“Excellent”
“Dramatic Improvement”
“1,000 times better”
I just wanted to repeat these! Great news!
That is some really good news. From my own medical experience, I will say that I think it is rare for a medical professional to say things like “dramatic improvement” unless it *really *is a dramatic improvement - they do not like to raise false hopes.
Sending out more healing thoughts!
What a great update, Charger! You continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.
Wow, Charger, I’m so glad to hear this! Thanks for letting us know. Keep up the good work, now.
Hooray!
Charger, thanks so much for the update! I hope you have lots more good news ahead.
Me too.
In this case, I love being wrong! Great news!
My brother is starting radiation for the same thing this week. Did they make a mask for you? He went in and they created a mask of his whole head to better direct the beams. This week he will take what they call the 10 thousand dollar pill.
Charger, what wonderful news! I’m adding my positive vibes to all the others headed your way!
gonzomax, I’ve got my fingers crossed for your brother that his treatment goes well and successfully!
Thanks for the update, Charger. Great news about the progress and the recentered brain.
I was a little afraid to open the thread, but WTG!! You keep kicking that tumor’s ass every way you can.
Excellent news! I’m so happy for you!
Thanks for the update. Such great news.
I just starting reading this thread. Amazing story. Congratulations on your fight. I’m roughly the same age as you, so it’s particularly interesting.
Man, a 9x6 cm tumor sounds HUGE. It’s amazing that something that big can grow inside you and you not even know about it. Crazy.
Have you been able to live a ‘normal’ life this entire year? Have you worked? Do you live on your own? Have they reassessed your odds of beating this or your expected lifespan?
I can’t imagine what it’ll be like exceeding your expected lifespan. Every day afterwards will be some kind of victory. Again, congratulations on your progress and best of luck in your continued battle.
Yay Charger! I’m so glad that you updated. I hope things are going well for you right now. Right this second.
Go, Charger, go! That’s great news, and thank you for updating us. It’s wonderful to see you doing this well.
Add me to those wishing you the very best, Charger!
Hello all,
I am Dale’s (Charger’s) wife. As those of you who watched this thread knew, Dale was fighting a terminal brain cancer with which he was diagnosed in early 2009. He passed away on December 5, 2010. Throughout his battle, the tumor remained stable. The last MRI had been just two weeks before. Earlier in 2010, however, he lost feeling and a lot of mobility on the left side of his body. I believe that was the result of radiation damage to his brain. He spent most of April in the hospital/rehab, made good progress, and was able to come back home. He continued to improve through May, but in June things spiraled rapidly down hill. At the end of the month, he was admitted to a nursing home for rehab, however he did not improve and his mobility continued to decline.
He and I married in August as we had originally planned. It was the best day he had since losing his mobility. He was tired a lot and needed frequent naps, but on our wedding day, he was awake, perky, and as happy as I have ever seen him. I had worried that the day might be too long for him, but he was not ready to leave our reception when the van came to take him back. Actually, the whole weekend was really good for him. I think he had somehow just made up his mind that it would be a good weekend.
Despite the decline, he was still fully there. With brain tumors like this, you often read of dramatic personality changes. Dale was still Dale. His personality had not changed. He was still the smart, witty guy he had always been. He did suffer significant loss to his short term memory as a result of radiation, and sometimes required more time to process information. That didn’t stop him, though. After being admitted to the nursing home, he decided that it was an excellent time to learn Japanese and was working his way through some very good language software. If anyone needed any further proof of what an amazing person he was, I think that accomplishment, in spite of the significant obstacles, shows it nicely.
December 4 was a very good day for Dale. He wasn’t tired and was online. He was doing so well that day that I went to visit him earlier than usual so we could spend more time together. When I left that night, he was happy and feeling good. Sometime around 3 a.m. he was taken to emergency because he was having trouble breathing. By the time I got there, he was unconscious. The doctor told me there was a very large blood clot lodged in his heart. They did all they could, including reviving him at least 4 times, but in the end, his heart just wouldn’t keep going on his own. His parents and I were with him when he left us.
He is greatly missed and will always be my hero.
Penny
Penny, thank you so much for letting us know of Dale’s passing. I know many folks here have been wondering about him.
I am so sorry for your loss, but am so glad you were able to have as much time with him as you did.
Dear Penny –
Thanks so much for letting us know.
I’ve changed the thread title to let people know that the news is sad – I’m sure people will be checking in to wish you well and share their thoughts.
My very best to you and all who loved Dale as you continue to adjust to his lost.
Judy (a.k.a. twickster)
My condolences for your loss. So glad he was alert and happy to the end.