Eyes on the Prize

It has been a long time since I used this blog. I have been all over lately. I have been trying to do too many things at once. I have been focusing on nothing and dabbled in everything in my life these past few months. I need to keep my eyes on the prize. What I mean is try to become more focused/organized/simplified. This might be simple for most people,but when everyone & thing in your life is moving a million miles an hour and you are going at a snails pace it is beyond tough.
3+ years and I feel like sometimes I am trying to keep up. I know I cannot,but I still do. It is like rehab. After this long I am aware of things I need to do and I understand my body so much more ,but I don't do what I should. I eat healthy,get a decent amount of sleep,exercise...some.
Rehab and school are going well,but I feel they could be going better...Mentally,physically,emotionally.. I need to keep my eyes on the prize...overall health/rehab & graduating.

Anyway, on May 22nd(only took me a month) some friends & I walked a 5k for Brain tumor research...etc.(Path to Progress)I was a great time and I am very happy/thankful for friends & family support! We raised over 1,000! Very cool,but what was not cool was the course being closed and everyone going home! Haha! I only got in 2 miles! Next year will be different!

Road 2 Recovery

My "road to recovery" Is not a familiar road like the one you grew up on it. It is more similar to one of those roads when you are lost & you re thinking "where the hell am I"? It is full of twists,turns,bump,detours,stops for numerous reasons & etc. You look @ a map in order to get yourself back to your destination. You are no longer lost,but you are on a completely different road/route. Point "A" to point "B" is much different.

Ok...Maybe a bad example,but it makes sense to me!
For the last few weeks I have thought about how my "Road 2 Recovery" has become a part of my life. Some people that have a traumatic event in life happen may "give up"because progress is taking too long. Recovery is maintenance or life long. Reluctantly, I have realized this. Recovery is a word in which some people feel is temporary. I have had some "friends"/ acquaintances that have asked me "are you better"? Kinda makes me laugh.I guess I know what they meant,but I am slowly getting "better" @ many aspects of life post tumor removal. My "Road 2 Recovery" is similar to the road I was talking about in the second sentence of the first paragraph & I plan/hope on having it become more like the road I am familiar with.

I have been slacking on my rehab lately,but it is not all laziness. It is school. My classes are interesting,but I have reading out the wazoo?
I cannot slack too much on the rehab now though,because a very nice lady I met @ rehab was widowed recently.Her husband was an engineer & made some sweet parallel bars that he once used. Long story made short They are now mine! I have lots of equipment for rehab,now I have almost everything I need! When I use up all my rehab visits that insurance allows I can do all my rehab here. The only issue is that I am a all over the place. I spend two weeks @ my Moms & two @ my Dads. I cant take the bars with me! The one measily hour I get a week @ rehab to use the bars is not nearly enough.I think & hope something as simple as these bars may help my independence/recovery so I can somehow be on my own or with a roommate one day. Until then those bars will get a hard workout!

Christmas Vacation

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas. I am all over during Christmas,which is nice because I get to see everyone. Unlike Clark Griswold from Christmas Vacation,where everyone comes to his house. Now that I'm around family more and not driving it makes me wish I lived much closer to everyone.
Christmas Vacation is a great time for me to do things I don't have time for while taking classes. This break has not lived up to the excitement I had for it yet.I should give it more of a chance though.I wanna get my degree as quick as I can with still keeping an acceptable G.P.A. I am thinking about grad school actually! I will see if I change my mind. It will keep me busy while I attempt to get a job!

Anyway, a break will be nice. Like I said, I can spend more time other things,like rehab. I am much more independent on the walker now,but that is not enough! I am determined to get the wheel chair out of the house! Sitting down will not improve my balance! My old therapist mentioned forearm crutches a long time ago and I have decided to start using them very soon.
More time on my feet will translate to better balance and get me closer to a HUGE goal for me... a cane.
During break I will also be having some surgery on my left eye. Yes,more plastic surgery.This surgery is outpatient and done under a local anesthetic. I am sooo ready...My eye is always watering,I get water in it when showering,it sometimes gets scratched when I put clothes on, or take them off and my eyeball won't dry out which is kinda important...ha....I have that done Tuesday morning!

Glicogene Study

I almost forgot about my blog.
Anyway, I am participating I'm an international study called the Glicogene:Brain Tumor Linkage Study http://www.gliogene.org/ "The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of genes that may point to a higher risk of developing a glioma. Researchers will use new gene mapping techniques to study how high-risk factors are passed on through a family's genes and increase the risk of developing gliomas"
I am pretty positive that tumors don't run in our family,but I think these studies are very important. If in any way I can help with studies to get rid of these damn things(tumors)...I will! If you have a health issue and you are asked to participate in a study, I highly recommend you take part.

Busy Beaver!

It has almost been two months since I updated this blog! It would be nice to have time for Facebook or blogging, but I don't. That is fine though. I have been way to busy with other things.
I have been busy going to class, studying,reading, Dr's and rehab when I find time (not going to rehab, I do not like @ all) I guess I have to get used to it though. Trying to balance rehab,school,family,friends,watching football...HA! hobbies & etc is not an easy task. I like to stay on one topic when I update this blog, but bare with me.
I am taking only two classes and for me that's plenty! I can say I'm never bored & I have only worked out two hours in the last three weeks...I love eating,so I'm worried about chubbin out! Anyway, I went for my M.R.I. last and saw my neurologist last Tuesday. It was clear! 2.5 + years later and I'm tumorless! 

On Thursday of last week I saw my plastic surgeon (sounds hilarious to me). The Dr did this simple test where you tap on your check to see if you/I feel anything. Well, I did! I was so happy! It is not always 100% the nerve will work. It is nice to know it's working so soon, which is even better! Looks like I will get a new cheek after all! 

I should be smiling again this time next year!

"Knowing is half the battle"

I saw G.I. Joe Friday with some buddies that I used to have epic G.I. Joe battles with(we lost a lot of good men). We have been waiting for this movie for twenty years and we were sooo ready.
It is strange how when you are a little guy and when it comes to G.I. Joe's, all you care about is if you get to win the battle in the end or not.
Similar to the old corny Public Service Announcements at the end of every G.I. Joe episode where the characters would really try to sell the "Knowing is half the battle" idea and they would give us "kids" tips to stay safe or aware of surroundings. The way I live my life now is by that old saying..."Knowing is half the battle"... that had only a small percent of relevance as a child. I am 99% of the time aware my surroundings now. I have to be.In rehab,school...everything in life is waaaaaaaaaaaay different now.
Thanks General Hawk!

Success!

The 2nd try for surgery went well! The Dr had to take a bit of a more aggressive route. Instead of only having to use 5 inches of nerve from my calve area, he had to take over 12 inches. Which leaves me with a nasty scar! It would have been nice If the nerve between my lip & cheek were large enough to connect the nerve from my lower leg, but that's not the case. He had to go from my sideburn where the facial nerve starts to branch out under the parotid or (salivary gland). The part of the jaw that sticks out like a ball by the ear. The Dr took out some of my parotid gland and my cheek swelled up like a softball. Not exaggerating...It was gross. This should do the trick for now. I have to wait 9-13 months and after the nerve is biopsied to see if it is firing, I will get a new cheek...well, that will come from my body though. Either some of my inner thigh or my trunk area.
Now I wait, but I am starting to become an expert on waiting!