Showing posts with label statistics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label statistics. Show all posts

1.19.2012

Can't They Feign Interest?

This photo is of the only thing that really put a smile on my face today. I'm down. It's been a long time since I've felt this sad.



Truth be told, in my doctor appointments yesterday, I didn't even whisper a word of my "alternative" protocol. I didn't argue, or give off any sort of attitude. I listened to what they had to say, and asked a few questions. They did not care that I haven't had a seizure in over 5.5 months, they want me on medication. They did not care that my brain tumor had scanned as "stable." They did not smile, they did not encourage. I'm now sure that it must say, "stubborn cuss" in my file because I have refused seizure medicine, and I have refused radiation. In my main meeting I told the oncologist that I'm not necessarily against seizure medicine, or radiation, I just don't feel like it's necessary at this time. He was not amused, and strongly disagreed with my opinion. The doctors do not believe in little successes in my situation. They didn't care that I had been seizure free for almost half a year, or that my tumor has not grown in the past three months. How is that? How can they not care? Or even feign interest? How can they look at me, and handle me in such a way? They see me as a terminally patient that is going to die. How can they not throw me a bone and smile at the little victories?! They look at me and they see a dying girl, when no one else in the world sees me that way. They're looking at statistics, not at me, and that makes me frustrated. They need to look at ME, at my specific situation. I feel like the kid in class that causes too much trouble, so the teacher is seating me in the back and doesn't even care if I learn anything - I'll just be bumped up to the next grade for the next teacher to deal with it, or I'll "graduate" to death.

4.24.2010

Taking It For The Team

Lots of thoughts swirl through my mind throughout the day. The most encouraging concept is the feeling that I'm taking a hit for the team.

Statistically, people get tumors. It's what happens. I'm grateful that it's happening to me, instead of the people that I love. I'd take this over my family, over my friends, over my acquaintances, even over strangers. I believe that the fact that I'm a notch on the brain tumor list removes another person's name from the board. And it should be me, I have a security net of hundreds of people, from my innermost circle in this room to souls spread all across the globe. There people praying, lending support, sending love, and filling me with strength so that I can break through and conquer this adversity.

I'm serious about this post. I'm not a martyr. I don't regret any of this situation. I'm not angry. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared though. I like my personality. I like my ability to adjust and adapt and grow as a friend, as a girlfriend, as a sister, as a daughter, as a human. If I change completely and my loved ones have to grieve for the Jessica that they've lost, I hope that I can at least evolve into a wonderful new Jessica with determination, tenacity, and soul. Only time will tell if I'll come out of this with the same cognitive abilities, language and movement; the immediate outcome, post-op, is out of my hands.

Thank you to everyone for the continued love. Thank you to Laura for giving my family her house in Seattle, which carries a zen energy that makes me feel like I'm living in a spa. I have been moved beyond words by the kindness of friends, and friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends.

Tomorrow we conquer the rite of passage that will be the head shaving. Photos to come.
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