"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." ~Jane Howard
Your second family of support will never leave your side during your meningioma journey.
For more second family resources, check out:
American Brain Tumor Association
http://www.abta.org/
Includes an in-depth overview about brain tumors and what to know before and after surgery.
Brain Tumor Foundation
http://www.braintumorfoundation.org/
This New York-based foundation provides up to date information on tumor types; support groups for patients & caregivers; the latest medical technology, treatment options and clinical trials; and more.
Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada
http://www.braintumour.ca
Their goal is to reach every person in Canada affected by a brain tumour.
Toll-free # for more information: 1-800-265-5106
International Brain Tumour Alliance
http://www.theibta.org/
Seeks to be an alliance of the support, advocacy and information groups for brain tumour patients and carers in different countries and also includes researchers, scientists, clinicians and allied health professionals who work in the area of brain tumours.
Meningioma Association UK
http://www.meningiomauk.org/
United Kingdom support group for those diagnosed with meningioma.
Musella Foundation For Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc
http://www.virtualtrials.com/
Supplies information and support for families dealing with brain tumors, raises money for brain tumor research.
National Brain Tumor Society
http://www.braintumor.org/GeneralMenu/
Recently merged west and east coast based organization that provides excellent resources on various types of brain tumors, support groups and upcoming events for patients and their families.
The Tug McGraw Foundation
http://www.tugmcgraw.com/home.asp
Named after the Phillies and New York Mets pitching legend who lost his life to brain cancer, this foundation raises funding to enhance the lives of children and adults with brain tumors.
You've just been diagnosed with a meningioma and one of your first questions is how could my tumor's location impact me?
The following information will help! Thank you www.braininjury.com
A wide variety of symptoms can occur after "brain injury." The nature of the symptoms depends, in large part, on where the brain has been injured. Below find a list of possible physical and cognitive symptoms which can arise from damage to specific areas of the brain:
Frontal Lobe: Forehead
Loss of simple movement of various body parts (Paralysis).
Inability to plan a sequence of complex movements needed to complete complete multi-stepped tasks, such as making coffee (Sequencing).
Loss of spontaneity in interacting with others.
Loss of flexibility in thinking.
Persistence of a single thought (Perseveration).
Inability to focus on task (Attending).
Mood changes (Emotionally Labile).
Changes in social behavior.
Changes in personality.
Difficulty with problem solving.
Inability to express language (Broca's Aphasia).
Parietal Lobe: near the back and top of the head
Inability to attend to more than one object at a time.
Inability to name an object (Anomia).
Inability to locate the words for writing (Agraphia).
Problems with reading (Alexia).
Difficulty with drawing objects.
Difficulty in distinguishing left from right.
Difficulty with doing mathematics (Dyscalculia).
Lack of awareness of certain body parts and/or surrounding space (Apraxia) that leads to difficulties in self-care.
Inability to focus visual attention.
Difficulties with eye and hand coordination.
Occipital Lobes: most posterior, at the back of the head
Defects in vision (Visual Field Cuts).
Difficulty with locating objects in environment.
Difficulty with identifying colors (Color Agnosia).
Production of hallucinations.
Visual illusions - inaccurately seeing objects.
Word blindness - inability to recognize words.
Difficulty in recognizing drawn objects.
Inability to recognize the movement of object (Movement Agnosia).
Difficulties with reading and writing.
Temporal Lobes: side of head above ears
Difficulty in recognizing faces (Prosopagnosia).
Difficulty in understanding spoken words (Wernicke's Aphasia).
Disturbance with selective attention to what we see and hear.
Difficulty with identification of, and verbalization about objects.
Short term memory loss.
Interference with long term memory.
Increased and decreased interest in sexual behavior.
Inability to catagorize objects (Categorization).
Right lobe damage can cause persistent talking.
Increased aggressive behavior.
Brain Stem: deep within the brain
Decreased vital capacity in breathing, important for speech.
Swallowing food and water (Dysphagia).
Difficulty with organization/perception of the environment.
Problems with balance and movement.
Dizziness and nausea (Vertigo).
Sleeping difficulties (Insomnia, sleep apnea).
Cerebellum: base of the skull
Loss of ability to coordinate fine movements.
Loss of ability to walk.
Inability to reach out and grab objects.
Tremors.
Dizziness (Vertigo).
Slurred Speech (Scanning Speech).
Inability to make rapid movements.
It's not always easy to get motivated on Mondays, so I'm trying a new feature called Meningioma Mondays to highlight all things meninigioma. I might share an inspirational meningioma blog, share a meningioma related link, a meningioma fact...
Your participation is encouraged and welcomed!
Q: What do all these ladies in the photo share in common?
A: They are all meningioma survivors and proof that meninigiomas don't discriminate.
As a nearly 12-year meningioma brain tumor survivor, my motto and mantra has become "Mind Over Meningioma."
It is my goal to further increase meningioma awareness in 2012 via my 9-years-and-counting, nonprofit, Meningioma Mommas, www.meningiomamommas.org , our MAD ABOUT MENINGIOMAS Facebook Cause, http://www.causes.com/causes/242100-mad-about-meningiomasand through my writing, www.lizholzemer.com
I'm also hoping you'll help pass the mind over meningioma message. Feel free to chime in at any time to share your meningioma moments, milestones and musings.
Happy New Year!
“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.”--Edith Lovejoy Pierce
Today I am thankful for:
*The practice of taking gratitude inventory
*Embracing simple pleasures
*2011 wrapping up and the chance to usher in a new year.
Stay tuned to check out my next project in 2012!
"I wouldn't say anything is impossible. I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and put the work and time into it".--Michael Phelps
Today I am grateful for:
*Hannah's discipline, time and dedication, which resulted in her 1st Silver State time!
"You are my sonshine." ~Author Unknown
Simply put, I am grateful for:
*My son, Hunter aka lil' man & monkey.
