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It's Mara
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The Story
Hi Folks! Here's the story straight from the horse's mouth:
August 29 I stumbled over a word. It wasn't a big deal but I noticed. Then on Thursday night (August 30) David and I left on a fabulous long weekend in Syria. Friday we left Damascus for Palmyra. It was really hot. That day I stumbled over a couple words too -- it stood out to me since I never do that....
Saturday we walked all over Palmyra and I was really suffering from heat, or so I thought. I felt like I was making lots of mistakes in my speech -- but David didn't notice. Then I noticed that I had a small numb spot on my scalp behind my right ear. Strange, strange, strange. On Sunday, back in Damascus, the speech got worse (comegranite instread of pomegranite, etc.). By the end of the day I really felt like I was having trouble simply getting sentences out that were in my head. I couldn't make small talk with strangers (imagine that for me!) -- it was stressfull.
When I got home Sunday night I wrote my melanoma oncologist and he said I should immediately get an MRI. So Monday morning by 8:30 AM our fabulous health unit in Amman had me in a an MRI machine. By 9:30 I was out and found that I had metastatic cancer lesions (tumors) on multiple sites in my brain. Most notably, a frontal left lobe that deals with oral expression (the largest at about 1.8 cm). I also have one on the base of my brain where it connects to the spine, which may or may not have to do with the scalp numbness.
So -- Monday was a fabulous day in the hospital in Amman where practically everyone I have worked or played with in the past year came to visit -- it was a big party! By the next morning I was on a plane back to New York, accompanied by the Embassy's excellent doctor -- Curt Hofer. Tuesday night we arrived in New York and took a taxi directly to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center hospital where we met my mother and oncologist. The past week in New York has blown by with tests and doctors and museums. David arrived from Amman on Sunday, September 9, and is going to be able to spend a month in the States (actually, we had a vacation planned now...).
So -- that's the beef. No headaches. No stroke-like symptoms. Just speech problems. In the last week the numbness on the right side of my head has covered my ear, jaw and moved down my neck and right arm. But as you will see from the blog -- treatment has begun so I hope it will all get better soon.
The plan: three weeks of full brain radiation (with weekends off). That is about all I know. There will be a plan afterward but we have to wait and see what this does before we decide. I still have a number of melanoma "freckles" on the skin of my chest -- so those have to be dealt with. I will keep you all updated regularly through this site!
August 29 I stumbled over a word. It wasn't a big deal but I noticed. Then on Thursday night (August 30) David and I left on a fabulous long weekend in Syria. Friday we left Damascus for Palmyra. It was really hot. That day I stumbled over a couple words too -- it stood out to me since I never do that....
Saturday we walked all over Palmyra and I was really suffering from heat, or so I thought. I felt like I was making lots of mistakes in my speech -- but David didn't notice. Then I noticed that I had a small numb spot on my scalp behind my right ear. Strange, strange, strange. On Sunday, back in Damascus, the speech got worse (comegranite instread of pomegranite, etc.). By the end of the day I really felt like I was having trouble simply getting sentences out that were in my head. I couldn't make small talk with strangers (imagine that for me!) -- it was stressfull.
When I got home Sunday night I wrote my melanoma oncologist and he said I should immediately get an MRI. So Monday morning by 8:30 AM our fabulous health unit in Amman had me in a an MRI machine. By 9:30 I was out and found that I had metastatic cancer lesions (tumors) on multiple sites in my brain. Most notably, a frontal left lobe that deals with oral expression (the largest at about 1.8 cm). I also have one on the base of my brain where it connects to the spine, which may or may not have to do with the scalp numbness.
So -- Monday was a fabulous day in the hospital in Amman where practically everyone I have worked or played with in the past year came to visit -- it was a big party! By the next morning I was on a plane back to New York, accompanied by the Embassy's excellent doctor -- Curt Hofer. Tuesday night we arrived in New York and took a taxi directly to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center hospital where we met my mother and oncologist. The past week in New York has blown by with tests and doctors and museums. David arrived from Amman on Sunday, September 9, and is going to be able to spend a month in the States (actually, we had a vacation planned now...).
