so far has been so heart warming.  Reading everyone's encouraging words and hearing people cheer me on has kept my spirits up so thank you so much for that. 


So welcome to my blog!  Right now I am trying to find a good balance.  I feel like I need to spend every minute snuggling my kids but physically i don't have the strength for it right now and if  I snuggle too much more with Jacob I fear he may send one of his wooden trains through my head, he's kind of  a stinker!  Owen has been AMAZING, i expected nothing less.  When I am feeling down he has come over out of nowhere and just given me a kiss and walked away, this is SO Owen.  Jacob on the other hand takes more of the approach of "get over it mom, you're fine now get me a pop tart". 

Hope everyone snuggles their family extra close this Christmas!  Love to all!  Off to go rest my eyes!

I GOT THIS.  

12 comments:

  1. Alison, you are an amazing, inspirational and strong woman! I adore your perseverance and stubbornness! This bs will go away and you can flip this crap the bird and do what you do best: mommy, wife, friend, photographer and everything else in between. This will not bring you down, you're better and stronger than it and always will be. Thank you for your candor, God bless and have a wonderful Christmas with your baby boys and husband!

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  2. Alison, you were always fighting for the best for Owen! Now its your turn to fight for you! All my best! Tracy Ruska

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  3. Alison, I came to your blog because I was linked the post about Sharon's Salon in Brookfield. I just wanted to offer some encouragement and to lend an ear - should you ever need it. I am a local blogger as well, in Mukwonago. I love the "fight" that you seem to have and the fact that you will not less this illness get you down. That is amazing, not only for your spirit, but for your family's as well!

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  4. I discovered your blog through a friend and I want to tell you that you are not alone - I am a three time cancer survivor (you can read about it http://www.Grandmas-Cupboard.com) and I can relate to what you are feeling and thinking. You will be added to my prayer list. You sound like a very strong and determined woman, which will help you get beyond this and enjoy your children and family. It really makes you realize just how special life is and not to take any moment for granted. Be blessed.

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  5. Alison, I just read about your situation. In our circle, we are all learning about brain tumors, what works for treating them, and what doesn't. I would highly recommend reading through the research done on CURING tumors and cancers in the brain with essential oils. I literally was looking through brain slice scans of tumors that went away in a matter of weeks with applications of frankincense. The reason that chemo doesn't work for brain cancer is because chemo molecules are too large to bypass the blood-brain barrier, thus, they cannot touch any cell inside the brain. (This is why they have to surgically deal with brain cancer.) Essential oils, especially those with sesquiterpenes, easily pass through the blood brain barrier, because the molecules are so tiny. There are several oils high in sesquiterpenes, and they pull oxygen into the brain cells. If you don't know this, cancer cells cannot function in the presence of oxygen. They die, and the monoterpenes in the molecules reprogram the cells to revert back to the original DNA, thus wiping out a tumor. If you want to know more about this at all, feel free to message me on Facebook. My name is Mary Salentine, and I'm from New Berlin, WI. I've heard too many stories about people beating cancer without the $$$'s and damage that traditional cancer treatments inflict on patients. It's worth learning about your other options! Check out http://www.cancersalves.com/botanical_approaches/individual_herbs/boswellia.html

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  6. My niece in the same boat you are right now. It's amazing the similarity of your situations. She too is a young mother of two young sons and also has a wonderful husband and a brain tumor.... I wish I could put you two in contact with each other. I could see it has a very helpful bond. God bless you and your family

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  7. Good Luck to you, I myself found a large brain tumor after having a grand mal seizure when I was asleep a couple weeks before my 19th birthday. I am now 40 years old and have 3 adoreable girls! It has financially ruined me as it was not-insured, so I hope you find the help you need.

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    1. Nursemommyof3 - how are you doing now? Are you healthy, and how old are your girls? I'm a 42 year old mom of two kids as well and saw your post. I'm blessed to have not battled cancer, but I do know the stress of financial burden.

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  8. Alison, you should come to The Secret Garden Wig Boutique in Madison, Wi. They have an amazing staff, all certified wig specialists and will treat you amazingly. They have a wonderful selection, and the wigs looks so natural, even better than one's own hair! Please look them up, I have several friends who have purchased wigs from there while going through chemo, and have recommended others to them. At least look at their website, they are part of the Ultimate Salon, which is great. http://www.ultimatespa.com/secret_garden.php If you need help paying for it, please let me know.

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  9. Alison, your blog has brought me to tears. I am so sorry for what you are going through physically, emotionally, financially . . . My prayers are with you and your family. I wish I lived closer so I could help out with the meals and your boys, but I am on the other side of the state. May tomorrow be a better day!

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  10. I send you all the "kick this right in the ass" vibes I can spare. Many good wishes for you and your family as you navigate this path.

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  11. Just the best from Germany! You seem like a very strong woman and I am sure you will handle this!

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