Five Years and Thriving

April 1, 2021: Surrounded by family and supported by dear friends around the globe at the height of the COVID pandemic, Dr. Friedman at Duke University's Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center performed the surgery that saved my life.

It was followed by 14 more months of treatment - initial chemotherapy and radiation, and then a year of 5 days on / 23 days off of chemotherapy.

I will always be grateful to Duke, Virginia Hospital Center, and now UCSF's Brain Tumor Center for the care that has enabled five precious years of life.

So much gratitude to every individual who has supported me over the past five years; and to all the individuals supporting others also affected by cancer. I deeply value all the care and support that made it so much more manageable to make it through the biggest challenges I've ever encountered.

I will continue to advocate, raise funds, and seek ways to ensure better treatments and quality of life for cancer patients and survivors. I gladly share my story with others to (hopefully) help ease the path of those in similar situations. Cancer affects so many of us - whether the patient, a family member, or friend. The more I can help to destigmatize it, the better.

I celebrate five years with a heart full of gratitude. There is still so much I want to learn, and so much I want to share with the world.

I look forward to the next five years and way beyond. Cheers to my health, and cheers to yours!

#braincancerawareness

#braincancerthriver

#braincancersupport

#oligodendroglioma