So -- that's the beef. No headaches. No stroke-like symptoms. Just speech problems. In the last week the numbness on the right side of my head has covered my ear, jaw and moved down my neck and right arm. But as you will see from the blog -- treatment has begun so I hope it will all get better soon.
The plan: three weeks of full brain radiation (with weekends off). That is about all I know. There will be a plan afterward but we have to wait and see what this does before we decide. I still have a number of melanoma "freckles" on the skin of my chest -- so those have to be dealt with. I will keep you all updated regularly through this site!
10 comments:
Hello Mara! You looked so great this summer when I saw you sitting in E&E visiting staff. I know that you are a strong person and will face this new challenge head on. You are loved by all! Call or email anytime. Love you!
Sheila
Dear Mara,
I was so sad to hear that you have another bout with cancer. This is so unfair. I wish you the best diagnosis, doctors and that the process of healing though perhaps slow and arduous will come through as the others have in the end. I am off on a long trip tomorrow to Russia ...all the way to the Russian Far East for the first time! If you are interested, I can send you little tales from my travels.
I will also send you what my father wrote on hope to your maragalaty account if you have time to read it, you'd like it.
My family and I can never forget your helpful advice and support during that difficult time. You are a very optimistic, amazing, admirable, hopeful person. I wish you HOPE!
thank you for your example and your friendship. Thinking of you, your family and your wide circle of loved ones (you are such a special person that everyone who you know cares about you!)
Hugs, Ruth
Hoi Mara,
wow ! That mask!! nice pictures, though and good to give us at least a kind of impression...
I'm glad David is there with you.
Much Dutch love from the lot of us here and many tailwags from the dogs, doei! Ems
Dear Mara,
It is wonderful to hear directly from you. It is incredible what a brave-positive-enlightened person you are and I have so much respect for you. Funny the person who has responded before me is EMS also. I know all your guardians and angels will continue to give you only positive energy. I send my love and hope all goes well. I think of you often--am glad this blog has been started as I want to communicate with you but don't want to be intrsive. This is the perfect way. Of course if ever there is anything I can do for Carol or you, I want to---please ask. Again love to you and all,
Liz Schulman
Hi Mara - what a brilliant idea to post a blog and keep all the gazillions of people who love you up to date. The photos of Syria look great and David looks cute too. You have such a huge smile on your face and look so healthy it is hard to believe that you have to get yourself zapped with radiation. Tons and tons of love to you. And if you could measure the amount of love coming out of Portland right now from so many people you would be blown away.
Love Anna
Mara, Thanks for creating this blog. It's so nice to be able to get updates and communicate easily with you!! We are thinking about you a lot, and as Anna says there's a lot of love and good energy coming from Portland right now.
The wedding was incredible; I'm sure you were there in spirit. Pictures to come soon. Also some of Grizzly and Maddy in our new house in NE Portland. They are sending you lots of furry comfort. Maddy talks about you all the time and Grizz just slobbered all over the computer while reading your blog.
Enjoy those museums and keep sharing photos of your treatment (and fun-having!). Lots of love, Sarah and Jordan
Hey Mara, yet another obstacle for you to overcome - We're all generating and sending so much positive energy north that New York should stay lit without turning on the lights. Alberteene was in and asked about you. She's doing well despite recurring infections. We're glad to have a way to follow your progress and wish you the best possible outcome. Hugs!
Dear Mara,
I can't believe how strong and brave you are. You actually look great in those photos! My son Max is in NY at College and we get up quite often. I'd like to visit if you let me know how to reach you.
Mara, greetings from Jeremy Condor. Thinkng of you.
Mara - greetings from Jeremy Condor. Thinking of you.
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