My brother is doing great!

I haven't updated you on my brother's condition for a while. He is doing well. He finished his 5 1/2 week stint of radiation a few weeks ago with very little side effects. It's starting to hit him HARD now. He's very tired and gets a tad confused when tired. It's ok...he just needs to sleep. The radiation will continue to work for the next 3 months, then he is due for a repeat MRI.

Mom and I had to laugh...the cancer center (again although HIS tumor is NOT cancerous, but benign, he needed very specialized radiation) had to take an initial MRI prior to starting the treatments. The results said that the he has a "large" tumor. Ummmmm...it's HALF THE SIZE that it initially was before the 2 surgeries. To us, it's small. It's all in perspective, people.

Our family is very blessed.

I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who offered support and prayer during the most difficult time of our family's life.

My brother's brain surgery went PERFECT. Although it lasted roughly 13 hours, he was discharged home yesterday just 4 days after! Last surgery, he was in the hospital for 5 weeks. This is a night and day difference.

I cannot express the gratitude we have for Dr VanLovern. This man isn't just a gifted surgeon, he is an incredible human being. He is on earth for a purpose. We are also thankful for Tampa General Hospital and the OR, Recovery Room, and Neuro ICU staff. They were very supportive and patient with us.

During the past 16 months, we have learned that brain tumors ARE NOT a rare occurance. Our ordeal is not yet over. My brother will have radiation in a few months to stunt the rest of the tumor that couldn't be removed. He will then have MRIs for the rest of life to be monitored.

I feel like we have finally emerged from the gauntlet of hell. God definitely has a plan. My brother plans to use his experiences to help others in the same situation.

Please continue to pray for an uneventful recovery.

PRAYER NEEDED!!!!!

Today is my brother's surgery. It will last 7-10 hours, easily, and begins at 7:30am EST. Please take a brief moment and say a prayer for him. Pray for the surgeon and the hospital staff. Pray for our family. Pray for an uneventful surgery and an uneventful recovery.

Thank you so much! God Bless!

http://www.GoFitCoach.com

Dream Extreme

Beachbody asked me to videotape my "extreme dream" and the success of my goal for the Beachbody's Dream Extreme Coach Summit last weekend. Because they had to edit it for obvious time issues, I wanted to post the unedited version here (hint...long-winded.) It tells the entire story and was a bit cathartic for me. (Since the time of the recording, surgery had to be rescheduled for April.)

I am truly grateful for what Beachbody has allowed me to accomplish for my family.

My brother and I today

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I am gonna POP

We are one week away from Brian's surgery, and the stress is getting to an all-time high. I feel like I'm dealing with so much and just don't know how much more that I can take.

Yes, it sucks that we are having to go through another surgery, BUT we knew that we would have too. I don't think that people...my family...understand EVERYTHING ELSE that I have to deal with at the same time: concern for my child while I'm gone, his homeschooling while I'm gone, our finances, my hubby's potential deployment, looking for a private school for my son for next year, and on and on and on and on. I'm dealing with MORE than just my brother's surgery, but people tend to forget that. I'm the CEO of my household...when I'm not here, my absence is felt.

I have no choice but to continue to move forward and through this. I know that things will work themselves out, but I am NOT having fun right now.

I miss normalcy. I WANT normalcy.

Have you ever felt like you just want to run away? I'm so there. At this point, I'm really just ranting for myself, but if I don't get it out, I feel like I may explode...

...like a ZIT!

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Brian's Brain Update

Just got off the phone with mom. They are on their way home from the neurosurgeon now.

Dr VanLovern doesn't feel that the current situation is an emergency. He wants Brian to get stronger and take off some weight. Dr V would like to do surgery at the end of March/beginning of April. If push comes to shove, he WILL do it in February, but he would prefer not to.

The pressure that Brian is feeling IS probably coming from the residual tumor. Also, and I COMPLETELY FORGOT about this, after brain surgery, people can experience severe headaches for a year afterwards. His nerve endings are waking up, so he is getting this sensation now.

Brian will just keep taking the pain meds as needed. Although he has a gym membership, he fatigues so quickly that he hasn't been going. The fatigue is tumor-related. I have a nice treadmill that I may ask Keith to help talk over there. If Brian can jump on it in 5 or 10 min spurts when he does feel good, it can help. They are also going to adjust his steroids.

So, I feel like I can breathe because we know exactly where we are and have a plan. The unknown piece sucked sooo much.

...and I've decided to jump on the ChaLEAN Extreme bandwagon!!!!! I'll finish out this week doing various workouts, and officially start it on Monday. I may have to stop in the midst of phase 3, but that is ok.

WHEW!

http://www.GoFitCoach.com

Prayer Request Update

Brian is doing better after taking a Benedryl. He is home now. Thank you for the prayers! I am so thankful for prayer warriors!

http://www.GoFitCoach.com

Brian's Brain Update

Quick update to not make you wait...

Dr V's (neurosurgeon) office called Mom today. He is aware of everything that Brian is currently experiencing. His scheduler will call on Monday to schedule a doc appt with Brian with the intent of moving the surgery up sooner. I'm guessing potentially the end of January or beginning of February. I'd like to ask for continued prayers.

http://www.GoFitCoach.com

Brian's Brain Update

Brian is feeling awful. Pressure in the head is driving him crazy. He wants to believe that it's from something other than the tumor, but nothing else is showing up wrong. The neurosurgeon believes it's from the residual tumor.

Mom has put a call into him at Tampa to discuss everything. I'm really hoping that a surgery date is set. I don't see how this can go on until June. My stomach is in knots. I feel like I'm in a dark place right now, waiting to emerge with the necessary strength that I will need to get through this and to support my family at the same time.

http://www.GoFitCoach.com