http://my.braintumorcommunity.org/discussions/tributes en-us http://my.braintumorcommunity.org/discussions/tributes/2012/02/26/robert-jason-heald-sr http://my.braintumorcommunity.org/discussions/tributes/2012/02/26/robert-jason-heald-sr I will miss him deeply but am relieved that he is no longer suffering.  He died a peaceful death surrrounded by his family and friends.
Now he is riding his Harley in the sky!

Jennifer]]> Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:45:52 GMT jenleigh http://my.braintumorcommunity.org/discussions/tributes/2011/08/07/forums-temp-down-aug-8th http://my.braintumorcommunity.org/discussions/tributes/2011/08/07/forums-temp-down-aug-8th Hello!

Awhile back we told you about our plans to launch a new and improved discussion forum section. We are happy to report that the new discussion area is almost here! The switch to the new discussion forum will take place on Monday August 8th. Please note that the forums will be temporarily unavailable on August 8th while we transfer content from the old system to the new system during that down time. You will be able to read all previous posts in the forum area during the short down period, but will not be able to post any new topics. We hope to make the transition as smooth as possible and appreciate your patience during the upgrade. We look forward to hearing your feedback about the new system when it’s up and running. Please feel free to call the Patient Services Line at 800.934.2873 or email us at info@braintumor.org with any questions.

Thanks everyone!

Patient Services Team]]> Sun, 07 Aug 2011 23:03:50 GMT Patient Services Team http://my.braintumorcommunity.org/discussions/tributes/2011/07/13/forum-upgrade-scheduled-for-august-8-2011 http://my.braintumorcommunity.org/discussions/tributes/2011/07/13/forum-upgrade-scheduled-for-august-8-2011 Dear Community,

We have scheduled an upgrade to our current forums for Monday, August 8th, 2011. On this date all topics and replies posted in the forums will be moved to a new upgraded format. When you navigate to the My.BrainTumorCommunity forum page you will land on a different looking page than you are used to starting Monday, August 8th. We believe the new format will be easier to use and we will have a number of features available to you that are not available in this current version. To help you learn the new format we will set up a question and answer discussion in the new format titled, "Welcome to Discussions: Q & A." It will be located at the top of the page. Feel free to post any questions you have or review FAQs others are asking.

Additionally, you can also feel free to contact our Patient Services team at 800.934.2873 or at info@braintumor.org. Please note that your post history will be maintained with this upgrade. Your post count will not change and all your old topics and replies will be accessible in the new format.

We thank you for being a member of our interactive online community!


Sincerely,

Patient Services Team]]> Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:02:32 GMT Patient Services Team http://my.braintumorcommunity.org/discussions/tributes/2011/03/24/patty-thompson http://my.braintumorcommunity.org/discussions/tributes/2011/03/24/patty-thompson She passed last Wednesday after 3 months of being in bed, largely unresponsive and unable to eat or drink on her own.
It was a comfort to get straightforward answers and to have the support of others going through this terrible process.
Thank you so very much.
Jenny Fisk and family]]> Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:01:12 GMT jennyf http://my.braintumorcommunity.org/discussions/tributes/2010/04/08/debbie-mcbride http://my.braintumorcommunity.org/discussions/tributes/2010/04/08/debbie-mcbride
Over the past couple of years I had help to care for my wife so that I could work. The following was sent to me by a friend and caregiver of Debbie.

I watched you sleeping, peaceful and calm, knowing it was only a matter of time.
It has been my honor to be your friend, to have been chosen by you to care for you, to learn from you, to help you through this final stage of your life.
You leave behind a wonderful family, two awesome young men who have become who and what they are in part because of who you are and how you and John chose to raise them, and they are awesome Debbie and I know how very proud you are of them. Then there is your husband, who so obviously loves you. And your parents and siblings….what more can I say than you are so loved!
You fought a good hard fight, my friend and you won! Not with the outcome we all wished for, but you won; the hearts of all that you met, and the respect of everyone who knew you and even those who didn’t. Your fight was filled with YOUR GRACE and a quiet DIGNITY and I for one will NEVER forget you!
I will see you everywhere; in the beautiful sunrise, in kittens at play, in the blooms of the Iris, and hear you in the whisper of the breeze, saying “don’t be sad, for now I am free”.
You have touched my heart and changed my life and I will never be the same!
Good-Bye my friend, I Love You!
T. Graw]]> Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:11:16 GMT John in Lutz http://my.braintumorcommunity.org/discussions/tributes/2010/02/09/honoring-my-sister-robin http://my.braintumorcommunity.org/discussions/tributes/2010/02/09/honoring-my-sister-robin
So, I'm going to honor my sister, Robin.

Robin was diagnosed with malignant childhood astrocytoma in the late summer of 1969. She was the 2nd of 5 daughters, totally resembling my dad (as I do as well... my other sisters are total image of Mom).

Robin's battle with her BT was short, thank goodness. She was only 13 years old. Robin was in and out of Boston Children's Hospital.... they informed my parents she was terminal. Mom and dad wanted her home as much as possible with all of us, so we could spend as much time with her as possible. She braved radiation as the growth was inoperable. She wanted a dog... my folks got her a pug (she named Buffy.... think "Family Affair" show which was big at the time on American TV). She was taken by ambulance back and forth to Boston Childrens for treatment (and always made sure the ambulance put on the sirens in our neighborhood to alert everyone she was heading home). She died in the overnight hours of Dec. 5, 1969. She was brave, never complained about what she was enduring...... we believe she knew what was going on as paralysis took over parts of her body, etc.

Here I sit, 40+ years later with tears in my eyes.... but happy tears for this reason. My family created a scholarship fund in Robin's name.... her name lives on and I'm so thrilled by this (the scholarship has been continuiously given out yearly for approx 40 years now).

I am the 2nd sibling to be diagnosed with a BT (Acoustic Neuroma -- AN, a benign BT). I try to think back to what treatment options were available 40+ years ago when Robin was diagnosed... and think about just how far treatment options for BT's have come.

Being traumatized by Robin's passing... my family, upon learning of my diagnosis, was overwhelmed. "If it don't belong, get it out". The fear in my family, at the time of my diagnosis, was very well noted to me. I did my homework and decided on a newer radiation option (Cyberknife Radiosurgery) as the AN was caught early, treatable and it could help save my hearing (the tumor resides on the VIII cranial nerve and was "kissing" the brainstem)

My radiation was almost 4 years ago... and I knock on wood when I type this words... "I'm doing well".

So, I think back to what Robin endured... and I sit back and think about my BT journey... and realize that I am so very blessed to be doing as well as I am. I try to think of Robin and what she endured as a "forerunner" for what newer medical treatments are now available that have helped me do as well as I am.

So, I honor Robin.... for her strength... her overall courage.... and for being her, in the toughest of times... and thank her for all she endured... which may have now helped me on my road to wellness.

I miss her terribly. I love her VERY much... she is always with me... the hole is still in my heart, but boy oh boy, I know she is still with me, watching over me, to help me in my wellness journey.

I know what I typed doesn't do her justice, but......

Phyl]]> Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:09:34 GMT ppearl214