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Stephanie
Willards
Audra- Your website is great & I loved looking at your pics! I'm inspired by you & what you have gone through. You are quite amazing. I hope we can become friends ~ since Willards isn't too far from Pittsville and we both recycle
Marta
Awesome awesome pix! Your smile is as bright as the sun, and makes me so so happy, Audra! Your children are so beautiful. I am glad to see who you all are...and i am still smiling..as i listen to the antidotes page..lol..
Freddy Echiverri
San Antonio
Hey, Audra!
I have not heard from you in a while, How are you doing?
Thinking of you lately. Let me know how things are going.
Love ya,
Freddy E.
I have not heard from you in a while, How are you doing?
Thinking of you lately. Let me know how things are going.
Love ya,
Freddy E.
Audra writes:
Freddy!!! Email me. I can't find your email address anywhere...
Just sayin' Hi from Houston
Houston Tx
Hi Audra,
My logon is donnathenurse but now I'm wondering if I need to change it to donna the patient. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in March 2007. Everything was going fine until August 2008. I became nauseated and started vomiting for 2 days. Scared to go to the ER for fear of getting an NG Tube (Nasogastric Tube). The CT brain showed swelling. Less than 24hours later I was having brain surgery. I found out it was cancer the same week that Hurricane Ike hit here. Talk about the storm of a century. I am so glad to have found your site, to find others who have been thru the same thing. It's awesome that you had a baby after ALL THIS STUFF.
My logon is donnathenurse but now I'm wondering if I need to change it to donna the patient. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in March 2007. Everything was going fine until August 2008. I became nauseated and started vomiting for 2 days. Scared to go to the ER for fear of getting an NG Tube (Nasogastric Tube). The CT brain showed swelling. Less than 24hours later I was having brain surgery. I found out it was cancer the same week that Hurricane Ike hit here. Talk about the storm of a century. I am so glad to have found your site, to find others who have been thru the same thing. It's awesome that you had a baby after ALL THIS STUFF.
Gerrick
London, ON
Wow! That's exciting news about your little Irie! Congratulations to you guys!
Damien
Congrats Audra & Mike! There must of been something in the water or weather about 10 months ago. Another friend had her third boy on Dec 1. Ron & I will be trying for our first this year. Again, congrats- how awesome!
Brian
IL
Hey Audra,
It's Brian from Rockin Race Designs! Congrats on Irie!! Have a little girl on the way as well. My baby boy Gavin (3yrs old) is really excited and so are we. I'm ready to have a daddy's girl. I bet Mike is lovin it! Well, I'm glad to see you doing well and I hope business is going well. I'm not going to lie, I have had NO customers. Economy I guess! Well, keep in touch, and again, congrats!
Brian and Family!
It's Brian from Rockin Race Designs! Congrats on Irie!! Have a little girl on the way as well. My baby boy Gavin (3yrs old) is really excited and so are we. I'm ready to have a daddy's girl. I bet Mike is lovin it! Well, I'm glad to see you doing well and I hope business is going well. I'm not going to lie, I have had NO customers. Economy I guess! Well, keep in touch, and again, congrats!
Brian and Family!
Looking for some smiles...
Hillsdale, NJ
Hi Audra,
I just happened to find your blog from a search I've been doing to find other women, and particularly moms, who have have brain tumors. I also had an oligodendroglioma in my right frontal lobe. Thankfully I have all cognitive and motor skills intact after having it resected last December by an excellent nuerosurgeon. My case, however, was very traumatic b/c the tumor was discovered after having a full tonic-clonic seizure at 39 wks. pregnant in July of '07. My son was delivered by emergency C-section a few days later. I am now finally beginning the inner healing process as I thought at the time the best thing to do would be to be a good new mom and return to work as normal. Well, that didn't quite work, b/c now I'm in therapy learning how to cope with what happened to me. One of the biggest keys in my healing would be to connect with another women who has had this similar experience. If you can refer me to someone or can give any words of inspiration, it would be greatly appreciated. It sounds like you have your hands busy right now with you little one! Congratulations!!! My little guy is now 17mo. old and took his first steps on Christmas! Let me know if you can be of help. I'm glad I stumbled on your site.
I just happened to find your blog from a search I've been doing to find other women, and particularly moms, who have have brain tumors. I also had an oligodendroglioma in my right frontal lobe. Thankfully I have all cognitive and motor skills intact after having it resected last December by an excellent nuerosurgeon. My case, however, was very traumatic b/c the tumor was discovered after having a full tonic-clonic seizure at 39 wks. pregnant in July of '07. My son was delivered by emergency C-section a few days later. I am now finally beginning the inner healing process as I thought at the time the best thing to do would be to be a good new mom and return to work as normal. Well, that didn't quite work, b/c now I'm in therapy learning how to cope with what happened to me. One of the biggest keys in my healing would be to connect with another women who has had this similar experience. If you can refer me to someone or can give any words of inspiration, it would be greatly appreciated. It sounds like you have your hands busy right now with you little one! Congratulations!!! My little guy is now 17mo. old and took his first steps on Christmas! Let me know if you can be of help. I'm glad I stumbled on your site.
