Go Gray In May. Brain Cancer Awareness.

May starts brain cancer awareness month, which is something that is so incredibly near and dear to my heart. As I've watched Dad's battle these last 19 months, I can't help but be so incredibly excited about the progress being made with treatment options, yet at the same time discouraged with the standard treatment options available to Dad. 

I've taken it upon myself to educate others on brain cancer, educate others on how deadly of a disease this really is, and educate others on the lack of funding provided to research brain cancer treatment. 

For the specific type of brain cancer Dad was diagnosed with 19 months ago (Glioblastoma Multiforme), the average life span is 14 months with the standard treatment (Surgery, Radiation, Chemotherapy). And statistically, 25% of people diagnosed with the disease live past 2 years. 

Those statistics leave me with such mixed emotions. I read those and cringe, and fear is filled in my mind, as the odds are not in our favor. And those statistics also seem to light a fire inside of me, a fire that has me focused on funding, research and awareness of brain cancer, because I truly feel like I can help change those statistics. 

I'm not sure if in Dad's lifetime we will see a cure, and that is a difficult thought to comprehend sometimes, but I am certain that we are so incredibly close to finding a cure, finding a new treatment option that will give patients quality of life, and will give patients longer than the statistics mentioned above. 

What will it take to change these statistics? It takes funding, it takes awareness, and it takes passion. In the last 19 months, we've had the love and support of so many friends and family members who have helped us donate over $16,000 to the Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation. 

Some days during Dad's fight are difficult, he has good days and bad days. And on the nights of the bad days I usually have a little bit longer talk with God. Sometimes there are tears, other nights I'm more emotionally calm, but regardless these talks start with so many questions about our journey. So many questions I ask about the future, and each time the answers come in comfort. I always get a sense of comfort on those extremely difficult nights, when all I want to do is cry, question God's path for my family, and ask Him to take away all the pain. 

But, the beauty of this journey and our fight is that I will never get these answers. I will never know what the future holds, not what will happen in the next 5 minutes or the next day. I will never not have pain in my life, regardless if it's associated with Dad's cancer or other events, and I will never be able to fully contain the tears- because I've learned sometimes you just need a good cry. 

I've realized that maybe this battle has given me a wonderful opportunity to find my purpose and passion. I'm so proud that I'm able to have an outlet with Dad's fight and help bring awareness and funding to brain cancer research. In the moments where I feel as though I'm helpless, that I'm not able to take this disease away from him, I realize that his fight- regardless of the length of the fight- is paving the way for a cure. It's bringing awareness to brain cancer, it's providing funding to research and it's providing HOPE to so many others. There will be a day where a family receives a brain cancer diagnosis and the statistics aren't the same and there is no use of the word "terminal". No, instead because of Dad's fight, the awareness and funding it's provided, patients will be given a better chance to fight with new treatment options. Patients will be given HOPE to be cured. And to me, what an absolutely wonderful gift this battle has given me, and Dad. We have been given the opportunity to help others in such a wonderful way, and for that, I'm so incredibly proud. 

Make sure you go GRAY in MAY and continue praying, as we continue fighting to BTHO Brain Cancer!