Audra writes:
Hi there. What is your name? When something like this happens you have to look on the bright side while being realistic, IMO. You are *very* lucky that you were practically full term when your tumor was discovered and you came through with no physical deficit. Just image if you had a physical deficit AND had to take care of a newborn! You/we are also lucky to live in an era where brain surgery is not a life and death procedure. However, as you know we also have to come to terms with our possible shortened life span and an altered set of priorities. I like to keep in mind that *everybody* has a lifespan, it's just that we have a better idea what ours might be. Of course, that doesn't mean it will end that way either!
I've found that this website has enabled me to connect to friends and reconnect with others. It's nice to realize the depth of your support network. Feel free to email me or post again
I've found that this website has enabled me to connect to friends and reconnect with others. It's nice to realize the depth of your support network. Feel free to email me or post again
Aunt Sarah
Dallas, N.C.
Congrats to you Audra on the birth of Irie. Patti has been keeping me updated on things. I hope you and the family have a wonderful Christmas. love, Sarah
Sarah
Oxford, PA
Congrats Audra! And welcome, baby Irie! (hugs!) Sarah
Christine Bell Boardwine
Rock Hill, SC
I just heard that your delivery was safe, and that Irie is here. <3 Congratulations, Audra! <3
Jeanine
Murrells Inlet, SC
Hi Audra...wanted to wish you Happy Holidays!! Early congrats on you new baby. I bet she will be a carbon copy of you and is so blessed to have you as he mother.
Gerrick Winston
London, Ontario Canada
Hello Audra! How are you doing? It's been far too long!! I just emailed you my phone number, so hopefully when you get the chance, you can give me a ring!
Gi-Gi
Elkton
I've got to know...How was the Holiday Shopper event???
Terry/Story Similar to My Daughter's
Nashville
Audra: I was encouraged to read your story. My daughter, Stacy, is a 12 1/2 year oligodendroglioma survivor. She has had three surgeries, the last was 2 years ago at M. D. Anderson. Her tumor was located in the right frontal lobe and had the deletions that are good to have. She has had two rounds of radiation...right after her first surgery, and then after her last surgery. She also did a year of temodar after her second surgery. She is not married and does not have any children, although she would really love to have them. What part of the brain was your tumor located in? Stacy is vegan and I think that has helped her. Keep us posted about your upcoming new addition to your family! Love and prayers to you, Terry
Jayne
Elkton, MD
Hey Audra!
I hope you and the family are doing well. Sorry I haven't checked in for a while but Verizon has had my Internet down for 6 weeks....UGH!!!! I was diagnosed at Johns Hopkins and continue to go there for monitoring and seizure control. I just feel like I am waiting.....but I am not sure for what??? They say there is not much they can do for me right now other than attempt to control my seizures; which are partial complex, not grand mal thank god! I would love to sit and talk with you next time you are the area. If you would like I can give you my email address and we talk about this some more. Maybe you, your best friend and I could meet at Wesley's on 273 in Fairhill or somewhere like that...just as a suggestion
Lenore
Spokane
The neuro-oncologist is putting me on Temodar as soon as I can get my iron levels into a normal range. No talk of radiation, and he said I'd just stay on this Temodar until it stops working. Was your tumor 100% removed? Was it the type with the 1p and 19q deletion? I wish I could send my file to 10 neuro-oncologists to tell me what to do, but I guess that's not financially reasonable.
Thanks for the quick response, and best of luck to you and your family. I'm thrilled that you're having a new baby!
Lenore
Thanks for the quick response, and best of luck to you and your family. I'm thrilled that you're having a new baby!
Lenore
Lenore
Spokane
Hi Audra, I've enjoyed reading your blog this morning. I ran across it while searching oligodendroglioma. I was recently diagnosed, and had a tumor removed from my left frontal lobe. I think it actually was the whole left frontal lobe that I had. My incision looks like yours, though my doc wasn't a shaver.. just where he had to cut. 25% of the tumor remains in there, and I have a visit with a neuro-oncologist on Wednesday to see what we'll do about it. I'm just curious about your experience. Seems like there are lots of different opinions about chemo first, then radiation, or which chemo drugs get the best result. I'm 38 with twin 8 year olds, so I need a little more time on the planet.
Any advice to a newbie?
Any advice to a newbie?
Audra writes:
Hi Lenore. Advice? Well, take all advice with a grain of salt. Cancer treatment is more like an art than science. Each cancer type is different and then within brain cancer each tumor type is different. What it boils down to is it is all a big guess. Learn as much as you can and don't be afraid to question your doctors and use your own common sense. They are only human too. Before I became pregnant I was doing the CRON diet (calorie restriction with optimal nutrition). The theory is tumors needs calories and if your body has none "left over" to feed them they can't grow. That makes sense to me but like I said do what makes sense to you.
Tim Deters, other people's lives
Baraboo, Wisconsin
I was wondering what happened to Audra and the Antidote, and I found this place. Odd, how the (relatively) unremarkable details of other people's lives can be so vicariously fascinating. Forgive the familiarity, but while you look better with hair you look even better without that perverse brain kudzu which forced the unhappy dance that is a seizure. Enjoy the semi-new kitchen.
Sarah
Oxford, PA
Happy Happy Birthday!!
